Sparkling Gourami

The Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) is a captivating 3.5 cm nano labyrinth fish famous for two traits: rows of metallic emerald, turquoise, and ruby-red scales framing a neon sapphire-blue eye, and its ability to produce audible clicking or croaking sounds using specialized pectoral fin muscles during courtship and territorial displays.

Keep in a small group of 3–6 individuals in a warm, heavily planted aquarium starting at 30 liters (24–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.0, GH 4–10) with gentle flow and floating plants (Phyllanthus fluitans, Salvinia) to diffuse bright lighting. Because they breathe atmospheric air via their labyrinth organ, maintain warm humid air above the water surface. Because labyrinth fish are sensitive to chill and parasites, keep our 48-Hour Fish Dropsy Guide and Velvet Disease (Oodinium) Cure bookmarked.

Micro-carnivore: relishes live and frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, cyclops, blackworms, and mosquito larvae, alongside high-protein slow-sinking nano granules offered near the surface.

The male constructs a small bubble nest beneath a broad Cryptocoryne leaf or floating plant roots. During courtship, both fish emit rapid croaking clicks before the male gathers 40–100 eggs into the nest and guards the fry until free-swimming.