Trichopsis pumila
Labyrinth fish, surface access required. Makes audible 'croaks' from the swim-bladder, especially during courtship. Calm slow currents preferred.
Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) reaches 3.5–4 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 40 L. Native to Southeast Asia (Mekong, Chao Phraya), it lives in the mid to top water column with a peaceful (mild male sparring) temperament. Aim for 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–10 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 4–5 years with good care. Keep sparkling gourami in groups of 4+, loose group schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: micropredator, Micro pellets, daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Mostly.
Care at a glance
Labyrinth fish, surface access required. Makes audible 'croaks' from the swim-bladder, especially during courtship. Calm slow currents preferred.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 2 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
The parameters that decide whether sparkling gourami fits in your tank.
Mid to Top
No
Small group of 4+
Osphronemidae
Micropredator
Micro pellets, daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp.
4–5 yrs
Medium (bubble-nester)
Stagnant rice paddies and roadside ditches of Vietnam
Southeast Asia (Mekong, Chao Phraya)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Ember tetras, harlequin rasboras, chili rasboras, pygmy corydoras, cherry shrimp (adults).
Boisterous tetras (e.g. serpae), bigger gouramis (territorial conflicts), nippy fish.
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Best displayed as a pair or trio in a quiet, dimly lit, heavily planted nano. Their behaviour is fascinating but easy to miss — watching them at dusk is the right time.
'Trichopsis' references their hair-like extended ventral rays. 'Pumila' = 'tiny'.
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Susceptible to bacterial infections in dirty water. Surface-breathers — never leave the lid open at draft sources or they catch chills via the labyrinth organ.
The 'croaking' isn't from the mouth — it's a swim-bladder mechanism, audible especially during courtship and territorial display. Many keepers think it's diseased clicking.
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
40 L+. Heavily planted top and middle (floating plants are non-negotiable). Tannins, leaf litter, very gentle flow. Sponge filter or low-flow internal.
3 weeks. Provide cover and tannins immediately to lower stress.
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Where it lived before it came home.
Slow ditches, paddies, and densely vegetated peat pools in southern Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand. Soft, slightly acidic, often low-oxygen water.
Insect larvae (mosquitoes especially), small crustaceans, worms, biofilm.
Not threatened.
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
Males have pointed dorsal and anal fins; females rounder fins and bodies. Males show more intense iridescence on flanks.
Bubble-nesters under leaves or in mop fibres. Soft acidic water, very low flow, 26–28 °C, surface plants to anchor nest. Males guard nest aggressively (toward other fish, not female). Fry need infusoria for first week.
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Wild type only. Trichopsis schalleri and T. vittata are similar congeners often sold mixed.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) needs a minimum tank of 40 L. They live in the mid to top water column and should be kept in groups of 4+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–10 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: Mostly. Plant safety: Yes.
Sparkling Gourami are micropredator. Micro pellets, daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled. Breeding difficulty: medium (bubble-nester).
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 4–5 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
