Opaline Gourami Care 101: Tank Mates, Tank Size, Feeding and Breeding
Opaline Gourami is also known by its common name of the Three Spot Gourami due to the large iridescent spots found on both lobes of each caudal-fin lobe.
These fish species native to the shallow and warm water bodies of the Southeast Asian region include Borneo Malaysia, Sumatra Pakistan, Thailand, etc.
It belongs to the Osphronemidae fish family which contains many labyrinth fishes where its scientific name derives from the Greek ‘Trichos’ for hair and ‘Gaster’ for the stomach.
This refers to their ability to absorb atmospheric air through a specialized organ known as the ‘labyrinth organ,’ which is found in their intestines, allowing them to breathe oxygen directly from the air.
| Quick Facts: | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | : Opaline Gourami, Three Spot Gourami, Blue Gourami, Gold Gourami |
| Scientific Name | : Trichopodus trichopterus |
| Family | : Osphronemidae |
| Origin | : Ponds, slow-moving rivers, rice fields in Southeast Asia |
| Care Level | : Easy |
| Lifespan | : 4 - 6 years |
| Size (average) | : Up to 6 inches long |
| Diet | : Omnivore |
| Breeding | : Egglayer |
| Social | : Community friendly with same-sized fish |
| Temperament | : Mostly peaceful |
| Minimum Tank Size | : 20 Gallons (above 25 is the best) |
| Temperature | : 72 °F – 82 °F (22 °C – 27 °C) |
| Water Hardness | : 5 - 30 dGH |
| Water pH Level | : 6.0 - 5.5 |
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Species Overview
Opaline Gourami is one of the most beautiful and showiest fish among several species of Gourami that have been bred for the aquarium trade. They are scientifically known as Trichogaster trichopterus.
In addition to being a stunningly attractive fish, it also has some unique characteristics, which make it an excellent choice for many Aquarists.
Four main species can be found in the trade:
- The Platinum or White-Spotted Gourami ( Trichogaster trichopterus)
- The Yellow/Green/Blue/Orange/Gold Neon or Moonbeam Gouramis ( Trichopsis pumila )
- The Blue Neon Dwarf Gourami ( Colisa lalia ), and
- The recently-discovered (1994) Opaline or Marbled Gourami ( Trichogaster opala )
The White Spotted Gourami has several color forms, including blue and green. It is sometimes confused with the Gold Neon Dwarf Gourami, but it is not as intensely colored.
The four gouramis mentioned above are closely related and look very similar in finnage and shape. Still, they all have distinctive spotted markings which give rise to their common name Three Spot Gourami.
Like other members of the Osphronemidae family, such as Paradise Fish, they have a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe from the atmospheric air.
However, unlike most other Gouramis, they are relatively peaceful and make good choices for aquarists who keep community tanks.
Opaline Gourami Lifespan
Not only can their sizes vary significantly depending on the living environment, but Opaline Gourami lifespan as well. Some have lived up to 6 years, while others have been known to live up to 4 years.
This has a lot to do with the conditions they are kept in. If you want your Opaline Gourami lifespan for as long as possible, you must provide them with adequate conditions.
Bad water quality and limited space can cause stress on these fish which will shorten their life span. If you want your Opaline Gourami to live its entire 6 years lifespan, then it’s essential to take care of them properly.
Opaline Gourami Size
The Opaline Gourami size of an adult fish varies depending on the environment in which they live. However, Opaline Gourami size will reach a length up to 6 inches when it is fully grown.
However, some newly breeder Three Sport Gourami varieties have been known to grow much larger than that, up to a foot in length.
Behavior And Temperament
Opaline Gouramis are usually peaceful where they can get along with other fish species of similar size and temperament, provided the aquarium is appropriately decorated with hiding spots for each of them to reduce any aggressive behavior.
However, there have been reports of this fish species being territorial towards conspecifics, including their kind. Therefore it is best to keep only one male per aquarium unless you are looking out for breeding purposes.
They are also agile swimmers due to their large pectoral fins that provide excellent maneuvering abilities even at slow speeds.
Appearance And Colors
The Opaline Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus or Colisa trichopterus) is one of the largest members of the Family Osphronemidae, weighing in at around 3 ounces when fully grown.
