Easy

Sparkling Gourami

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Trichopsis pumila

Complete Sparkling Gourami care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 5 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Sparkling Gourami

Quick Answer

Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) is a tiny, jewel-like fish from Southeast Asia. It requires a minimum 5 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.0 - 7.0 and temperature range of 24-28°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) is a tiny, jewel-like fish from Southeast Asia. Its body shimmers with blue-green dots, and it produces audible croaking sounds during courtship or territorial disputes.

Setup

A 5-gallon or larger nano tank with dense planting, floating plants, and low flow. Dark substrate and driftwood enhance their colors. A lid is essential as they can jump.

Feeding

Micro pellets, crushed flakes, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and microworms. They prefer live/frozen foods but accept prepared foods.

Compatibility

Peaceful but males can be territorial. Keep as a pair or small group with 2-3 females. Good with other nano fish like Chili Rasboras, Pygmy Corydoras, and shrimp.

Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
24-28°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.0 - 7.0

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Sparkling Gouramis should be kept together?
Maintain a small group of 4 to 6 individuals in a nano tank of at least 10 gallons (38 liters) with a footprint of 20x10 inches (50x25 cm). Sparkling gouramis (Trichopsis pumila) grow up to 1.5 inches (4 cm) and can produce a distinct croaking sound during mating or territory displays. Maintain a 1 male to 2-3 female ratio. Provide densely planted tanks with leaf litter, low current, and floating plants (Frogbit, Salvinia). Tank height should not exceed 12 inches (30 cm). Use a sponge filter with very gentle flow.
What are the exact water parameters for Sparkling Gouramis?
Target pH 6.0 - 7.0, General Hardness 2 - 6 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 1 - 4 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 50 - 150 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 100 - 300 μS/cm, and temperature 77°F - 82°F (25°C - 28°C). They prefer soft, acidic blackwater conditions. Maintain nitrates below 10 ppm with weekly 20% water changes using RO water. Add Indian almond leaves (1 per 3 gallons) and peat filtration. Use a sponge filter with baffled outflow. Avoid strong currents and alkaline substrates.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Sparkling Gouramis?
They are micro-predators requiring 45% protein, 12% fat, 43% plant matter. Feed crushed high-quality flakes, micro granules (0.3 mm), frozen daphnia, cyclops, and live baby brine shrimp 2-3 times daily. They ignore large pellets. Offer spirulina powder weekly. Medication alert: Sensitive to copper (0.1 mg/L max) and formalin. Use malachite green at quarter dose (0.025 mg/L). Praziquantel is safe. Avoid salt (tolerance <2 ppt). Quarantine with methylene blue at half-strength.
How to breed Sparkling Gouramis with environmental triggers?
Condition a male and 2-3 females with live baby brine shrimp and microworms for 2 weeks. Set up a 5-gallon (19 liter) breeding tank with 4 inches (10 cm) of water (pH 6.5, dGH 3, 80°F/27°C), floating plants, and a piece of styrofoam. The male builds a bubble nest; he croaks to attract females. Spawning occurs under the nest; male wraps around female; 50-150 eggs float. Remove female after spawning. Male guards nest until fry hatch (24-36 hours). Remove male after fry become free-swimming (day 3). Fry feed infusoria for 5 days, then baby brine shrimp.

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