Pearl gourami care

Water temperature

77–82°F

Keep pearl gouramis at 77–82°F with a pH of 6–7.5, in a tank of at least 30 gallons. Good tank mates include angelfish, kuhli loaches, clown loaches.

Gentle despite its size, but needs a long tank and a quiet company.

Trichopodus leerii

pH

6–7.5

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

5.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

4–8 years

Swims at

Top

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• AngelfishYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Clown loachYes
• Congo tetraYes
• CorydorasYes
• Elephant nose fishYes
• Bristlenose plecoYes
• Pictus catfishYes
• Cherry barbYes
• Lemon tetraYes
• Firemouth cichlidYes
• PencilfishYes

Full pearl gourami tank mate chart: 49 yes, 29 with care, 20 no

Pearl gourami water compared

Fish to keep away from pearl gouramis

• Betta Bettas and pearl gouramis are both labyrinth fish and tend to fight over the surface.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pearl gouramis need 77–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pearl gouramis do.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); pearl gouramis need 77–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful pearl gouramis.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pearl gouramis do.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pearl gouramis do.
• Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey is twice the size of a pearl gourami and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.

More gouramis and bettas

• Betta76–82°F
• Honey gourami72–82°F
• Sparkling gourami72–82°F
• Paradise fish61–79°F
• Blue gourami72–82°F
• Dwarf gourami72–82°F
• Kissing gourami72–82°F