Gold Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus)

Identify the gold colour form correctly

The Gold Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) is a freshwater fish in the gourami family Osphronemidae. Its underlying species occurs across parts of Southeast Asia, including the Mekong basin in Laos, Yunnan, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam. FishBase records a maximum length of 15 cm standard length. This fish suits a prepared keeper who can provide a planted aquarium with a 90 × 30 cm base, preserve surface access and respond if its temperament becomes assertive.

Gold is a selectively bred colour form of the Three-spot Gourami rather than a separate species. Seriously Fish also lists opaline, cosby, marbled and silver forms alongside the natural blue-grey form. Older aquarium labels may use Trichogaster trichopterus for the same fish; its scientific name is Trichopodus trichopterus.

This is an obligate air-breathing species with a labyrinth organ, so it must always have a clear route to the surface. Its elongated pelvic-fin rays also help it sense its surroundings. Those features do not reduce the need for clean water, biological filtration or sufficient swimming space.

Decide whether it fits your plans

Choose the dispatch size without mistaking it for adult size

One purchase supplies one Gold Gourami. The live size selector may show 2 - 3 cm, 3-4 cm, 4 - 5 cm, 5 - 6 cm, 6 - 7 cm and XL choices. Treat XL as its named dispatch grade and plan permanent space around the recorded 15 cm adult size.

The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. A 3-4 cm fish therefore still needs a permanent aquarium planned around the recorded 15 cm adult length. A smaller dispatch size does not make a shorter aquarium suitable, and litres alone do not replace the required base dimensions.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Gold Gourami listing has no sex-guaranteed option.

Do not base a pair, trio or breeding plan on receiving a particular sex. Dispatch size, colour intensity and the gallery cannot determine the sex supplied. Temperament must also be observed directly because some individuals remain peaceful while others become assertive as they mature.

Some gallery images have been digitally enhanced to improve image quality. They show the listed type of animal rather than guaranteeing the exact markings of the individual supplied, so natural colour and pattern can vary.

Make the choice in this order

1. Confirm that the permanent aquarium has at least a 90 × 30 cm base.
2. Plan for the recorded 15 cm adult length and strong body shape.
3. Choose the dispatch size shown in the live selector.
4. Treat each purchase as one fish.
5. Base social decisions on observed behaviour rather than assumed sex.

Plan the aquarium around the adult size

Provide at least a 90 × 30 cm aquarium base for this fish. Seriously Fish pairs that footprint with an approximate volume of 81 litres for a 90 × 30 × 30 cm aquarium. Treat both base dimensions as the starting point: a taller aquarium with less length or width does not provide the same swimming and turning room.

The starting footprint covers the Gold Gourami itself, not an unlimited community. Increase the available space when other adult fish, multiple territories or substantial decor reduce usable room. Count every companion at adult size and leave clear paths between cover, feeding areas and the surface.

A practical check is to view the aquarium from above before stocking. If wood, rocks and dense plants leave only narrow channels across a 30 cm width, the nominal dimensions overstate the usable base. Rearrange the layout until a full-grown, deep-bodied fish can turn, feed and move between sheltered and open areas without being funnelled past another fish.

Build a planted layout with clear surface access

Arrange the aquarium around cover, open swimming space and an unobstructed route to the surface. Seriously Fish recommends planting, floating cover and open areas for this species. Each feature has a separate purpose: planting provides shelter, open water provides movement and feeding room, and breaks in floating cover allow the fish to breathe atmospheric air.

Divide the footprint deliberately

• Sheltered areas: use live plants and suitable decor to create places where a fish can move out of view.
• Open areas: retain horizontal room across the 90 × 30 cm starting base for swimming and turning.
• Surface routes: leave several clear openings rather than one narrow point that another fish could control.
• Feeding space: keep at least one open area where food can be seen and reached without entering dense planting.
• Maintenance access: leave room to siphon waste, inspect the intake and observe the fish from different angles.

Aquarium gravel or sand can form the base. Choose a layout that can be cleaned during routine water changes and does not collect large pockets of uneaten food. Keep passages broad and smooth around wood, stones and equipment so the gourami’s body and elongated pelvic-fin rays are not forced through tight gaps.

Floating plants should provide cover without sealing the surface. Thin them when the fish has to search for an opening, when food becomes trapped beyond reach or when the filter return can no longer circulate the surface effectively. Open water and cover should divide the same aquarium rather than compete for all of it.

