Three-stripe Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis schalleri) Care Guide
Trichopsis schalleri is an Indochinese croaking gourami with three longitudinal stripes, producing audible sounds and breeding by bubble nest.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Trichopsis schalleri, the three-stripe croaking gourami, is a small labyrinth fish of the family Osphronemidae marked by three sharp longitudinal stripes and translucent, sapphire-flecked fins. It is notable for producing audible croaking sounds.
Taxonomy
- Family: Osphronemidae
- Genus: Trichopsis
- Scientific name: Trichopsis schalleri
Habitat
The species occurs in the lower Mekong River basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, plus tributaries of the Chao Phraya watershed. It prefers sluggish to still environments with dense aquatic or riparian vegetation, including swamps, floodplains and paddy fields.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 4-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
A well-planted, shady aquarium with plenty of surface cover, gentle water movement and a secure lid suits this fish, which is an excellent jumper.
Diet
An omnivore, it accepts dried products but should receive small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia or bloodworm for best colour and condition.
Compatibility
Peaceful unless breeding, it can be kept singly or in groups, where it shows interesting social interactions. Small tetras and pygmy corydoras make suitable companions, while aggressive fish should be avoided.
Breeding
The species is a bubble-nester. Males build nests among surface vegetation and females emit purring sounds during courtship. Sound is produced via modified pectoral-fin tendons and muscles, used in both aggression and courtship; fry hatch within about 48 hours.
Three-stripe Croaking Gourami Breeding Guide
Overview
Trichopsis schalleri is a small Indochinese croaking gourami reaching about 40-50 mm according to Seriously Fish. It is a bubble-nester; the male constructs a nest at the water surface, typically within vegetation or in a cavity. A base of about 60 x 30 cm suits a pair or small group.
Sexing
Seriously Fish notes that males are noticeably larger with extended fin rays in the pelvic, dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Females can be identified by backlighting, which reveals the ovaries below the swim bladder.
Conditioning
Adults are conditioned on small live and frozen foods. According to Seriously Fish, soft water with a slightly raised temperature is said to induce reproductive behaviour.
Breeding Setup
Seriously Fish lists general conditions of 22-28 C, pH 5.0-7.5 and hardness 18-215 ppm. Floating plants and cavities give the male a sheltered place to build his nest.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Courtship involves the characteristic croaking: the female approaches in a vertical, head-up position, emitting a series of purring sounds. Spawning occurs beneath the nest in an embrace, with Seriously Fish reporting roughly 1-200 eggs deposited.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs normally hatch within 48 hours, and the fry remain in the nest for a further 3-4 days until the yolk sac is fully absorbed; the male guards the eggs and fry until they are free-swimming. Seriously Fish recommends an infusoria-grade food for the first few days, after which the fry accept motile foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii.
Common Challenges
The fry are very small at first and require fine first foods and stable warm water. A tightly fitting cover helps maintain the layer of humid air the developing labyrinth organ requires.