rm
Passport
- Family
- Large Gouramis
- Grows to
- 15 cm (5.9")
- Lives
- 4–6 years
- Temperament
- Semi aggressive
- Care
- Beginner
- Swims
- Near the surface
- Keep
- One is fine
- Water
- 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
ChinaMalaysia
Care requirements
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On record for Three Spot Gourami: adult size, lifespan, minimum tank, temperature, ph, hardness, minimum group, diet, care level, swim level, tank length.
A figure that is not on record is left out rather than guessed. One marked Suggested comes from keeping knowledge rather than a page.
- Minimum tank 151 L / 40.0 US gal
- pH 5.5–8.5
- Hardness 3–35 dGH
- Diet omnivore
- Tank length 90 cm minimum
Care notes written from general aquarium knowledge, not from the cited sources.
About
Three spot gouramis are named for a joke of anatomy: there are two dark spots on the body, and the eye is counted as the third. They're sold under a long list of names — blue, gold, opaline, cosby, platinum — and every one of those is the same species in a different bred colour.
They're big, hardy and adaptable, which is why they've been a staple for generations. They'll live in water most fish would object to and they're difficult to kill.
The catch is temperament. Mature males can be genuinely bullying, and unlike a pearl gourami's mild display this turns into sustained harassment of specific tank mates. It's the main reason people rehome them.
Tank setup
Give your three spot gourami a large tank and think about who's in it. Space is what stops a territorial male from making one fish's life impossible.
Keep the surface calm and cover the tank without sealing it. They breathe air and need the layer above the water warm and humid.
Plant heavily and break the sightlines. Dense growth gives tank mates refuge and reduces the amount of pursuit.
Keep one male. Two mature males in anything but a very large tank will fight persistently.
They tolerate a wide range of temperature and chemistry, which is genuinely one of their strengths.
Feeding
Three spots eat anything and eat it enthusiastically. Flake, pellets, frozen, live, vegetable — all of it disappears.
Include vegetable matter. They appreciate it and it balances a diet they'd otherwise take entirely from protein.
They're big and greedy enough to dominate feeding time, so smaller tank mates need food directed at them.
Avoid: overfeeding, which is very easy with a fish this willing.
Filtration and flow
Keep the flow gentle and the surface reasonably still. A planted tank with little current suits them, and they need easy access to air.
Ordinary filtration handles them well. They're notably tolerant of poor water, which is not a reason to provide it.
Regular water changes keep them in condition and reduce the aggression that comes with a crowded, stale tank.
With plants
Three spot gouramis are safe with plants and won't eat them.
Their size means loose or delicate plants get knocked about, so anchor things properly.
Floating plants matter for the shade and for nest building. A male will use them as the foundation for a bubble nest whether you intended it or not.
Health
They're among the hardiest fish in the hobby and rarely ill.
Most problems in a three spot tank are injuries to other fish. Check fins and body condition across the tank rather than just on the gourami.
Cold air above the water damages the labyrinth organ, so a cover matters in an unheated room.
Breeding
They build large bubble nests and breed readily, which for a fish this size makes an impressive spectacle.
The male becomes markedly more aggressive while nest-building and will drive the female relentlessly if she isn't ready. A well-planted tank with escape routes is not optional at that point.
He collects the falling eggs into the nest and guards them alone, so the female comes out afterwards. Fry are numerous and small, needing infusoria first, and the brood needs a covered tank with warm air above it while the labyrinth organ forms.
Tank mates
Avoid6
- Least Killifish Three Spot Gourami grows to 15 cm against Least Killifish at 2 cm, big enough to eat it.
- Scarlet Badis Three Spot Gourami grows to 15 cm against Scarlet Badis at 2 cm, big enough to eat it.
- Common Goldfish Three Spot Gourami is not safe with Common Goldfish: common goldfish and large gouramis are a bad pairing.
- Discus Three Spot Gourami is not safe with Discus: discus and large gouramis are a bad pairing.
- Fancy Goldfish Three Spot Gourami is not safe with Fancy Goldfish: fancy goldfish and large gouramis are a bad pairing.
Only with care56
- Kribensis Three Spot Gourami is noticeably larger than Kribensis and may bully it or outcompete it at feeding time.
- Panda Garra Three Spot Gourami is semi-aggressive and Panda Garra is peaceful.
- Amano Shrimp Three Spot Gourami is a risk to Amano Shrimp: large gouramis and shrimp and yabbies are a pairing to watch.
- Angelfish Three Spot Gourami is a risk to Angelfish: angelfish and large gouramis are a pairing to watch.
- Bamboo Shrimp Three Spot Gourami is a risk to Bamboo Shrimp: large gouramis and shrimp and yabbies are a pairing to watch.
No conflict is recorded with the other 43 species in the database, so nothing to flag. 3 species are not covered at all, so they could not be judged either way.