Blue Gourami
Trichogaster trichopterus
The Blue Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) is a semi-aggressive fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons), water held at 72-82°F, and a pH of 6-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Southeast Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Blue Gourami Tank Setup
Give them at least 110 litres (29 US gallons) with gentle flow, water at 72-82°F, and a pH around 6-8. Gouramis breathe air at the surface, so keep it clear of thick film. They reach about 13 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Blue Gouramis Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Blue Gourami Tank Mates
May nip fins; avoid with long-finned or slow tankmates. Males territorial with other gouramis. The Blue Gourami is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Blue Gouramis Good for Beginners?
Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.
Blue Gourami - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Blue Gouramis need?
Blue Gouramis need a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Blue Gouramis need?
Keep them at 72-82°F with a pH of 6-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Blue Gouramis eat?
Blue Gouramis are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Blue Gouramis good for beginners?
Yes - Blue Gouramis are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Common mistakes with Blue Gouramis
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 110 litres (29 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Blue Gouramis will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Blue Gouramis
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
