These are one of the most popular freshwater fish. They belong to the Osphronemidae family and come from southeast Asia.
The three spot gourami is named from the characteristic points on the sides of the fish. Generally, 2 points are visible and the third one is barely visible or does not exist at all. Depending on the physical characteristics it exhibits, we can find it under different names: opaline gourami, gold gourami or blue gourami.
The three spot gourami is perfect for beginner aquarists because they are attractive and peaceful fish, easy to care for and easily accessible.
Common name(s) | Opaline gourami, blue gourami, gold gourami |
Binomial name | Trichopodus trichopterus |
Care Level | Easy |
Temperament | Mostly peaceful but the male can be aggressive |
Size range – lenght | 5 inches |
Water parameters | Temp 73–82°F (25–28°C) pH 6.5–7.5 Hardness 5-19 dGH |
Tank level | Top of the tank |
Diet | Omnivore |
Lifespan | 4 – 6 years |
Breeding | Egg layer |
Tank mates | Other similar-sized gouramis, and other peaceful freshwater fish |
Origin
Gourami comes from the backwaters and rice fields of Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and the island of Indonesia.
Gouramis were once found only in parts of China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Currently, they also are found in the Philippines and India.
Generally, they remain in rivers, swamps and marches, but during heavy rainfall they move to flooded forests. After the flood subsides, the fish return to their original habitat.
Size
In the wild, they grow up to 6 inches long. Captive-bred fish generally grow to 5 inches in length.
If we want to fully develop the potential of three spot gourami, we should keep them in large aquariums and feed themhigh-quality food.
They usually live for 4 to 6 years.
Availability
They are very easily available in pet stores and online. Prices may vary slightly, but you can get them for as little as $5. Typically, prices range from $10 to $15.
Appearance and Sex Differences
The fish have a laterally flattened lanceolate body. The wild form is uniformly gray-olive with a blue tint and lighter reflections. The name of the fish is associated with the gray-black spots on the sides of the body.
The first spot is located in the ceter of the body, the second is close to the tail, and the third is on the gill covers. However, it should be noted that sometimes the third spot is invisible or does not exist at all.
Ventral fins transformed into long sensory whiskers. The pectoral fins are transparent and almost colorless.
The real decoration of the fish are the dorsal, caudal and anal fins. They have numerous light yellow spots with a characteristic pattern.

Males are much slimmer than females. This is especially noticeable when we look at the fish from above. They also have a more colorful dorsal and living fin.
The female’s dorsal fin is also more rounded.
Presumably, a slightly different color variety of this species, popularly known as the blue gourami, was imported from Sumatra.
It is sometimes given the rank of a subspecies of Trichopodus trichopterus sumatrus. The shape is very similar to the original form, but the color is pale blue and there are no spots on the sides.

As a result of over a hundred years of breeding in aquariums, many artificial color varieties of this species have been obtained, resulting from crosses and mutations. Gouramis with 2 spots on the sides were bred.
However, the most famous variety is the so-called gold gourami. Its shape does not differ from its original form, but its body is creamy golden in color. There are no spots on the sides. Sometimes only the second spot is visible. Gold gouramis unfortunately lose their colors with age and become more greyish.

There are also exceptionally light specimens – pseudo-albino – with red eyes.
An equally popular variation is the so-called Cosby. It is most often sold as oapline gourami.
The skin of these fish has an accumulation or lack of natural pigment, and as a result, it is covered with a marble pattern ranging from light gray through various shades of blue to almost black. Particularly characteristic are dark, extensive spots on the back of the body.

We can obtain interesting results by crossing individual varieties. It turned out that offspring acquire indirect relationships to their parents.
Gold gouramis combined with blue ones produce very light, almost white fry, sometimes called silver gouramis.
A different effect can be achieved by combining a gold gourami with a opaline one. The young fish will be dark golden with a beautiful red tint. This hybrid is sometimes called amethyst gourami.
Behavior
Three spot gouramis are peaceful fish, but sometimes males tend to be aggressive and can nip or bite each other.
If gouramis feel threatened, they will hide among plants. It is best to keep one male and several females to control aggression.
Males may also have a tendency to harass females, so it is worth having more of them in the tank.
They usually stick to the top of the tank. They have a brilliant organ that allows them to breathe oxygen from above the water surface.
Therefore, remember to ensure that the water surface is heated to the appropriate temperature.
You should observe how the fish behave. In the case of gouramis, we can quickly see when the fish are stressed.
Care
Caring for three spot gouramis are actually very easy. These fish are very compatible and sociable and do not attack other aquarium inhabitants. Unless we have fry in the tank that the gouramis will treat as food.
There are sometimes more aggressive individuals that can nibble fish with long fins. However, they are rare.
There is slight aggression between adult males. It is recommended to keep one male in the group and several females. If the aquarium is large enough and densely planted, there may be more males. However, we must be vigilant about fights between fish.
You should ensure regular, quite abundant (approximately 30% of the tank’s contents) water changes and systematically remove fish excrements from the bottom. Gouramis produce large amounts of excrement that can affect water parameters.
Tank Requirements
The tank should be tightly covered. The respiratory organ in the three spot gourami is relatively delicate and sensitive to colds.
The layer of air above the water surface should be heated to a temperature of 73 to 82 °F. The tank should be brightly lit and have a filter and heater.
The water flow in the tank should be light, so install a gentle water pump.
The best aquarium for gouramis will have a capacity of at least 30 gallons. Of course, the larger the aquarium, the better.
Coarse sand or fine gravel will work well on the ground, and pieces of wood, roots and bamboo shoots will work well as decorations.
You can also use fragments of coconut shells placed at the bottom of the tank.
Three spots gouramis like an aquarium densely overgrown with plants with a small space left for swimming.
Gouramis won’t damage plants, so you can choose any type for your aquarium. It’s also helpful to add floating plants to spread out extra light, which is particularly important if you’re planning to breed gouramis.