Its body is much laterally compressed with an oval shape that tapers slightly towards the tail end, while its pectoral fins are relatively large which provides excellent maneuvering abilities even at slow speeds.
Their colors are vibrant in males, where they have bright blue iridescent stripes. In contrast, females are plainer than dark markings, only to develop into a relatively brighter color once sexually mature.
Opaline Gourami Care
Their care requirements are relatively straightforward as long as the aquarium is decorated adequately with hiding spots for each to reduce any aggressive behavior.
However, there have been reports of this fish species being territorial towards conspecifics, including their kind. Therefore it is best advised only to keep one male per aquarium unless you are looking out for breeding purposes.
You should give them a well-established filtration system that includes an efficient biological filter media where nitrifying bacteria can colonize inside together with activated carbon.
Certain medications can be adsorbed by activated carbon to remove or neutralize any dangerous chemicals present within your aquarium. Three Spot Gourami are also known to be agile swimmers due to their large pectoral fins that provide excellent maneuvering abilities even at slow speeds.
Therefore, it is best advised for your aquarium to have a planted background and sides with small foreground decorations where this fish species can quickly move around in search of hiding spots should they feel threatened.
Allowing this process to take place will mimic the cycle in nature and result in a healthier and more robust population of this fish species.
– Opaline Gourami Tank Size
These Three Spot Gourami need at least 20 gallons tank to thrive and stay healthy since they are relatively active and agile swimmers. Females can become territorial toward each other, especially during spawning periods.
It is advised to keep only one male with multiple females, provided there are enough hiding spots for each of them within your aquarium.
– Opaline Gourami Tank Setup
It is best advised to have an open area where you can easily spot all the inhabitants within your aquarium while providing good water circulation around the sides of the tank along with an efficient filtration system, as stated above.
The substrate should consist of sand or fine gravel with a few pieces of driftwood or branches for hiding spots, and the lighting within the aquarium should be bright to mimic their natural habitats.
– Water Conditions And Parameters
Maintaining the water condition is one of the most critical things when keeping your Gourami fish. Changes in water conditions will result in the health of your fish and lifespan issues. So must keep the water conditions below levels at your best.
- Tank Temperature: 72 °F – 82 °F (22 °C – 27 °C)
- Water Acidity Range: 6.0 – 8.5 pH
- Water Hardness Levels: 5 – 30 dGH
It is best to have aquarium water testing KIT that will help you to keep checking on the water conditions regularly.
– Suitable Plants
Since this fish species consume mainly small crustaceans and insects, Three Spot Gourami will not only help keep your tank clean but, at the same time, provide hiding spots for them to stay safe from any aggressive behavior.
Any live aquarium plant will do as long as it is hardy enough to survive within an aquarium with a pH level below 7.5 since they tend to be slightly acidic.
Therefore, you can choose between;
- Anubias
- Java Fern
- Amazon Sword plant
- Anacharis
- Java Moss Plant
– Possible Diseases And Prevention
Since Three Spot Gourami fish are known to be prone to diseases just like any other fish species, it is best advised to provide them with a well-balanced diet. A well-maintained tank may help to prevent most of the diseases that may occur.
The best food includes live feeder foods such as bloodworms or brine shrimp once in a while with high-quality flake food within their reach at all times to avoid malnutrition since this can lead to stress and eventually disease outbreaks.
Opaline Gourami Diet And Feeding
In the wild, an Opaline Gourami’s primary source of food is insects and insect larvae. Three Spot Gourami also eat some amount of plant matter and fruit, which they extract from the water with a specially adapted tongue.
In captivity, they can be induced to eat crickets or worms if necessary. Aromatic fish foods such as bloodworms or even cooked peas may encourage them to feed more readily in captivity.
In this case, instead of feeding these things only 2 to 3 times per week, it might be better to feed them every day to keep their digestive tract working properly.
Opaline gouramis are well known for their preference for small, live foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. These should only be fed once or twice per week to reduce the risk of feeding these live foods.
Three Spot Gourami do much better when they are fed high-quality flake food supplemented with occasional treats of frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and other suitably sized meaty foods.
Is feeding Opaline Gourami is easy?
