Care and Compatibility of Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii


Introduction

Trichogaster leerii, also known as "Dwarf Gourami" or "Pearl Gourami," is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. It is admired for its beautiful appearance and peaceful behavior, making it a popular addition to community aquariums.

Trichogaster leerii has an elongated and laterally compressed body, with long and elegant fins. Its coloration is variable but generally exhibits golden or pearly tones, with iridescent stripes on the body. Males usually have more vibrant colors and more pronounced fins than females.

Behavior

This fish is known for being peaceful and sociable, allowing it to coexist with a variety of species in a community aquarium. They are slow swimmers and prefer dense vegetation and shelters to feel secure. Males may display territorial behaviors among themselves, but they are rarely aggressive towards other fish.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Trichogaster leerii is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both males and females have a similar appearance. However, males may develop a black spot on their dorsal and anal fins during the breeding season.

Reproduction

Breeding Trichogaster leerii in captivity is possible but requires proper conditions and specialized care. Males will build bubble nests on the water's surface, where they will attempt to attract females for spawning. Once the eggs are fertilized, the male will take care of guarding and protecting the nest. The fry are small and should be fed with live or powdered fry food.

Aquarium Conditions

Trichogaster leerii, also known as the kissing gourami, is a vibrant and peaceful fish that requires a spacious aquarium with plenty of floating plants and dense vegetation areas. It prefers warm, well-oxygenated water, with décor including driftwood and rocks for hiding.

Feeding

Trichogaster leerii is an omnivorous fish and feeds on a variety of foods. Their diet includes dry foods such as flakes and pellets, as well as live or frozen foods like mosquito larvae, daphnia, and brine shrimp. It is recommended to supplement their diet with vegetables such as blanched and crushed lettuce or spinach leaves. Recuerda que si tienes alguna corrección o ajuste que desees realizar en las descripciones, estaré encantado de ayudarte.

Complexity

Caring for Trichogaster leerii is relatively easy. They are hardy fish that can adapt to a variety of water conditions. They are omnivores and accept a variety of foods, but it's important to provide them with a balanced diet to maintain their health and coloration.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Trichogaster leerii (Pearl gourami) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Trichogaster leerii (Pearl gourami) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Pearl gourami with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 100 species compatible with the Trichogaster leerii (Pearl gourami) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (100)

Compatible (54 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

German Blue Ram - Microgeophagus ramirezi

German Blue Ram

Microgeophagus ramirezi

Discus fish - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Discus fish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Ember Tetra - Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Ember Tetra

Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Dragon Violet Goby - Gobioides broussonnetii

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Similar Sizes (12 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Espei Rasbora - Trigonostigma espei

Espei Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

With Reservation (5 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Electric Blue Cichlid - Andinoacara pulcher

Electric Blue Cichlid

Andinoacara pulcher

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Tetraodon Nigroviridis - Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Wasp Goby - Brachygobius Xanthozona

Wasp Goby

Brachygobius Xanthozona

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Considerable size difference (22 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Ruby Tetra - Axelrodia riesei

Ruby Tetra

Axelrodia riesei

Boraras Brigittae Fish - Boraras Brigittae

Boraras Brigittae Fish

Boraras Brigittae

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma viejita

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Nerite Snail - Neritina sp

Nerite Snail

Neritina sp

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Compatible if space is enough (7 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Guppy fish - Poecilia reticulata

Guppy fish

Poecilia reticulata

Agassiz's Apistogramma - Apistogramma Agassizii

Agassiz's Apistogramma

Apistogramma Agassizii

Cockatoo Cichlid - Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Cockatoo Cichlid

Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Platy Fish - Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Multis Fish - Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Multis Fish

Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii
  • Ph: 6.5 - 7.5
  • Temperature (c°): 25 - 29
  • Measures: 12 cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    18 Liters - 5 Gallons
  • Behavior: Peaceful
  • Size: Medium
  • Swimming area: Swim in the middle of the aquarium
  • Water Type: Sweet water