Gold Opaline Gourami

The gold opaline gourami is a selectively bred form of Trichopodus trichopterus, the three spot gourami of Southeast Asia. The two body spots that give the wild fish its name are absent here, replaced by a warm honey-gold body with faint marbling that darkens when a male is displaying. The long, thread-like pelvic fins are the giveaway that this is a gourami; the fish uses them to feel its way around the tank and to investigate tankmates.

Aquarium care

• Reaches about 12 cm, larger than most people expect.
• Males are territorial with one another. Keep a single male, with several females if you want a group.
• Needs a long tank with planting and driftwood to break up sightlines.
• Takes air from the surface, so leave a gap between the water and the lid.
• Occupies the middle and upper levels.
• Omnivorous and easy to feed: flake, pellets, frozen foods.

A good centrepiece for a medium community with barbs, larger tetras, rainbowfish and corydoras. Small nano fish and shrimp are not a sensible match at this size.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the current gourami list.