Pearl Gourami

With pearl-like white spots covering its silvery-purple body and a thin black zigzag line running from snout to tail, the pearl gourami is one of the most elegant gouramis. It is noticeably more peaceful than the blue gourami, which makes it the most suitable large gourami for community aquariums.

It lives in the peat swamps and lowland waters of Southeast Asia, in planted, soft and acidic water.

• Volume: at least 120 liters; with its long fins and 11–12 cm length it wants plenty of room.
• Surface: floating plants and a calm surface; warm air should remain between the lid and the water.
• Water: 25–27°C, soft to moderately hard. Dim light and a dark substrate bring out its colors.

Omnivorous. Flakes and granules, frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms and daphnia; foods containing spirulina. It feeds near the surface.

Peaceful and somewhat shy. Males display to each other in the breeding season and short chases occur. It usually leaves adult shrimp alone but may eat their young.

Good companions: tetras, rasboras, corydoras, kuhli loach, otocinclus, angelfish, discus (temperatures match).

Avoid: fin nippers (tiger barb, black skirt tetra), aggressive cichlids, male blue gouramis.

1 male and 2 females is the most balanced setup; a single male also lives happily. In a large aquarium (200 liters or more), several males usually get along without trouble if the surface is divided by plants.

The male builds a large bubble nest among floating plants at the surface. The female releases hundreds of eggs beneath the nest, and the male carries the eggs into the nest and guards them. The female is removed after spawning, and the male once the fry become free-swimming. The fry are fed infusoria.

Hardy. In poor water, fin rot and bacterial infections can occur; sudden temperature drops trigger ich.

Males have an orange-red throat and chest (very bright in the breeding season), a long, pointed dorsal fin and a fringed anal fin. Females have a silvery throat and a short, rounded dorsal fin.