Pearl Gourami

Trichopodus leerii

Covered in a lace of tiny pearls, with a sunset-orange throat on males. One of the most elegant gouramis.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 11 cm, lives near the surface and needs 24–29 °C, pH 6.0–7.8 and an aquarium of at least 100 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

24–29 °C (75–84 °F)

pH

6.0–7.8

Adult size

11 cm (4.3 in)

Aquarium

100 L or bigger (26 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Top

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Swamps of Thailand, Malaysia & Borneo

Tank mates

Good company: Bala Shark, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Bristlenose Pleco, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Corydoras, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Fancy Guppy, Glowlight Tetra.

Will eat: Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Neocaridina Shrimp.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Angelfish, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid and 25 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish, Firemouth Cichlid and 11 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.