Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis vittata), a peaceful small labyrinth fish for mature planted aquariums with gentle flow, floating cover and calm tank mates.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Trichopsis vittata
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis vittata), a peaceful small labyrinth fish for mature planted aquariums with gentle flow, floating cover and calm tank mates.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
The Croaking Gourami, Trichopsis vittata, is a peaceful Southeast Asian labyrinth fish with a calm surface-level swimming style and a genuinely unusual behaviour: mature fish can make a soft croaking or clicking sound during display, courtship and territorial moments. It is a small gourami for planted aquariums rather than a loud, fast-moving community fish, so it suits aquarists who enjoy watching natural behaviour, subtle colour and interaction around floating plants.
This listing is for Croaking Gourami selected for mature freshwater aquariums. They are best kept in pairs or small groups with gentle tank mates, warm stable water, low flow and plenty of cover. The key is not to treat them like a generic community fish. Give them a quiet planted layout, access to warm air above the surface, and a varied small-food diet, and they become confident, colourful and fascinating to observe.
| Care point | Best target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Trichopsis vittata | Commonly sold as Croaking Gourami; trade data may contain older spelling variants, but Trichopsis vittata is the name to use for care and search relevance. |
| Adult size | Usually 5-7 cm, with larger records around 8 cm | Small enough for planted community aquariums, but still needs space and cover for social behaviour. |
| Minimum aquarium | 60 litres for a pair; 75-90 litres for a group | More footprint makes displays safer and reduces pressure on shy fish. |
| Temperature | 24-28 C, with 22-28 C tolerated | Warm, stable water supports feeding, immunity and labyrinth-fish behaviour. |
| pH and hardness | pH 6.0-7.5; soft to moderately hard water | Stable mature water matters more than chasing a single exact number. |
| Temperament | Peaceful, shy, mildly territorial when breeding | Best with calm fish that do not dominate the surface or nip fins. |
| Diet | Fine dry foods plus frozen or live small foods | Small insect larvae, crustaceans and zooplankton are part of the natural feeding pattern. |
Trichopsis vittata is associated with shallow, sluggish or standing freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia, including vegetated ditches, canals, swamps, floodplains and planted margins. These are not open, high-flow habitats. The fish spends much of its time close to plant cover and the surface, where it can use its labyrinth organ to breathe atmospheric air.
That air-breathing ability is one reason a secure hood and a warm, humid air layer above the water are useful. Do not fill the aquarium right to the rim, and avoid cold draughts across the surface. A quiet planted tank with floating plants, stems, wood and leaf litter is much closer to the environment this species expects than a bright bare display.
The croaking sound comes from specialised pectoral-fin structures and is most often noticed during display between males or around breeding. In a peaceful tank the behaviour is usually fascinating rather than worrying. If displays become constant chasing, add more plants, break up sight lines, or move the weakest fish.
A 60 litre aquarium is a sensible minimum for a pair. For a trio or small group, choose 75-90 litres or more, with dense planting along the back and sides and quieter open areas for feeding. Croaking Gourami are not powerful swimmers, so they value cover and calm water more than strong flow.
Use a sponge filter, air-driven filter, or a gentle internal filter with the outflow softened. The water should be clean and oxygenated, but the surface should not be blasted around. Strong current makes this species hide and can interfere with surface breathing and bubble-nesting behaviour.
Floating plants are strongly recommended. Salvinia, frogbit, water lettuce roots, broad-leaved stems and fine plants all help the fish feel secure. Driftwood, botanicals and darker substrate bring out the bronze, olive, blue and striped tones without needing harsh lighting.
| Setup element | Recommended choice | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Dark sand or fine smooth gravel | Bright, bare floors that make shy fish feel exposed |
| Lighting | Moderate light softened by floating plants | Very bright open tanks with no shade |
| Decor | Wood, leaves, broad plants and surface cover | Sharp ornaments or layouts with no hiding routes |
| Flow | Low to gentle | Strong river-style current |
Croaking Gourami are small omnivores with a clear preference for tiny meaty foods. A fine tropical granule or quality flake can be the staple, but the best colour and condition come from a varied diet. Offer frozen daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae or finely chopped bloodworm in small portions.
Feed once or twice daily, only what the fish can finish quickly. They are polite feeders and may lose out to boisterous tank mates, so watch that each fish gets food. If the group is shy after arrival, dim the lights and use small frozen foods to start a confident feeding routine.
| Food type | Use | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Fine granule or flake | Daily staple for balanced nutrition | Small portions once daily |
| Frozen daphnia or cyclops | Small prey-style food that encourages natural feeding | Several times weekly |
| Brine shrimp or mosquito larvae | Conditioning food for colour and breeding readiness | Two or three times weekly |
| Large pellets | Often too big for the mouth | Avoid or crush very finely |
This is a peaceful gourami for calm aquariums. Suitable companions include small rasboras, peaceful tetras, small Corydoras-type catfish, kuhli loaches, small livebearers in compatible water, and larger shrimp colonies in well-planted tanks. The best tank mates are gentle, similarly sized fish that do not rush the surface at feeding time.
