Photo: Zikamoi (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)
A coin-sized labyrinth fish that actually croaks — the most characterful nano fish you can keep in a 40-litre planted tank.
Will it live with a Sparkling Gourami?
We compare each fish against your sparkling gourami on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- African Dwarf Frog✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Amapá Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Black Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cardinal Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Flame Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Gold Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Dwarf Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Jelly Bean Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Marbled Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the top of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Phoenix Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Purple Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Red Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rosy Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Rosy Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rummy Nose Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Strawberry Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Threadfin Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the top of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Threadfin Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Yellow Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Yellow Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Expect Black Ruby Barb to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Expect Black Skirt Tetra to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Sparkling Gourami may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Desert Goby and Sparkling Gourami are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add sparkling gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Sparkling Gourami may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Humpbacked Tetra to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Spotfin Betta and Sparkling Gourami are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add sparkling gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Sparkling Gourami and Spotfin Betta are both labyrinth fish and often treat each other as rivals — give a large, broken-up tank and be ready to separate them.
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer and Sparkling Gourami are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add sparkling gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Tiger Badis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Sparkling Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Tiger Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Sparkling Gourami may eat Tiger Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Wine Red Betta to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Sparkling Gourami and Wine Red Betta are both labyrinth fish and often treat each other as rivals — give a large, broken-up tank and be ready to separate them.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 4 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Sparkling Gourami as food.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Sparkling Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Sparkling Gourami is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Sparkling Gourami whole.
- Fire Eel is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Sparkling Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Sparkling Gourami whole.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Sparkling Gourami is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
- Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Sparkling Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Sparkling Gourami whole.
- Expect Spotted Gar to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Sparkling Gourami whole.
- Expect Wels Catfish to harass Sparkling Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Sparkling Gourami whole.
- Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Sparkling Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Sparkling Gourami care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 4 cm (1.6 in)
- Min tank size
- 40 L (10.6 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Top
- Group size
- 4+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Origin
- Southeast Asia — Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China
What is a sparkling gourami?
The sparkling gourami (Trichopsis pumila) is one of the smallest labyrinth fish in the hobby, topping out at just 4 cm (about 1.6 in). What it lacks in size it more than compensates for in personality: males produce a remarkable audible croak during courtship and low-level sparring, generated by a specialised pectoral-fin vibrating mechanism that is unique among labyrinth fish. Under good aquarium lighting the olive-brown body reveals an intricate pattern of iridescent blue-green spots, and the fins carry a vivid red edging that intensifies during displays.
Also known as the pygmy gourami or dwarf croaking gourami, this fish belongs to the family Osphronemidae alongside bettas and pearl gouramis. Like all labyrinth fish it possesses a supplementary breathing organ that lets it gulp air directly from the surface — a survival adaptation to the warm, oxygen-poor waters of its native range. Despite its toughness, it rewards thoughtful care with years of visible behaviour, including croaking bouts, bubble-nest construction, and the shimmering flash of a fully-coloured male.
Where do sparkling gouramis come from?
Wild sparkling gouramis are found across a broad swathe of Southeast Asia — Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and into southern China. They inhabit slow-moving or still, heavily vegetated water: rice paddies, roadside ditches, peat-swamp edges, sluggish streams and floodplain pools. This water is typically warm (24–28 °C / 75–82 °F), soft (2–10 dGH), and ranges from mildly acidic to near-neutral (pH 5.5–7.5). Tannin staining is common in many habitats, giving the water a tea colour and pushing pH toward the lower end.
Understanding this origin is the key to replicating conditions in the aquarium. Dense planting, soft water, minimal current, and the option of Indian almond leaves or dried oak leaves to release tannins will make sparkling gouramis more active, better coloured, and far more willing to breed.
What size tank does a sparkling gourami need?
The minimum is 40 litres (about 9 gallons), and that number is driven by water-quality stability and the need to keep a group of at least four fish. A single 40 L planted tank can house a small group comfortably; larger tanks (60–80 L / 16–21 gal) give you room to add compatible nano tank-mates and to watch more complex social behaviour.
Because sparkling gouramis are labyrinth fish they must reach the surface to breathe air. Keep the water level 3–5 cm below the rim and ensure the air above the surface is warm — a sudden rush of cold air into the labyrinth organ can cause respiratory stress. A tight-fitting lid also prevents jumping, which these active little fish are capable of. Choose a tank that prioritises footprint over height, and run a gentle sponge filter or a low-output hang-on filter: strong current stresses them and disrupts the bubble nest during breeding.
What water parameters do sparkling gouramis need?
- Temperature: 24–28 °C (75–82 °F). A reliable heater is essential.
- pH: 5.5–7.5. They adapt across this range, but spawning behaviour is most reliable toward the softer, more acidic end (pH 6.0–6.8).
- Hardness: 2–10 dGH — soft water is strongly preferred.
Stability is more important than hitting any specific target within these ranges. Cycle the tank completely before adding fish, perform weekly water changes of 20–30%, and avoid anything that causes sudden swings — sudden temperature drops are a common trigger for ich in small labyrinth fish. If your tap water is hard, consider cutting it with RO or rainwater to bring hardness down. Adding Indian almond leaves or a small amount of peat to the filter can nudge pH and soften water naturally while providing tannins that align with their wild habitat.
What do sparkling gouramis eat?
Sparkling gouramis are omnivores with a strong preference for small live and frozen invertebrates. Their mouths are tiny, so standard-sized flake and pellets are impractical — micro-sized foods are the key.