All it takes is a sinking pellet or two, and they’ll take care of the rest. If you’re worried about overfeeding your fish, feed only what it will eat in 2 to 3 minutes, then remove any uneaten food after that time (or sooner if it starts to cloud the water).
Feeding too much food can cause disease in your fish.
Opaline Gourami Male Or Female Differences
Opaline Gouramis are relatively easy to sex for being a member of the labyrinth fish family. Females will have a flatter belly and a duller coloration, while males will be thinner with more vibrant coloration and three spots on their dorsal fins.
Note that inexperienced owners may find it difficult to differentiate between sexes. Still, it should not take long for you to determine if your opaline Gourami is male or female under proper care.
In addition, this species is usually sold at 1 to 2 inches, so it can be quite large before you notice these differences in appearance. Lastly, females can also be identified by the presence of eggs or fry in their bellies.
Opaline Gourami Breeding
Opaline Gouramis are bubble nest builders, meaning that during the breeding season, they will try to collect bubbles from anywhere in the tank and deposit them underneath a leaf or other structure.
Once a layer is built up, female pear gourami will deposit her eggs inside it, and male Opaline Gourami will fertilize them. The eggs will then be protected while they incubate for roughly 8 to 12 days until fully developed.
In addition, you should provide your opaline Gourami with an area of vegetation where it can build its bubble nest if you want to encourage this during the breeding season.
Opaline Gourami Tank Mates
Opaline Gouramis are best kept with other peaceful fish species of their same size, although Three Spot Gourami tend to be aggressive towards similar species.
With that in mind, you should not house Opaline Gouramis with Bettas or any of their relatives as they will become territorial. In addition, try to avoid housing them with slower-moving fish.
Finally, do not house your Opaline Gouramis with other tank mates in a tank smaller than 50 gallons since this can also cause aggression issues among tank mates.
The ideal fish species to keep as Opaline Gourami Tank Matea are;
- Cherry Barbs
- Ember Tetra
- Kuhli Loach
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Honey Gourami
- Zebra Danio
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Neon Tetra
Origin And Distribution
Opaline Gouramis originate from Southeast Asia, particularly South Thailand, where they are popularly known to be aquarium fish species exported worldwide for sale in pet stores.
This species of Gourami can also be found in several other countries within their natural habitats, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and Laos.
FAQs
How Many Opaline Gouramis Should Be Kept Together?
In general opaline gouramis are best kept in groups of 5 or more, as they can become stressed if kept alone. However, this is not always the case, and some owners have had success by housing them singly.
If you end up buying a single fish, then it will likely be less active since it knows there isn’t anyone else around to keep it company.
Are Opaline Gouramis Aggressive?
Opaline gouramis are generally peaceful fish, although males may fight with one another for breeding rights. Three Spot Gourami are generally aggressive towards similar species but are otherwise reasonably easy-going compared to other labyrinth fish family members.
Are Opaline Gouramis Fin Nippers?
No, opaline gouramis are pretty chill fish overall and can typically be kept with a wide variety of fish without any issues.
We have found that they tend to get along most with fish, such as Black Phantom Tetras or Pearl Gouramis. In addition, they can be housed in a community tank provided the other fish are not from the same family.
How Big Do Opaline Gouramis Get?
An Opaline Gouramis size grows to an average of 6 inches long, although some may end up quite a bit larger depending on their tank environment.
Where Is Opaline Gourami For Sale?
Opaline Gourami (AKA Three Spot Gourami) are commonly found for sale, also you can find them at your local pet store if you look hard enough. If you want to buy Opaline Gouramis online, there are few online sellers available such as eBay.com.
Before buying from anywhere else, make sure that you read through customer reviews and see what other people think about their service and additional products.
In general, Opaline Gourami fish are not very expensive fish, with most being sold for between $5 to $15 each in the US Aquarium market. This is because they are pretty small and good community fish that don’t require overly special care.
However, if you want a specific color morph or pattern, they can become significantly more expensive depending on the retailer.
Final Thoughts
Opaline Gouramis make excellent fish for a medium-size fish tank due to their hardiness and peaceful nature. Overall these are great fish that are very simple to care for, provided that you keep them in a larger tank with at least 20 gallons of capacity.
However, be sure to avoid housing them with aggressive fish species since it can lead to aggression issues that are both unpleasant for your fish and potentially dangerous to some species.
