Pearl gourami

Quick facts

Adult size

12 cm

Lifespan

can live up to 8 years; robust species; well-cared specimens routinely reach 6-8 years

Tank zone

top

Temperament

peaceful

Difficulty

beginner

Water parameters

Temperature

24–28°C

pH

6.0 to 8.0

Hardness

2 to 20 dGH

Tank requirements

Minimum volume

150 L

Minimum length

90 cm

Flow

low

Lighting

dim preferred

Substrate

any

Hiding spots

needed

Open swimming room

needed

Lid

required - jumper

Feeding

Diet: omnivore, feeds primarily at the top.

Omnivore that accepts flake, pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Not a picky eater. Feeds at the surface and midwater. Two feedings per day. Pearl gouramis also pick at small insects and organisms on the surface film, which is natural labyrinth fish behavior. Quality food brings out the pearlescent coloring and the male's orange throat.

Compatibility

• Peaceful for a gourami. Less territorial and aggressive than dwarf gouramis or three-spot gouramis.
• Good tankmates: tetras, rasboras, corydoras, loaches, bristlenose plecos, angelfish (with caution, as both occupy the midwater).
• Males are territorial with each other but the aggression is display-based (flaring, chasing) rather than physical damage. One male per 150 L is safe.
• Avoid very small tankmates that might be bullied. Avoid active fin nippers.
• Does not carry the DGIV virus risk that plagues dwarf gouramis, which makes it a more reliable choice.

Habitat

Native to Borneo, Sumatra, and peninsular Malaysia, living in slow-moving, heavily vegetated lowland waters including peat swamps and flooded forests. The body is covered in a mosaic of white pearl-like spots on a brown-orange base, with a dark horizontal line from the snout to the tail. Males develop a bright orange-red throat and chest during breeding condition. Widely considered the most beautiful and best-behaved of the commonly available gourami species. Reaches 12 cm, which is larger than dwarf or honey gouramis but still manageable in a 150 L community tank. Shy when first introduced; takes 1-2 weeks to become bold and visible.

Breeding

Bubblenest builder like other gouramis. The male builds a large bubblenest (often 15–20 cm across) incorporating plant material. Courtship involves the male displaying his orange throat to the female. Spawning is a wrapping embrace under the nest. The male places eggs in the bubblenest and guards them fiercely. Remove the female after spawning. Eggs hatch in 24-48 hours. Fry are tiny and need infusoria, then baby brine shrimp. Not as commonly bred as dwarf gouramis because the adults are larger and need a bigger breeding setup, but the process is not difficult.

Common problems

Timidity is the main behavioral issue. Pearl gouramis hide for the first 1-2 weeks in a new tank and may refuse food during this period. They settle in faster with floating plants for cover and calm tankmates. Less susceptible to disease than dwarf gouramis because they lack the DGIV vulnerability. Standard issues: ich from transport stress, bacterial infections from poor water quality. Gouramis in general are sensitive to rapid parameter changes; acclimate slowly after purchase. Males occasionally become aggressive during breeding attempts, injuring female tankmates; dense planting provides escape routes.

Bioload

Bioload coefficient: 4.0 (large-bodied slow-moving gourami; less waste per-cm than active swimmers but still substantial absolute load).

Bioload coefficients are calibrated against the neon tetra as the anchor (1.0). See the methodology page for the formula and how each value was derived.

Further reading

• Stocking ideas by tank size