Avoid fin-nippers, large cichlids, fast barbs, predatory fish and assertive gouramis that will claim the same surface space. Male Croaking Gourami can display to each other, especially in breeding condition, but this is normally manageable in a planted aquarium with enough visual barriers.
| Tank mate group | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small rasboras and peaceful tetras | Good | Choose calm shoals that leave the surface relatively quiet. |
| Corydoras-type bottom dwellers | Good | They occupy a different level and suit planted community layouts. |
| Shrimp | Possible | Adults usually fare better than tiny shrimplets; plant heavily. |
| Large gouramis or cichlids | Avoid | Too assertive or predatory for this small, shy species. |
Males are often slimmer, more colourful and may show longer pointed fin extensions, while females tend to look fuller through the body. Sexing is easiest when the fish are mature and settled. During courtship, males may croak, display and build a bubble nest under floating plants or a broad leaf.
For breeding, use a quiet planted aquarium or a separate shallow tank with warm water, low flow and floating cover. The male tends the bubble nest and eggs after spawning. Fry are tiny and need infusoria or similarly small first foods before moving on to baby brine shrimp. If you are not breeding them deliberately, simply provide cover and avoid disturbing bubble nests during water changes.
Healthy Croaking Gourami should have clear eyes, intact fins, steady breathing, an alert response and a smooth body line. Stress signs include hiding constantly, clamped fins, washed-out colour, rapid breathing or refusal to feed. Most problems come from immature aquariums, strong flow, aggressive tank mates, cold surface air or poor water quality.
On arrival, float and acclimate gradually, keep lights dim, and release into an aquarium with cover already in place. Do not chase them around the tank after release. Give them quiet time, then offer a small food portion once they have settled.
| First 24 hours | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Keep dim | Reduces panic and helps shy fish settle. |
| Food | Offer a tiny portion after settling | Prevents waste if fish are still cautious. |
| Surface | Keep warm air above the water | Labyrinth fish breathe from the surface. |
| Observation | Check breathing and fin condition | Early stress signs are easier to correct quickly. |
Croaking Gourami can be kept as a pair, a trio, or a small loose group. A pair is easiest in a smaller planted aquarium, while a group is more interesting if the tank has enough cover. Males may display, croak and hold small surface territories, especially around floating plants, so the layout should create several quiet pockets rather than one exposed open surface.
If you are choosing between two variants or sizes, match the fish by body size where possible. Larger individuals can be more confident at feeding time, while smaller fish may need extra cover and a quieter introduction period. When adding them to an existing aquarium, turn the lights down and feed the resident fish first so the new gouramis are not immediately crowded.
| Group plan | Tank size | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Single fish | 60 litres+ | Possible, but less natural behaviour is seen. |
| Pair | 60 litres+ | Good for a calm planted display with clear territories. |
| Trio | 75 litres+ | Useful when the tank has dense plants and multiple hiding zones. |
| Small group | 90 litres+ | Best for observing croaking displays and social interaction. |
The appeal of Croaking Gourami is not just colour. It is the combination of sound, posture and gentle surface behaviour. A settled fish will hover under leaves, pick tiny foods from the water column, inspect plant roots and occasionally flare to another gourami. Under soft light the body can show bronze, green, blue and dark striped patterning, with delicate fin edging that is easy to miss in a bare dealer tank.
This species is also a good lesson in why product-specific care matters. It is tougher than very delicate blackwater specialists, but it is still a small labyrinth fish that dislikes rough companions and unstable aquariums. The most successful keepers usually focus on quiet water, regular small water changes, clean but gentle filtration, and a varied feeding schedule.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are Croaking Gourami beginner-friendly? | Yes for a careful beginner with a cycled, planted aquarium and peaceful tank mates. They are not ideal for a new uncycled tank. |
| Do they need to be kept alone? | No. They usually do better as a pair or small group, provided the tank has enough cover. |
| Will they eat plants? | No. They may pick at biofilm and tiny organisms on plants, but they are not plant destroyers. |
| Can they live with bettas? | It is not the safest default mix. Both are labyrinth fish using similar surface space, so temperament and tank layout matter a lot. |
| Why are they hiding? | Common causes are bright light, strong flow, boisterous tank mates, lack of floating cover, or recent transport stress. |
For live fish, the quality of the listing and the quality of the dispatch process should match. Croaking Gourami are checked before packing, then sent in insulated livestock packaging with oxygen, secure bagging and seasonal temperature protection when conditions require it. We avoid rushing sensitive fish through unsuitable dispatch windows.
After delivery, the best result comes from a prepared aquarium: lights dimmed, water stable, cover in place and no sudden chasing from resident fish. If anything looks unclear before ordering, ask us about group size, current stock condition or tank mates so the fish go into the right home first time.
We treat Croaking Gourami as a sensitive small labyrinth fish, not as a generic mixed-community item. Fish are checked for condition, feeding response and suitability before dispatch. Orders are packed with insulated livestock packaging, seasonal temperature protection where needed, and species-aware handling for UK delivery.
Your order is supported by our Live Arrival Guarantee and practical aftercare guidance. For best results, prepare a mature planted aquarium before delivery day, use gentle acclimation, and contact us if you are unsure about tank mates, group size or feeding. This species rewards careful setup with behaviour you rarely see from more ordinary community fish.
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