Three Spot Gourami Medium

The Three Spot Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus), also known as the Blue Gourami, Opaline Gourami, or Gold Gourami (depending on color variant), is a popular freshwater aquarium fish from Southeast Asia.

Heres a quick overview:

Basic Info

• Scientific name: Trichopodus trichopterus

• Common names: Three Spot Gourami, Blue Gourami, Opaline Gourami, Gold Gourami

• Family: Osphronemidae

• Origin: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia

• Size: Up to 6 inches (15 cm)

• Lifespan: 46 years (can live longer in ideal conditions)

Tank Requirements

• Tank size: Minimum 30 gallons (larger for groups)

• Water temperature: 2428 C (7582 F)

• pH: 6.08.0

• Hardness: 535 dGH

• Filtration: Moderate; they prefer calm water

• Aquascape: Heavily planted with open swimming space and some floating plants

Diet

Omnivorous theyll eat:

• Flake food and pellets

• Frozen or live foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia)

• Some plant matter (they may nibble soft leaves or algae)

Behavior & Compatibility

• Generally peaceful but can become territorial, especially males.

• Best kept singly, in a pair, or in a group with enough space and hiding spots.

• Compatible with peaceful community fish (e.g., tetras, rasboras, corydoras), but avoid fin-nippers or other aggressive species.

Special Traits

• Labyrinth organ: Like bettas, they can breathe air directly from the surface.

• Three spots: The name comes from the dark spot at the mid-body and tail base the third spot is actually the eye.

• Color variants: Blue, gold, silver, and opaline are all selectively bred morphs.

Perfect heres a full guide on breeding and tank mates for the Three Spot Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus):

Breeding Three Spot Gouramis

Preparation

• Separate breeding tank: 2030 gallons, shallow (about 68 inches of water).

• Temperature: 2830 C (8286 F).

• pH: Around 7.0.

• Setup:

  • Floating plants or Indian almond leaves for cover.

  • Gentle filtration (sponge filter).

  • Tight-fitting lid (warm, humid air helps fry develop their labyrinth organ).

Male Behavior

• The male builds a bubble nest at the water surface using air bubbles and saliva, often under floating plants.

• He becomes territorial and will guard the nest area.

Spawning

1. Introduce a well-fed pair (conditioned with live or frozen food).

2. Courtship involves circling and flaring; the male wraps around the female beneath the bubble nest.

3. The female releases hundreds of eggs the male collects them and places them in the nest.

4. Remove the female after spawning to prevent aggression.

5. The male guards and tends the eggs until they hatch (2436 hours).

Fry Care

• Remove the male once fry become free-swimming (about 34 days after hatching).

• Feed fry infusoria or liquid fry food initially, then transition to baby brine shrimp or finely crushed flakes.

• Keep water very clean and stable.

Good Tank Mates

Three Spot Gouramis can be semi-aggressive, especially males but theyre usually peaceful in a community setup with the right companions.

Peaceful, Compatible Fish

• Tetras: Black skirt, lemon, glowlight, or neon tetras (avoid very small ones in smaller tanks).

• Rasboras: Harlequin, scissortail, or brilliant rasboras.

• Corydoras catfish

• Loaches: Kuhli or zebra loaches.

• Rainbowfish

• Plecos: Bristlenose plecos (avoid large or aggressive ones).

• Swordtails, mollies, platys, guppies (if tank is large enough).

Avoid

• Fin-nippers: Tiger barbs, serpae tetras.

• Aggressive fish: Cichlids, bettas, or large gouramis.

• Multiple males in a small tank they will fight over territory.