Diseases
It is easy to observe disturbing symptoms in the three spot gourami. A sudden change in color, white spots on the fins, change in behavior or loss of appetite are the most important symptoms that should concern you.
A common disease among gouramis is Ich. However, they also suffer from constipation, which you should also pay attention to.
Ich
When fish get infected with a virus, they develop noticeable white spots on their body and tail. To cure this illness, use the right water treatments.
If any fish in your tank gets sick, take them out from community tank and treat them until the spots disappear. Also, make sure to treat the water in the tank to stop other fish from getting sick.
Overeating
Gouramis eat a lot, so make sure you give them the right amount of food to avoid overeating.
Gouramis need food with good fiber content. Without enough fiber, their bodies can’t properly digest food. Constipation, shown by a swollen belly, is the main sign of a fiber shortage.
To prevent constipation, just feed three spot gouramis fiber-rich food.
Tank Mates
Gouramis get along with many types of fish, making them suitable for community tanks. Here are some good options to consider:
- Tetras
- Mollies
- Swordtails
- Danios
- Corydoras
- Loaches
However, it’s best to avoid keeping snails and shrimp in the tank with gouramis, as there’s a high chance the gouramis will see them as food and try to eat them.
Diet
Gouramis are versatile eaters and can consume almost every type of food typically used in aquariums.
As long as it’s the right size for them, of course.
They enjoy a variety of foods, including live options like brine shrimp and bloodworms, as well as all sorts of frozen foods. They’re also happy to eat dry foods such as flakes, tablets, pellets, and even dried daphnia as a fallback.
The ease of feeding makes the gourami a fish that is fully recommended even to the most beginner aquarists.
However, it’s important to avoid overfeeding them, as gouramis have a tendency to gain weight easily.
Ensure they can finish their food within a few minutes and avoid leaving excess food that can lead to health issues like bloating and constipation.
If not managed, these problems could ultimately result in the fish’s death.
Breeding
Breeding is simple. They can spawn even in a community tank.
However, if you want to breed them intentionally and raise a lot of baby fish – fry, it’s better to move a male and female pair to a separate tank that’s at least 20 gallons in size.
Keep the water temperature between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The other settings should stay the same as mentioned before. Keep the water level in the aquarium low, around 6 inches.

Having plants, especially floating ones, makes us pretty sure that the fish will lay eggs soon.
Three spot gourami builds a nest of air bubbles surrounded by saliva among the water plants at the surface.
Right below it, gourmis perform a mating dance, after which the female lays hundreds of eggs.
Sometimes, a plump female can produce as many as 2,000 eggs at once.
The male fish gathers these eggs in his mouth and carefully deposits them among the nest’s follicles that he’s constructed.
It’s important to catch the female after mating because her part in the process is finished once she’s laid her eggs.
Once the eggs are laid, the male fish starts taking care of them. He also chases away other fish, including the female.
The fry hatch after 24 hours and initially remain in the nest. The baby fish stay in their nest for 3 or 4 days.
Around this time, you should wait a bit before doing anything with the aquarium. If the male stays with the fry too long, he might start eating them.
You should feed the young fry with baby brine shrimp, liquid food, or very small bits of dry food.
The baby fish grow fast but not all at the same speed. Sometimes, bigger fish might eat smaller ones. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to move the bigger fish to a different tank.
In conclusion
So you have seen that gouramis are easy to care for and great for community tanks.
Remember to keep to a ratio of one male to several females in the tank to prevent aggression and fights among the fish.
By following these simple guidelines, you’ll find that gouramis are not only easy to care for but also provide endless entertainment and beauty to your tank.
What experiences or tips do you have to share about keeping gouramis in community aquariums?