Sparkling gourami
Trichopsis pumila
A tiny 1.5-inch labyrinth fish that croaks during squabbles; perfect for a soft-water planted nano tank.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, micro worms
- Origin
- Lower Mekong and peninsular Thailand
- Hardier than53%
- Bigger than21%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Sparkling 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
- 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 barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpSparkling gourami eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (SF: аквариумисты сообщают о поедании Caridina/Neocaridina).Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Sparkling gourami is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpSparkling gourami eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (SF: аквариумисты сообщают о поедании Caridina/Neocaridina).Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Sparkling gourami.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Sparkling gourami.Risky
- Rainbow sharkRainbow shark (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Sparkling gourami.Risky
- BettaBetta attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Sparkling gourami.Avoid
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Sparkling gourami: prey body depth 1.2 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Sparkling gourami: prey body depth 1.2 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Sparkling gourami: prey body depth 1.2 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Dwarf gouramiDwarf gourami attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Sparkling gourami.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Sparkling gourami: prey body depth 1.2 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for sparkling gouramis: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 4 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.96 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.83 BU
- Min. water
- 41 L net
- Min. footprint
- 45 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 2+ (best 4)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- still
- Body / fins
- labyrinth, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Trichopsis pumila
Care notes
Sparkling gouramis live in still, weedy waters, peat swamps and rice paddies of the lower Mekong and peninsular Thailand. Males make audible croaking sounds during their harmless squabbles.
A pair or small group fits a 10-gallon tank, kept alone or with very peaceful fish of the same size. A tight lid matters because they need warm, humid air, and keepers report them eating dwarf shrimp.
Questions
What size tank does a sparkling gourami need?
At least 13 gallons (41 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.6 inches without fins.
How many sparkling gouramis should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 4 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do sparkling gouramis need?
72–82 °F, pH 5–7.5 and 1–12 dGH. Sparkling gouramis come from Lower Mekong and peninsular Thailand.
How long do sparkling gouramis live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with sparkling 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.