Dwarf Gourami – Male

The Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) is a vibrant and peaceful, with stunning colouration. Growing between 5–8 cm , these fish have an oval shape and unique, thread-like pelvic fins that they use as “feelers” to explore their surroundings. Native to the slow-moving, heavily vegetated waters of South Asia, they bring a calm and colorful presence to the middle and upper levels of the tank. Our stock we have is all male.

Provide a quiet, stable environment in a tank of at least 40 litres with plenty of tall plants for them to retreat into. While they are peaceful community members, males can be territorial toward one another, so they are best kept as a single center-piece fish or as a bonded pair. They are remarkably hardy and handle a pH range of 6.0–7.5, Dwarf Gourami also like a gentle current.

Avoid housing your Dwarf Gourami with fast-moving, “nippy” fish like Tiger Barbs or large, aggressive tank mates that may bully them. Since they are surface-oriented omnivores that can breathe atmospheric air, try feeding flakes or small floating pellets that stay at the top of the water. Their favourite meals include frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.