
Pearl gourami
Trichopodus leerii
A calm, drifting wanderer that goes up for a breath at regular intervals.
The Pearl gourami (Trichopodus leerii) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Osphronemidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. Adults grow to about 11 cm; the largest on record measured 12 cm (total length). The IUCN Red List rates it Near Threatened. In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 90 cm long and water at 24–29 °C.
- Size
- 11 cm
- Smallest tank
- 90 cm
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
- Care
- Easy
In the aquarium
Temperature24–29 °C
pH6.0–7.8
Hardness3–15 °dGH
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Calm
- Water layer
- Surface
- Group
- Lives on its own
- Plants
- Plant safe
These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.
Which tank it fits
- Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
- Standard90 cm · 180 litres16 of them
- Wide120 cm · 300 litres27 of them
- Living room180 cm · 650 litres59 of them
- Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres109 of them
- Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres130 of them
Who it lives with
Gets along67 species
- Sailfin molly
- Swordtail
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Scissortail rasbora
- Bristlenose pleco
- Congo tetra
- Molly
- Dwarf gourami
- Freshwater angelfish
- Bronze corydoras
- Diamond tetra
- Silver hatchetfish
- Dwarf chain loach
- Emperor tetra
- Cherry barb
- Cardinal tetra
- Lemon tetra
- Penguin tetra
- Harlequin rasbora
- Black neon tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Glowlight tetra
- Guppy
- Green neon tetra
Caution18 species
Not together14 species
Water temperatures do not overlap
Aggressive with peaceful
These two do not get along
In the wild
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Climate zone
- Tropical
- Habitat
- Midwater, close to the bottom
- Largest on record
- 12 cmtotal length
- Aquarium trade
- Very common
Conservation status
Classification
- OrderAnabantiformes
- FamilyOsphronemidae
- GenusTrichopodus
- SpeciesTrichopodus leerii
- Described byBleeker, 1852
In other languages
- German
- Mosaikfadenfisch
- Russian
- Жемчужный гурами
- Chinese
- 珍珠毛足鱸
Quick answers
- Pearl gourami size: how big does it get?
- Adults reach about 11 cm. The largest on record measured 12 cm (total length). Record sizes among the 52 Osphronemidae species on LumaReef: 1.1 cm (Harvey's Licorice Gourami) to 70 cm (Giant Gourami).
- Pearl gourami tank size: what is the minimum?
- A tank at least 90 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Standard tank or larger.
- Pearl gourami water parameters: what does it need?
- Temperature 24–29 °C, pH 6.0–7.8, hardness 3–15 °dGH. Close to what most Osphronemidae on LumaReef need (22–28 °C).
- Pearl gourami tank mates: what can it live with?
- It gets along with 67 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Sailfin molly, Swordtail, and Boesemani rainbowfish.
- Pearl gourami: alone or in a group?
- It can be kept on its own.
- Pearl gourami and plants: is it plant safe?
- Yes, it leaves plants alone.
- Pearl gourami: is it endangered?
- The IUCN Red List rates it Near Threatened. Threatened among the 45 assessed Osphronemidae species on LumaReef: 24.
Similar species
Sources
Pearl gourami: compiled from these references.









