From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Chocolate Gourami
Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
- Temperature
- 26–31 °C
- pH
- 4 – 6.5
- Min. tank size
- 75 L
- Lifespan
- 4-6 years
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- difficult
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Sphaerichthys osphromenoides |
| Family: | Osphronemidae |
| Origin: | Southeast Asia (peat swamp blackwater of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | difficult |
| Diet: | carnivore |
| Max Size: | 5.00 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | peaceful |
| Min Group: | 6+ together |
| Varieties: | No cultivated strains — this is a wild-type fish and its appeal is the natural banding. The genuine distinction is between wild-caught and captive-bred stock, and it matters more here than for almost any fish in this guide. Wild specimens require precise water — pH 4.0–6.5 and 0–3 dGH — while captive-bred individuals are more adaptable and tolerate up to around 10 dGH. The same species is a specialist's challenge or a manageable soft-water fish depending on which you have. Buy captive-bred where you can, and ask. Two relatives are traded. Sphaerichthys selatanensis, the Selatan or crossband chocolate gourami, is the other maternal mouthbrooder in the family and looks similar. S. vaillanti, the Vaillant's chocolate gourami, is a paternal mouthbrooder — the male carries the brood — and the female is the more colourful sex, which reverses the usual arrangement twice over. All three want the same blackwater conditions, and all three are worth keeping separately. |
| Lifespan: | 4-6 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Low
- Min Tank:75 L
- Substrate:Dark substrate; leaf litter/botanicals; densely planted blackwater setup
- Plant Safe:Plant-safe
- Filtration:Low (very gentle flow; surface air access)
Chocolate Gourami (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides) is a species of fish in the family Osphronemidae. It is native to Southeast Asia (peat swamp blackwater of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo). The chocolate gourami broods its eggs in its mouth, and the female does it — which makes it, along with one close relative, unique among the anabantoids. Every other gourami and betta in this guide builds a bubble nest. This one spawns nearly upright on the substrate, and the female takes the eggs into her mouth and carries them for 7 to 20 days before releasing 10 to 40 fully formed, free-swimming juveniles. It comes from peat swamp blackwater across the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, and reaches 50 mm standard length. The body is a deep chocolate brown crossed by cream bands. Its reputation for difficulty is real but specific. Wild-caught fish need genuinely extreme water — pH 4.0–6.5 and hardness of 0–3 dGH — while captive-bred fish are considerably more adaptable, tolerating up to around 10 dGH. Which one you have buy decides how hard this fish is.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Keep in
- Groups of 6+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
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