Sparkling Gourami's

[BigBen]

Any tips on keeping these? Seriously fish reckons my new tanks are big enough for a small group and I'm really itchy to try different species at the moment! I think I've seen them in a blackwater set up before, or should it be heavily planted. I'll use floating plants either way It would be species specific probably.

[black ghost]

Pretty much as SF advises. Dim lighting, plant thickets, as much floating plant cover as possible, still water (not much flow), and a lid so they don’t get a chill from breathing the air above. No energetic tankmates. Peace and quiet. They’re found in both black- and clearwater. Avoid very hard water.They’re actually quite hardy as long as they have those conditions, and feel safe.
They would be best with just a sponge filter with a return that pointed straight upwards rather than across the surface, to minimise the flow. They’re not strong swimmers.

[BigBen]

Pretty much as SF advises. Dim lighting, plant thickets, as much floating plant cover as possible, still water (not much flow), and a lid so they don’t get a chill from breathing the air above. No energetic tankmates. Peace and quiet. They’re found in both black- and clearwater. Avoid very hard water.They’re actually quite hardy as long as they have those conditions, and feel safe.
They would be best with just a sponge filter with a return that pointed straight upwards rather than across the surface, to minimise the flow. They’re not strong swimmers.

Thanks! It will be a HMF but I can turn them down very low. I tested my tapwater earlier, ph7.2 , Kh 1 and GH 3, so soft water isn't an issue! Is a group ok? I wondered about how typically gourami they are with males not being too keen on one another?

[black ghost]

The tiny gouramies are not typical at all. They’re very peaceful, males and females, and prefer being in a group. Even a pair alone will be peaceful. Males can get a bit defensive when they’re breeding but they only need a few inches of space.
Soft water is best for them.

[Martinspuddle]

I've always felt the smaller Gouramis fair better in a species only set up. Noisy little critters too!


Turn the volume up.

A few years back 'Foo the Flowerhorn' did a series of videos with these fish in a no filter set up.

[BigBen]

It will be species only most likely. Potentially some Oto's but probably not as I don't want to massively stock the HMF tanks.

That first video has sold them even more!

[BigBen]

Are Sparkling Gourami also known as Croaking Gourami, or is that a different fish?

[black ghost]

Different fish, but same requirements.

Sparkling is Trichopsis pumila.
Croaking is Trichopsis vittata.

[BigBen]

Great, thanks! I wish shops would display scientific names as well as a common name. Makes life far easier!

[LookoutTrout]

Great, thanks! I wish shops would display scientific names as well as a common name. Makes life far easier!

When I asked my local shop about that they said they display what they are told by the supplier. I think accurately identifying many types of similar fish is beyond many shop staff so they leave the responsibility up to buyers.