Let behaviour test the design

Watch where the fish rests, feeds and surfaces. If it remains confined behind one object, is intercepted whenever it moves into the open or cannot reach food without being chased, change the layout or separate incompatible fish. More decor is not automatically better; the useful adjustment is the one that restores movement, feeding access and retreat choices.

Review the arrangement as the fish grows. A route that works for a recently dispatched fish may become too narrow for a 15 cm adult. Move or thin planting before the layout turns the aquarium into isolated pockets with no usable path between them.

Choose stable water values shared by the whole aquarium

Keep the Gold Gourami at 24–28°C, pH 6.0–8.0 and 5–12 dGH. These routine values are the overlap of FishBase’s recorded environmental range, Seriously Fish’s aquarium range and OATA’s gourami and paradise fish guidance. OATA’s figures are group guidance, not a species-specific optimum.

OATA also gives carbonate hardness of 3–10 dKH for the group, ammonia and nitrite at zero mg per litre, and nitrate at no more than 20 mg per litre above the normal tap-water level. Use these readings together: temperature, pH and hardness describe the water, while ammonia, nitrite and nitrate help show how effectively the aquarium is processing waste.

Our water chemistry guide explains what pH, GH and KH measure. After testing, use the water matcher to compare your measured values with this range.

Use readings to make one change at a time

If temperature is outside the range, confirm the result with another thermometer before adjusting the heater. If pH differs between the aquarium and replacement water, identify the difference before a water change rather than adding products by guesswork. When GH or KH changes unexpectedly, test the source water and review any recently added rock, substrate or water treatment before making another change.

Do not chase the midpoint of a range when the aquarium is stable inside it. A steady 25°C and pH 7.2 shared by all inhabitants is a sound plan; repeatedly moving those values towards an arbitrary centre creates avoidable instability. Record results at the same point in the maintenance cycle so changes become easier to recognise.

Establish biological filtration before adding the fish

A labyrinth organ does not replace filtration. Gold Gouramis release ammonia like other fish, and a biological filter must process that waste. The RSPCA explains that beneficial filter bacteria convert toxic ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate. Both ammonia and nitrite should read zero mg per litre before the fish is introduced.

Prepare and mature the aquarium before arrival. If this is a new system, follow our first tropical tank guide and use water tests to judge readiness. A tank that has merely been filled and heated does not yet have the established bacterial population needed to process livestock waste.

Size the equipment around real water volume

For the approximately 81-litre example associated with a 90 × 30 × 30 cm aquarium, Seriously Fish uses turnover of four to five times the volume each hour and identifies a filter rating of about 325–405 litres per hour. Use that calculation as a starting example because pipework, head height, debris and loaded media can reduce actual flow.

Direct the return so circulation and surface movement continue without turning the open swimming area into a forceful jet. The fish’s ability to breathe air is not a reason to stop useful circulation. Surface access, biological filtration and clean water perform different jobs and all remain necessary.

Respond to a failed reading

If ammonia or nitrite appears after stocking, stop adding animals, check the filter is running and remove uneaten food. Test again to track whether the reading is rising or falling. Review any recent filter cleaning, power interruption or sudden increase in feeding because each can affect waste processing.

Clear water is not proof that the biological filter is coping. Ammonia and nitrite are invisible, so weekly testing remains useful after the aquarium appears settled. Keep a simple written record; a gradual change across several tests often reveals a problem before the fish’s behaviour changes.

Feed a complete diet in one measured daily meal

Feed a varied omnivorous diet. FishBase records wild feeding on zooplankton, crustaceans and insect larvae, while Seriously Fish describes a broader natural diet that also includes terrestrial and aquatic plants, algae, small invertebrates and detritus. Choose foods that cover both the animal and plant components of that diet.

Build the meal in two parts

• Complete staple: use a good-quality flake, granule or pellet in a particle size the fish can take comfortably.
• Variety: rotate small live or frozen items such as daphnia, small bloodworm or tubifex alongside other suitable omnivore foods.

OATA’s gourami guidance recommends feeding once a day and offering only what the fish can eat within a few minutes. Measure the portion by observing the whole feeding period rather than dropping in a habitual amount. Food left after that period adds waste and should lead to a smaller portion next time.

Do not add more food simply because one fish is being excluded. That approach increases waste without ensuring the intended animal eats. Move feeding points apart, reassess the companion fish and separate an aggressor when the Gold Gourami cannot obtain its share safely.

