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Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Osphronemidae
📍 Ganges, Brahmaputra & Barak, South Asia
The Dwarf Gourami is a compact labyrinth fish renowned for the male's spectacular flame-red and turquoise-blue diagonal stripes on a petite 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) body. It is a popular choice for smaller community tanks where larger gourami species would be impractical. Males can be mildly aggressive toward one another, so a single male per tank is usually advisable unless the aquarium is large and well planted.
Care Guide
Diet
Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality micro pellets and flake foods as staples, supplemented 2-3 times weekly with live or frozen brine shrimp and small frozen foods. Blanched vegetables like zucchini and spinach should be offered occasionally to provide plant matter and promote digestive health. Feed small portions once daily, only what can be consumed in 2-3 minutes.
Behavior
Dwarf Gouramis are peaceful mid-water swimmers that spend much of their time exploring plants and decorations with deliberate, graceful movements. Males are mildly territorial and will display vibrant colors and flaring behavior toward other males, making single-male tanks advisable unless the aquarium is heavily planted with ample space. They are labyrinth breathers and will occasionally surface to gulp air, which is normal behavior.
Breeding
Breeding Dwarf Gouramis in captivity is moderately difficult and requires specific conditions including dense floating plants, warm water (26-28°C), and excellent water quality. Males build bubble nests and will guard eggs and fry aggressively; females should be removed after spawning to prevent harassment. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or liquid fry food for the first week before graduating to micro pellets.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful temperament, and identical water parameter requirements make them ideal community companions
Peaceful algae eaters that occupy the bottom zone and do not compete with gouramis for food or space
Small, non-aggressive invertebrates that thrive in the same warm, planted environment; may be eaten if very small
Both are gouramis with similar territorial tendencies; only compatible in large, heavily planted tanks with multiple males
Small schooling fish that occupy upper water column and do not threaten or compete with dwarf gouramis
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots covering body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against surfaces
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, and treat with aquarium salt (1 teaspoon per 5 gallons) or commercial ich medication for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin margins, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent water changes, reduce stocking density, treat with antibacterial medication, and ensure adequate aeration and filtration
Labyrinth Organ Infection
Difficulty breathing, gasping at surface, swollen gill area, loss of appetite
Maintain pristine water conditions, ensure access to surface for air gulping, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotics if bacterial, and avoid sudden temperature fluctuations
Velvet Disease (Oodinium)
Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body, rapid gill movement, scratching behavior, lethargy
Raise temperature to 28-30°C, perform daily water changes, treat with copper-free medication or increase aeration and reduce light exposure for 5-7 days
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Varieties
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – micro pellets, flake food, brine shrimp, blanched vegetables
- lifespan
- 4–6 years
- max size
- 6 cm (2.4 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful; males mildly territorial with each other
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 4–10 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)