Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

While generally well-behaved, The Three spot gourami possesses a semi-aggressive streak that requires careful tank mate selection. They will fiercely defend their chosen territory, especially during feeding or breeding times, but usually ignore fish that stay out of their way. Providing a large enough aquarium with distinct visual boundaries helps mitigate most aggressive tendencies.

Diet

Omnivore

In the wild, The Three spot gourami is an opportunistic omnivore that consumes a wide variety of plant and animal matter. In captivity, they will readily accept high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. Supplementing their diet with blanched vegetables or spirulina-based foods will ensure optimal health and coloration.

Sex ratio

Flexible

This species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism, making it relatively easy to distinguish males from females once they reach maturity. Males typically display much more vibrant colors and possess longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins compared to the females. It is often recommended to keep one male with multiple females to prevent the male from excessively harassing a single female during courtship.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

To maintain optimal digestion, The Three spot gourami should be fed small meals once or twice a day. It is important to only offer as much food as they can consume entirely within two to three minutes. Overfeeding can lead to severe water quality issues and potentially fatal digestive blockages.

Bioload

The Three spot gourami generates a moderate bioload, requiring a balanced approach to aquarium filtration. Weekly water changes and regular vacuuming of the substrate are recommended to prevent the accumulation of dissolved organics. An appropriately sized canister filter or a well-designed internal filter is often highly beneficial.

Flow

Stagnant

The Three spot gourami naturally inhabits slow-moving or stagnant waters, such as swamps, rice paddies, and densely vegetated ponds. They strongly prefer an aquarium with very gentle water circulation, as strong currents will cause them significant stress and exhaustion. Using a sponge filter or baffling the output of a power filter is highly recommended.

Reproduction

Oviparous

During reproduction, the male of The Three spot gourami constructs a complex bubble nest at the water's surface, often incorporating floating plant material. After a delicate courtship embrace, the female releases eggs which the male meticulously collects and places into the nest. The male then fiercely guards the nest and fry until they are free-swimming, at which point he should be removed to prevent him from eating them.

Compatibility & tankmates

This species can be somewhat territorial, especially towards conspecifics or similar-looking fish. They should be kept with robust fish that occupy different water levels to minimize aggressive encounters. Providing plenty of visual barriers like plants and driftwood will help reduce tension within the aquarium.

Tank level

Top

You will typically find The Three spot gourami swimming in the upper and middle regions of the aquarium. They occasionally venture to the bottom to forage but prefer the open swimming space and cover provided by tall plants in the upper layers. Providing a layout with plenty of vertical structure helps them feel most at home.