Review the portion over time

A recently introduced fish may approach food differently from an established one, so watch whether it can see, reach and consume the staple. Once it has a predictable routine, compare appetite and body condition from week to week. A sudden change carries more meaning than one piece of food being ignored.

Live and frozen foods add variety but should not displace a complete staple. Keep the total meal within the few-minute limit. If frozen food releases excess liquid or fragments, offer a smaller amount and maintain the same water-quality checks used for any other meal.

Introduce the fish gradually and protect the first week

Prepare the aquarium before the parcel arrives. Confirm 24–28°C, zero ammonia and zero nitrite, check that the filter is operating normally and make sure cover, open swimming room and surface routes are ready. Someone must be present to receive live fish.

Follow the arrival procedure in order

1. Receive the parcel in person so it is not left unattended.
2. Start filming while the parcel is still sealed, with the outer box visible.
3. Open the parcel in one continuous take and show the fish still inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed.
4. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.
5. Never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

Keep the order number and continuous video if a Live Arrival Guarantee claim is needed, and contact us the same day if anything has gone wrong. Read the current delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy for the complete claim terms.

Use the first day to establish a baseline

After release, check that the fish can find cover and reach the surface without being intercepted. A surface visit is expected from a labyrinth fish and is not a problem by itself. Look instead for persistent exclusion, erratic swimming, altered breathing, loss of balance or repeated chasing.

At the first feeding, watch whether the fish approaches suitable food and whether another inhabitant prevents access. Keep the meal small enough to be consumed within a few minutes. Do not compensate for competition by scattering an excessive portion through the aquarium.

Protect the first week

• Daily: compare swimming, breathing, colour, hiding and appetite with the developing normal routine.
• After conflict: check whether every fish can feed, retreat and reach the surface.
• After a behaviour change: test temperature, ammonia and nitrite before assuming the cause.
• Before another addition: allow the biological filter and current community to settle.

A calm first day does not guarantee long-term compatibility. Some Gold Gouramis become more assertive after settling or maturing. Keep the separation plan usable and continue observing the fish beyond the initial arrival period.

Respond to health changes with water-led checks

Learn the fish’s normal appetite, swimming pattern, colour, breathing and use of cover. OATA identifies warning signs including hanging at the surface, sitting on the bottom, erratic swimming, darker or paler colour, increased aggression, unusual hiding, altered gill movement, white spots, fluffy growths, damaged fins or scales, changing body condition and reduced interest in food.

Check causes in a safe order

1. Confirm the temperature with a separate thermometer.
2. Test ammonia and nitrite, then review nitrate, pH, GH and KH.
3. Inspect filter output and look for an intake, impeller or media blockage.
4. Review recent additions, feeding changes, chasing and access to the surface.
5. Separate an affected or aggressive fish when continued contact creates a welfare risk.
6. Contact us if signs persist, are severe or become worse.

Do not diagnose a condition from one surface visit, one missed meal or one colour change. The same sign can occur alongside poor water quality, social stress or a health problem. Record what changed, when it began and the measured water values so the pattern is clear.

Use observation without delaying action

Watching for a pattern does not mean leaving a fish exposed to continuing aggression. Move it when it is being cornered, denied food or blocked from the surface. Likewise, a clear-looking aquarium should not delay testing because dissolved ammonia and nitrite cannot be judged by sight.

Avoid changing several water values and treatments simultaneously. Multiple interventions make the cause harder to identify and can create additional stress. Begin with measured water conditions, filter operation and immediate welfare risks, then use qualified guidance for persistent clinical signs.

Plan social numbers around behaviour rather than a formula

Do not rely on a fixed social number to guarantee calm behaviour. Seriously Fish reports that some Gold Gouramis remain peaceful while others become spiteful as they mature. Males are territorial, will squabble amongst themselves and can become very aggressive during breeding behaviour.

Start with the complete adult aquarium plan rather than an assumed pair or trio. Include the 90 × 30 cm starting footprint, each companion at adult size, usable swimming room, feeding access, surface routes, visual separation and a safe place to move a fish if conflict continues.

Compare the practical choices

Plan social arrangements without assuming a particular sex. Individual temperament can still require separation.

Recognise when the arrangement has failed

• One fish is repeatedly cornered or cannot leave cover.
• A fish is excluded from the measured daily meal.
• Chasing blocks access to the surface.
• Fins or scales become damaged.
• Moving decor does not stop persistent targeting.

Prepare the backup before adding multiple territorial fish. A mature, filtered alternative aquarium or a practical return or rehoming route allows action before injuries become severe. Observation is useful only when it is paired with a workable response.

