Dwarf Gourami for Your Aquarium

The Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) is a small freshwater fish. They come in a range of colors, primarily driven by breeders who desired different and visually appealing variations.

The primary color variations will be a take on red or blue, with some of the more common variations being:

• Powder Blue
• Flame Red
• Neon blue / turquoise

The natural home of the Dwarf Gourami is India, but they are also found in Bangladesh and Pakistan. They can grow up to 4.5 inches in length although many will only reach 3-3.5 inches in size, especially in captivity. They have a life expectancy of 4-5 years.

The male Dwarf Gourami naturally has red and blue stripes while the female is more silvery in color. Given the extensive breeding for color, however, it is not always easy to tell the sex by the color. Instead look at the dorsal fin. Female’s dorsal fins are more rounded whereas the male has a more pointed fin.

Caring for your Dwarf Gourami

The Dwarf Gourami is a great choice for an aquarium fish. They can be kept in a range of tanks and are an easy fish to care for. Further, they are relatively hardy and so are able to survive even in less than perfect environments. Perfect if you are a new aquarist and unsure if you may make a mistake or two along the way!

Habitat

Dwarf Gourami are native to the streams of Southeast Asia, particularly regions of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They can also be found in other water areas such as marches, wetlands and even rice paddies! These waterways have some things in common though: they are bodies of slow moving water than are full of vegetation.

Fish Tank Conditions

As always, it is sensible to provide Green Neon Tetras with a similar environment within your fish tank that they would experience in the wild.

Given their preference for slow moving bodies of water with plenty of vegetation, this is exactly what you should give them! Look for a filter that isn’t overly powerful and make sure that you add plenty of vegetation. Some of these can be artificial but ideally you should have a range of planted plants and perhaps even some floating plants too.

Ideally a minimum a 10 gallon fish tank is required, although if you are only keeping 1-2 it may be possible in a 5 gallon fish tank. If you plan to keep the Dwarf Gouramis in a small school it may be worth considering a 20 gallon fish tank (or larger).

Dwarf Gouramis can be particularly sensitive to changes in the tank environment when it is first set up. It is therefore advisable wait at least one day (and ideally up to a week) after the initial startup cycle before introducing them into the tank.

Ideal Water Conditions

Dwarf Gouramis thrive in water conditions similar to their natural habitat. The water should be soft, clean and ideally have a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. There are a number of good quality pH meters on the market today. There is some debate as to the optimal temperature range, but your Gouramis will certainly be happy within the 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit range (24-27 degrees centigrade). A good quality aquarium heater will help with this.

In addition to these requirements it is important that the tank has no ammonia and incredibly low nitrates. Remember to cycle the water before introducing them into the tank.

General care of Dwarf Gourami is relatively straightforward. As long as you keep the water clean and at constant parameters then they will fare well. Where Dwarf Gouramis struggle is if the water is dirty or the parameters (hardness, pH etc) fluctuates.

Changing the Water

Although Dwarf Gouramis can adapt to a range of environments, clean water is essential. Changing 25% of the water every two weeks will ensure that the water stays clean and without excessive ammonia and nitrates.

Lighting

Unlike Green Neon Tetras which natuarlly live in low light areas only, Dwarf Gourami are often found in water areas that are not heavily sheltered by trees from the light. Regardless, they do not like a lot of light. As such, it is worth considering:

1. Choosing a dimmed or lower powered aquarium light
2. Cycling the aquarium light to only be on for 8 hours instead of 12 or 16
3. Introducing the Dwarf Gourami into a heavily planted aquarium. This could include both standard plants as well as floating plants.

Filters

As we mentioned before, Dwarf Gourami prefer a slow water flow. They are Anabantoids. This means that they have a labyrinth organ which enables them to take in oxygen from the air (as well as from the water). They therefore need to be able to access the surface, but are not able to do so if the surface is too choppy. As such, they need a water flow that is not too strong.

Although they also need clean water. A moderate powered filter is therefore your best option. The correct filter choice will depend on the size of your tank as well as the number of plants, Gourami and other species that you are keeping.

Feeding / Nutrition

Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores and can be fed a wide range of foods. It is best to vary their diet to ensure that they obtain all of the required nutrients. Options include:

• Flakes
• Freeze-dried bloodworms
• Brine shrimp
• Daphnia
• Pellets
• Lettuce

They will nibble on (but not destroy) the plants in your aquarium too.

Although you may not see it within the aquarium environment, Dwarf Gouramis have an unusual hunting technique in the wild. They swim on the surface, and if an insect strays too close they will spray water at it, knocking it into the water!

Ideally Dwarf Gouramis should be fed a small amount 2-3 times a day.

Difficulty

Dwarf Gourami are hardy fish that are relatively easy to care for. As long as the tank is well maintained, and the water is kept clean, your Neon Tetra will likely thrive.

Dwarf Gourami Behavior

Dwarf Gouramis are peaceful fish. Unlike the full sized Gouramis which can be quite aggressive. They prefer to be in aquariums with like minded fish. I.e. those of a similar size that are also sociable and non-aggressive. Tetras, Corys and Mollies are all good options.

Dwarf Gouramis will spend most of their time at the top or middle of the tank. So pairing them with Corys, other fish who like the bottom of the tank, or even snails is a good choice. They are quite slow moving, so it is best to not add them to a community of fast moving fish.

Despite their easy nature, these fish can become scared. Loud noises or tapping on the tank can cause them to become skittish and force them to go into hiding.

Male can become aggressive towards each other. It is therefore advisable to either only have one male (if you’re keeping a small amount of Dwarfs) or at least to ensure that there is a ratio of at least 2 females to every male.

Dwarf Gourami Breeding

Dwarf Gourami breeding is a site to behold. They are egglayers and use a bubble nest. The male builds the floating bubble nest using plant and other debit, bound with bubbles! Although well constructed, these nests are susceptible to damage and so the water flow should be reduced where possible.

For this reason you’re breeding tank will need to have adequate plant life. Additionally, it is best for the water to be shallow (think: 3-4 inches in depth) and for the water temperature to be raised to around 85 Fahrenheit.

Once the female has spawned, the male immediately fertilizes the eggs. The eggs will hatch after approximately 24 hours, and the fry will remain within the protection of the nest for another 2-3 days. At this point they are able to swim freely within the tank. It is especially important at this point that the water temperature (and other parameters) are kept constant.

Diseases

Despite being generally hardy, Dwarf Gourami are susceptible to two main diseases:

• Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus (DGIV). A severe infectious disease for which is there no know cure.
• Dwarf Gourami Disease (DGD). This disease is unique to Dwarf Gouramis. Similar to DWIV there is no known cure. DGD is a viral disease that results in color fading and fin issues.

The best way to prevent disease is to ensure that your water quality remains high. In doing so, you give you (and your fish) and great chance of avoiding these viruses. Ensuring that the fish’s diet is of high quality and varied will also greatly assist in ensuring that they are able to stave off infection.

Dwarf Gourami – Conclusion

Dwarf Gouramis can make for great aquarium fish. Their vast array of colors can create some brilliant visual displays. Added to this their peaceful and non-aggressive nature it is easy to see why many fish keepers enjoy having them in their aquarium.

Although they require good water quality they are, overall, an easy to moderate fish to keep and one that can bring your great satisfaction.

If you end up deciding that Dwarf Gourami are not for you, there are still a range of different options available to you. Fish such as Guppies or even Black Neon Tetras could make great alternatives for your tank!