Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
Also known as Lace Gourami, Leeri Gourami
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
One of the most peaceful gouramis, covered in a lace of pearly spots, and an elegant centerpiece for a larger community. Males are territorial with one another and hard on females at breeding time, so provide plenty of plants, and skip very vigorous or aggressive tank mates.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 21 US gal
- Footprint
- 35 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 75–86 °F
- pH
- 5.5–8
- Hardness
- 2–30 dGH
- Swim zone
- Top
- Min group
- 2 fish
- Lifespan
- 4–8 years
Pearl Gourami care mistakes to avoid
The mistakes beginners most often make with this species.
- Plan for a pair, and read up on sexing before you buy so you do not end up with two rival males.
- Keep only one male unless the tank is large, because males are territorial.
- Avoid aggressive or very vigorous fish, which will make it withdrawn.
- Add plenty of plants and cover, so females can escape a persistent male.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons.
Pearl Gourami tank mates and swim zone
Top
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Puntius titteya
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Paracheirodon innesi
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Neon Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Boraras brigittae
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Trigonostigma espei
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Lambchop Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Hyphessobrycon eques
Serpae Tetra is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Pearl Gourami.
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger Barb is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Pearl Gourami.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Pearl Gourami is a poor match.
Pearl Gourami feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed flakes and pellets, which it accepts readily.
- Add frozen or live foods, plus occasional vegetable matter.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Mature males develop a stunning orange-red throat and longer fins. Females are plainer with rounder fins.
Plants that suit it
Species facts
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Native to
- Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia
- Adult size
- 4.7 in (12 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Harem/Pairs
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Low/Still
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- Low
- Vulnerable to nippers
- Yes
- Breeding
- Moderate
Pearl Gourami FAQ
What size tank do Pearl Gouramis need?
Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons (81 liters), with a footprint of 90 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Pearl Gouramis should I keep?
A pair works well. Add more only if the tank is large enough for each fish to claim its own space.
What can live with Pearl Gouramis?
Good matches on our list include Cardinal Tetra, Black Neon Tetra and Glowlight Tetra. Avoid White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Pea Puffer.
How long do Pearl Gouramis live?
Care guides report about 4–8 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Are pearl gouramis aggressive?
Rarely toward other species. They are among the calmest gouramis, though males may spar with each other.
Where to buy Pearl Gourami
We have not found a store that sells Pearl Gourami under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Complete the tank
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
Tank size for this species
At least 21 US gallons (81 L), 90 x 30 cm footprint
Filter
Hang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
We are still choosing products for this.
Heater
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29
Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
We are still choosing products for this.
Water Conditioner
Dechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Maker's page · Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test Kit
Liquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
Maker's page · Sold at The Shrimp Farm · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.