Review the arrangement as the fish matures. A community that functions around smaller fish may change when the Gold Gourami approaches its 15 cm adult length and occupies more space. Reassess routes, feeding access and conflict rather than assuming an early peaceful period settles the question permanently.

Screen every tank mate for adult size and temperament

Community compatibility is conditional. Seriously Fish identifies robust barbs, larger characins, loricariids, loaches and other medium or large gouramis as possible companions. Check each proposed fish against adult space, water and behaviour before mixing them.

Apply the complete screen

Avoid timid species, fish small enough to be eaten and fish that may nip fins. These exclusions remain in place even when the aquarium is large. More space can improve retreat choices, but it does not turn an unsuitable feeding or predation relationship into a dependable one.

Use caution with multiple males and other territorial gouramis because mature behaviour may change after a calm introduction. Do not rely on similar body length as the only screen; feeding speed, swimming area, surface use and territorial behaviour can create conflict between fish of comparable size.

Small invertebrates face predation risk because this species eats small invertebrates in nature. Planting can provide refuge but cannot make a shrimp colony dependable. When preserving shrimp or their young is the priority, use a separate protected aquarium.

Observe the introduction for specific outcomes

• Every fish reaches food without persistent displacement.
• The Gold Gourami can move between cover and the surface.
• No fish remains hidden because another controls the open area.
• Chasing stops rather than continuing throughout the day.
• Fins, scales and body condition remain intact.

Individual behaviour can still vary after a proposed companion passes these checks. Separate fish when persistent chasing, exclusion or injury appears. To compare other labyrinth fish as separate candidates, browse the gouramis and labyrinth fish collection and assess each animal on its own adult requirements.

Answer the key questions before choosing

How big does a Gold Gourami get?

Gold Gourami reaches 15 cm standard length according to FishBase. Plan its permanent aquarium around that adult figure rather than the dispatch size.

What size aquarium does a Gold Gourami need?

Gold Gourami needs at least a 90 × 30 cm aquarium base; Seriously Fish pairs this with approximately 81 litres at 90 × 30 × 30 cm. Add planting, floating cover, open swimming room and clear surface access.

How many Gold Gouramis should I keep together?

Do not rely on a fixed number to guarantee calm behaviour. Whether keeping one Gold Gourami or more, provide the full adult footprint and monitor feeding, chasing, hiding and surface access; males are territorial and will squabble amongst themselves.

Is a Gold Gourami suitable for beginners?

Gold Gourami suits a beginner with reservations about its variable temperament. It is best treated as an intermediate choice for a keeper who can maintain 24–28°C, pH 6.0–8.0 and 5–12 dGH, monitor aggression and separate incompatible fish.

What does a Gold Gourami eat?

Gold Gourami is omnivorous. Feed a good-quality flake, granule or pellet as the complete staple, rotate small live or frozen foods such as daphnia, small bloodworm or tubifex, and offer only what it eats within a few minutes once daily.

What temperature and pH does it need?

Keep this fish at 24–28°C, pH 6.0–8.0 and 5–12 dGH. These values are the overlap of FishBase’s environmental range, Seriously Fish’s aquarium range and OATA’s group guidance; keep ammonia and nitrite at zero mg per litre.

Is it aggressive or likely to nip fins?

Individual temperament varies: some remain peaceful, while others become spiteful as they mature, and males are territorial. Monitor chasing and exclusion, retain a separation plan, and avoid companions that may nip its fins.

Which fish or invertebrates can live with it?

Consider robust barbs, larger characins, loricariids and loaches only after checking adult space, shared 24–28°C water, feeding and temperament. Avoid timid fish, fish small enough to be eaten and fin-nipping species; small invertebrates face predation risk.

How should I receive it alive in the UK?

Film every delivery continuously from the sealed parcel as it is opened, with the fish still inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed. Someone must be present to receive it; float the bag for 20–30 minutes, never pour the bag water into the aquarium, and follow Tropical Fish Co’s delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy.

Consult the reference library

• FishBase: Trichopodus trichopterus — scientific identity, family, distribution, recorded environment, wild biology and maximum length.
• Seriously Fish: Trichopodus trichopterus — aquarium footprint, water conditions, layout, diet and behaviour.
• OATA: Gouramis and paradise fish — group water, feeding, maintenance, introduction and compatibility guidance.
• RSPCA: Aquarium environment — biological filtration and aquarium welfare.