Bettas & gouramis · Trichopsis pumila

Sparkling gourami care guide

Also called: Pygmy gourami, Dwarf croaking gourami, Pygmy croaking gourami

The sparkling gourami is a 1.5 in (4 cm) nano gourami with blue-green sparkles and red-edged fins, and it can croak out loud. Keep a pair or small group in a heavily planted 10 gallon (38 L) tank with calm, tiny tank mates.

Sparkling gouramis need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), a group of 2 or more, and water at 24–28°C (75–82°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 3.8 cm (1.5 in) and are peaceful.

Plan a tank with sparkling gouramisSee all tank mates

Sparkling gourami quick facts

Scientific nameTrichopsis pumila
FamilyOsphronemidae
OriginStill, plant-choked waters of the lower Mekong basin and Thailand (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam)
Adult size3.8 cm (1.5 in)
Minimum tank10 gallons (38 L)
Temperature24–28°C (75–82°F)
pH6–7.5
Hardness (GH)3–12 dGH
Group size2 or more (group)
TemperamentPeaceful
Swims atMiddle
DietInsectivore
Care levelModerate
Lifespan3–5 years
Safe with shrimp?Mostly (eats baby shrimp)
Safe with plants?Yes
  • Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.

Tank setup

A pair or trio fits a 10 gallon (38 L) tank, and a bigger group needs more room and more plants. Use dense planting, floating plants and a dark substrate so they feel safe. Keep the flow very gentle, for example with a sponge filter. Fit a tight lid and leave a small air gap: they are good jumpers, and warm, humid air above the water helps them breathe.

How many sparkling gouramis in a tank?

The smallest common tank that suits sparkling gouramis is a 10 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.

TankSparkling gouramis (alone)
3 gallonToo small
5 gallonToo small
10 gallon2–12
15 gallon2–18
20 gallon2–24
20 gallon long2–24
29 gallon2–35
40 gallon2–49
55 gallon2–67
75 gallon2–91
125 gallon2–153

What you need for sparkling gouramis

Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 2 sparkling gouramis. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.

Tank and equipment

Food and extras for sparkling gouramis

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Water parameters

Aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and about 3–12 dGH. They come from still, weedy ditches and ponds and prefer soft, slightly acidic water. Change around 25% of the water weekly and avoid sudden swings.

Best tank mates for sparkling gouramis

These popular species share sparkling gouramis' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 83 good matches.

Avoid keeping sparkling gouramis with

  • Angelfish: Angelfish can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Sparkling gourami 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Sparkling gourami 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sparkling gouramis.

Feeding

In nature they hunt tiny insects and zooplankton. Offer foods small enough for their mouths, such as crushed flake, micro pellets and fine granules, plus live or frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp and cyclops several times a week. Live foods bring out the best color.

Behavior

They are peaceful and shy with other species and lose out at feeding time to faster fish. Males spar and croak at each other, which is mostly display, but keep more females than males. Good tank mates are other calm nano fish that like warm water, such as chili rasboras, ember tetras, pygmy corydoras and kuhli loaches. Larger or pushy fish will keep them hidden.

Breeding

Sexing is tricky: males are usually brighter with longer, more pointed fins, and a light behind a female shows her egg sac. The male builds a small bubble nest, often under a leaf, and guards it. Breed them in a covered, planted tank, remove the female after spawning, and feed the very small fry infusoria before microworms and baby brine shrimp.

Tips from experienced keepers

  • Listen for a soft croaking or clicking sound, especially when males display to each other.
  • Feed tiny foods. Large pellets go uneaten and foul the water.
  • Keep them only with other small, calm fish; even mid-sized tetras can outcompete them for food.
  • They eat baby shrimp, but adult cherry shrimp usually survive in a dense planted tank.
  • Keep the lid closed. Sparkling gouramis jump well, especially when startled or stressed.

Frequently asked questions

Do sparkling gouramis really croak?

Yes. Both sexes make a soft croaking or clicking sound with their pectoral fins, mostly during displays and courtship. In a quiet room you can often hear it.

How many sparkling gouramis should be kept together?

Keep at least a pair, and ideally a small group with more females than males, such as one male and two or three females. They do not school, but they are more active and colorful in company.

Can sparkling gouramis live with shrimp?

Usually yes with adult cherry shrimp, but they will hunt shrimplets. Add moss and dense plants if you want the shrimp colony to grow.

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.