Vaillant's Chocolate Gourami (Sphaerichthys vaillanti) Care Guide
Sphaerichthys vaillanti is a demanding Bornean mouthbrooding gourami of blackwater peat swamps, needing very soft, acidic water and a quiet, shaded group setup.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sphaerichthys vaillanti, Vaillant's chocolate gourami, is a demanding mouthbrooding gourami of the family Osphronemidae. During breeding, females flush red with white bars while males turn dark chocolate. It is sensitive to water quality and best suited to experienced keepers.
Taxonomy
- Family: Osphronemidae
- Genus: Sphaerichthys
- Scientific name: Sphaerichthys vaillanti
- Common synonyms: Crossband Chocolate Gourami
Habitat
The species occurs in the upper Kapuas river basin of West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, in peat swamps and blackwater streams. The water has negligible dissolved mineral content and is stained dark by tannins.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Minimum base dimensions: 60 x 30 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 4.5-6.0
- GH: 1-5 °dGH
- School size: groups of at least 6 recommended
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Maintain dim lighting over a soft substrate with wood, leaf litter and shade-providing plants such as Microsorum, Taxiphyllum, Cryptocoryne and Anubias. Stable, soft, acidic conditions are essential.
Diet
This carnivore is a micropredator feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton. Daily meals of small live or frozen foods such as Artemia nauplii and Daphnia are recommended.
Compatibility
Slow-moving and easily intimidated, it should be kept with calm soft-water companions such as pencilfish and small tetras. Maintaining a group of at least 6 encourages natural behaviour and pair formation. Boisterous fish and hard water should be avoided.
Breeding
The species is a paternal mouthbrooder. Eggs and fry are retained for roughly 7-20 days before 10-40 fully formed, free-swimming juveniles are released.
Vaillant's Chocolate Gourami Breeding Guide
Overview
Sphaerichthys vaillanti is a small osphronemid gourami from Borneo, reaching about 45-55 mm standard length according to Seriously Fish. Unlike most labyrinth fish it is a paternal mouthbrooder: the male incubates the eggs in his mouth rather than building a bubble nest. It is a blackwater species kept in soft, acidic conditions.
Sexing
Seriously Fish notes that females have a uniformly straight lower jaw and a more pointed head shape, while males show a slightly rounded lower jaw caused by distensible skin that expands during mouthbrooding. When acclimatised, females display red and green patterning that intensifies during courtship, whereas males remain brownish.
Conditioning
The species is carnivorous and benefits from a varied diet of small live and frozen foods to bring adults into condition before spawning. A stable, mature blackwater set-up is important for this demanding fish.
Breeding Setup
A base footprint of at least 60 x 30 cm is recommended by Seriously Fish. Spawning is carried out in soft, acidic water; the species is maintained at 21-25 C with a pH of 3.5-6.5 and very low hardness (0-54 ppm). Subdued lighting and tannin-stained water suit the fish.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Courtship is normally initiated by the female, or the alpha female where several are present. During the spawning embrace the pair remains almost upright, which is unusual among gouramis. According to Seriously Fish the process may take several hours, with eggs laid and fertilised on the substrate and the male collecting them directly into his mouth; both fish defend the surrounding area.
Egg & Fry Care
The male broods the developing eggs and fry in his mouth for 7-20 days. He then releases 10-40 fully formed, free-swimming juveniles, which immediately take live foods such as microworm or Artemia nauplii. Seriously Fish advises daily water changes of around 10 percent and a tightly fitting cover, since the fry need a layer of warm, humid air for proper development of the labyrinth organ.
Common Challenges
The main difficulties are maintaining the extremely soft, acidic water this species requires and avoiding disturbing the brooding male, which may swallow or spit out the brood if stressed. Stable, low-flow blackwater conditions are essential for success.