Snakeskin Gourami
Trichopodus pectoralis
The 'Snakeskin Gourami' (25 cm). An authentic leviathan among aquarium labyrinth fishes. Incredibly long and massive, shows broken diagonal striations reminiscent of a python. Despite its river monster bulk, it is a gentle giant extremely peaceful, suitable only for enormous tanks.
Temperatura da água
23 - 28 °C
Valor de pH
6 - 8
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Meio
Tamanho adulto
25 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 300 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 1
GH
5 - 20 dGH
KH
2 - 10 dKH
TDS
95 - 400 ppm
Condutividade
148 - 625 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographic Origin and Biotope: FishBase places Trichopodus pectoralis in the Mekong basin of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and in the Chao Phraya basin.
Taxonomy and Morphology: FishBase records a maximum length of 25.0 cm TL and a common length of 15.0 cm TL for male/unsexed specimens.
Social Behaviour: This recovery makes no statement about social behaviour.
Colouration and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no statement about colouration or sexual dimorphism beyond the separately recorded male/unsexed lengths.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Verified source data: Trichopodus pectoralis is freshwater, benthopelagic and potamodromous; FishBase reports pH 6.0–8.3, dH 2–3 and 23–28 °C. The source records shallow sluggish or standing water with abundant aquatic vegetation, and generally reports aquatic plants as its food.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Esta espécie é originária de: Asia (Thailandia, Cambogia, Vietnam, Laos).
Origem
Sul e Sudeste Asiático
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Semi-aggressive
- Known for its exceptionally calm demeanor, The Snakeskin gourami is an ideal candidate for a relaxed community aquarium. They rarely bother other fish and often retreat to safety rather than engage in any form of conflict. Their gentle nature means they can easily be outcompeted for food by faster, more boisterous species.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- In the wild, The Snakeskin 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.
- Expectativa de vida
- 4-6 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 25 cm
- Proporção sexual
- 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.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- To maintain optimal digestion, The Snakeskin 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.
- Carga biológica
- Medium to High
- The Snakeskin gourami is known for producing a significant amount of waste, placing a high demand on the aquarium's filtration system. Heavy mechanical and biological filtration is absolutely critical to process the ammonia output safely and efficiently. Frequent and substantial water changes are an unavoidable part of keeping this species healthy in the long term.
- Fluxo
- Stagnant
- The Snakeskin 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.
- Risco de salto
- Yes
- Like many fish, The Snakeskin gourami has the capacity to jump if startled by sudden noises, aggressive tank mates, or poor water parameters. While they are not notorious escape artists, they may leap during feeding time or breeding pursuits. It is always a wise precaution to maintain a tightly fitting lid to prevent any accidental escapes.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- During reproduction, the male of The Snakeskin 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.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Community
- This species is generally very peaceful and makes an excellent addition to a community aquarium. They get along perfectly with other similarly sized, non-aggressive species that share similar water requirements. It is best to avoid keeping them with overly boisterous or large fin-nipping tank mates that might cause them stress.
- Nível do tanque
- Middle
- You will typically find The Snakeskin 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.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 2,8 ± 0,1 se
- Resiliência
- Média (1,4 - 4,4 anos)
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5156
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.01318, b = 3.06
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (15 / 100)
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