Gold Gourami

The Gold Gourami (Trichopodus leeri) is a very beloved and distinctive labyrinth fish that is commonly kept in freshwater aquariums. It inhabits many swamps in Southeast Asia, particularly Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia, and Thailand. Like all labyrinth fish, it possesses an air-breathing organ that supplements its gills and allows it to live in aquatic areas that are stagnant and low in oxygen content. Both sexes display the namesake pearl-colored spotting across the entire body and mature males also develop intense, bright orange coloration.

The Gold Gourami prefers an aquarium with dense vegetation and plenty of cover, including floating plants. Darker substrate will result in the most vivid coloration for this fish. Slow to moderate water movement is preferred, so turbulent conditions should be avoided. This fish is typically peaceful with other fish, but adult males can be territorial with one another and may be relentless in their pursuit of females during breeding. This is much less of an issue in larger aquariums with plenty of cover. While it is possible to keep this fish with most peaceful invertebrates of appropriate size, it is likely to prey on dwarf shrimp and other invertebrates small enough to be considered prey.