Pearl gourami
Trichopodus leerii
One of the calmest and most beautiful gouramis, covered in pearly spots; ideal for a quiet planted tank with floating plants.
Key facts
- Body length
- 4.7 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 26 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- 8+ years
- Diet
- Flakes, pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia
- Origin
- Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra
- Hardier than87%
- Bigger than64%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Pearl gourami tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpPearl gourami eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (PROP: индивидуально).Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Pearl gourami is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpPearl gourami eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (PROP: индивидуально).Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat young or small Pearl gourami; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater eats slow fish: Pearl gourami (SF: присасывается к бокам крупных соседей, объедая слизь).Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Pearl gourami.Risky
- BettaBetta attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Pearl gourami.Avoid
- Dwarf gouramiDwarf gourami attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Pearl gourami.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Pearl gourami: prey body depth 3.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Pearl gourami: prey body depth 3.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for pearl gouramis: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 12 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 54.74 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 11.04 BU
- Min. water
- 81 L net
- Min. footprint
- 90 × 30 cm per pair
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- labyrinth, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Trichopodus leerii · FishBase: Trichopodus leerii
Care notes
Pearl gouramis come from lowland swamps of Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra and grow to about 4.5 inches. They can live 8 years or more.
Keep one male with two females in a 20-gallon tank or larger, with floating plants and a lid. They are timid and get pushed around by boisterous or aggressive fish.
Questions
What size tank does a pearl gourami need?
At least 26 gallons (81 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 4.7 inches without fins.
How many pearl gouramis should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do pearl gouramis need?
75–86 °F, pH 5.5–8 and 2–30 dGH. Pearl gouramis come from Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra.
How long do pearl gouramis live?
8+ years with good care.
What fish can live with pearl gouramis?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.