Pearl gourami care guide
Also called: Mosaic gourami, Lace gourami, Leeri gourami
The pearl gourami is a gentle, 4.5 in (11.5 cm) gourami covered in pearly white spots, and males grow a bright orange-red throat. It rarely bothers other fish and suits a planted community tank of at least 29 gallons (110 L), ideally 3 ft (90 cm) long.
Pearl gouramis need a tank of at least 29 gallons (110 L), and water at 24–28°C (75–82°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 11.5 cm (4.5 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with pearl gouramisSee all tank mates
Pearl gourami quick facts
| Scientific name | Trichopodus leerii |
|---|---|
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Origin | Lowland swamps of Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo (most aquarium fish are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 11.5 cm (4.5 in) |
| Minimum tank | 29 gallons (110 L), at least 90 cm (35 in) long |
| Temperature | 24–28°C (75–82°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–15 dGH |
| Group size | Alone, or 1 male with several females |
| Temperament | Peaceful; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 5–8 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Long fins attract fin nippers.
Tank setup
One pearl gourami needs at least 29 gallons (110 L) in a tank about 36 in (90 cm) long, such as a standard 30 gallon, and a group does best in a tank 4 ft (120 cm) long. Plant it densely, add floating plants and some wood for shade. Keep the current gentle and leave an air gap under the lid so they can breathe at the surface.
How many pearl gouramis in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits pearl gouramis is a 40 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Pearl gouramis (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Up to 8 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 11 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 16 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 26 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.
What you need for pearl gouramis
Sized for a 29 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits pearl gouramis. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 29 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 29 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 242 lb (110 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 150 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 79 °F (26 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 115–175 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 45 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 30 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for pearl gouramis
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and about 4–15 dGH. Wild fish live in soft, acidic swamp water, and tannin-stained water brings out the male's orange color. Farm-bred fish do well in most clean, stable tap water with weekly water changes.
Best tank mates for pearl gouramis
These popular species share pearl gouramis' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 78 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Avoid keeping pearl gouramis with
- Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like pearl gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
- Cherry shrimp: Pearl gourami eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Pearl gourami 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Pearl gourami 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of pearl gouramis.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl gouramis.
Feeding
They eat almost anything offered. Use a quality flake or small floating pellet as the staple and add frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia a few times a week. Some vegetable food, such as spirulina flake, rounds out the diet.
Behavior
Pearl gouramis are calm and a bit shy, and they hide if kept with boisterous fish. Males spar with each other, so keep one male with two or three females. Their long fins and feelers attract nippers, so avoid tiger barbs and serpae tetras. Good tank mates include peaceful tetras, rasboras, corydoras, bristlenose plecos and dwarf cichlids.
Breeding
Males have a pointed dorsal fin, longer fin rays and an orange-red throat at spawning time; females are plainer and rounder. The male builds a large bubble nest among floating plants and guards the eggs. Breed a pair in a shallow, warm tank near 28 °C (82 °F), remove the female after spawning and the male once the fry swim. Feed infusoria first, then baby brine shrimp.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep one male with two or three females so no single fish gets chased too much.
- Never mix them with tiger barbs or serpae tetras, which nip their long fins and feelers.
- Wood or leaf litter tints the water and deepens the male's orange throat.
- They can eat small shrimp and shrimplets. Larger amano shrimp in a dense planted tank usually fare better.
- Dim light and floating plants make these shy fish much bolder.
Frequently asked questions
Are pearl gouramis aggressive?
No, they are among the most peaceful gouramis. Males may spar with each other, mostly at spawning time, but they rarely bother other species.
How many pearl gouramis should be kept together?
One on its own is fine. For a group, keep one male with two or three females, or several males only in a tank around 4 ft (120 cm) long.
Can pearl gouramis live with neon tetras?
Yes, usually. Pearl gouramis are gentle and rarely bother adult neon tetras. Neons prefer slightly cooler water, so keep the tank near 24–25 °C (75–77 °F) and keep the neons in a group of eight or more.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.