A good rotation looks like this:
- Live or frozen micro-foods as the staple: daphnia, baby brine shrimp, micro-worms, and grindal worms are all eagerly taken and support conditioning for breeding.
- Quality micro-pellets or nano-granules as a dry base, fed in very small pinches once or twice daily.
- Frozen bloodworms (chopped if the pieces are large) as an occasional treat.
Feed small amounts — only what the fish consume within two minutes — and skip a day each week. Overfeeding in a small tank degrades water quality rapidly, and the resulting ammonia/nitrite spikes are one of the most common ways to lose these fish.
Are sparkling gouramis aggressive — and what fish can live with them?
Sparkling gouramis are peaceful, making them one of the most community-friendly labyrinth fish available. Males will display and croak at each other, and brief chasing occurs during spawning, but outright injury is rare in a tank with adequate cover. The croaking and fin-spreading displays are interesting to observe and form a large part of the appeal of keeping this species.
Because of their small size (4 cm / 1.6 in), they can be bullied, out-competed for food, or simply stressed into hiding by larger or more boisterous tank-mates. The safest companions share a similar size and calm disposition: ember tetras, chili rasboras, celestial pearl danios, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, and small freshwater shrimp (though shrimp fry may be predated). Avoid fin-nippers such as tiger barbs, fast-moving schooling fish that create turbulence, and anything large enough to view the gourami as a snack.
For a full list of tested combinations, see Sparkling Gourami tank mates.
How do you tell male and female sparkling gouramis apart?
Sexual dimorphism is moderate but readable once you know what to look for. Males are more intensely coloured, with richer iridescence and more vivid red on the fin margins; their dorsal and anal fins taper to longer, more pointed tips. Males are also the primary producers of the signature croaking sound, which they use most actively during courtship and mild disputes. Females are plumper through the body when gravid with eggs and tend to show slightly shorter, more rounded fins and less saturated colouration. In a group of four or more fish, the sex ratio typically becomes clear after a few weeks once the fish settle and begin interacting.
How do sparkling gouramis breed?
Spawning follows the classic labyrinth-fish pattern. The male builds a bubble nest at the surface, usually anchored beneath a broad floating leaf, an Amazon frogbit rosette, or a piece of cling film weighted to float flat. Once the nest is established, he courts the female with fin displays and croaking; if she is receptive, they perform an embrace beneath the nest in which eggs are fertilised as they rise. The male catches fallen eggs and places them into the nest.
After spawning, remove the female — the male will become protective and may harass her. He tends the nest, retrieving fallen eggs and fanning the developing embryos. Fry hatch in 24–48 hours at 26–28 °C (79–82 °F) and become free-swimming within a few more days. Remove the male once fry are free-swimming and feeding independently. First foods for the fry are infusoria, paramecia, or commercial liquid fry food, transitioning to baby brine shrimp nauplii as they grow. Conditioning both parents on live foods for one to two weeks before introducing them to a breeding setup significantly improves results. We rate breeding difficulty as medium.
What are common sparkling gourami diseases?
Sparkling gouramis are generally hardy when kept in stable, appropriate conditions, but a few issues come up repeatedly:
- Ich (white spot disease): Small white granules on the body and fins, accompanied by flashing or scratching against objects. Most often triggered by chilling — a temperature drop of even 2–3 °C can be enough. Maintain stable, warm water and quarantine new arrivals for two to four weeks.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A fine gold or rust-coloured dusty sheen, often on the flanks. Difficult to spot on olive-coloured fish; use a torch to check. Caused by a parasitic dinoflagellate and spreads quickly among small labyrinth fish in a community tank. Prevention through quarantine and avoiding water stress is key.
- Fin rot: Ragged, receding fin edges, usually a sign of poor water quality or a secondary infection following physical damage. Clean water and stable parameters are the first-line prevention.
- Labyrinth organ stress: If the air above the waterline is significantly colder than the water, fish can suffer breathing difficulty. Keep a tight lid and maintain ambient temperature above roughly 20 °C (68 °F).
Health note: disease identification in small fish can be challenging. Confirm symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health resource before medicating, as incorrect treatment can be more damaging than the original problem.
How long do sparkling gouramis live?
Sparkling gouramis typically live 3–5 years with good care — respectable for a fish that fits on a coin. Longevity is closely tied to water quality: soft, warm, stable, low-nitrate water with varied live and frozen food is the most reliable path to the upper end of that range. Keep them in a group of four or more, provide dense planting for cover and security, and you are likely to see natural spawning behaviour within a few months of purchase — one of the more rewarding experiences a nano aquarium can offer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my sparkling gourami make a croaking sound?
Trichopsis pumila produces an audible croak using a specialised pectoral-fin mechanism — unique within the labyrinth fish family. You'll hear it most during spawning displays and mild territorial encounters. It's completely normal and one of the main reasons hobbyists seek this fish out.
Can sparkling gouramis live with other fish?
Yes, with the right partners. Because they are tiny and shy, choose equally small, calm tankmates — small rasboras, pygmy corydoras, small livebearers, or nano tetras. Avoid anything boisterous or nippy; gouramis with large, flowing fins are also a poor match. A heavily planted tank helps them feel secure.
What you need to keep a sparkling gourami
The baseline is a heated, filtered 40 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a sparkling gourami in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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