All fish / Osphronemidae

Giant Gourami

Osphronemus goramy

Also known as giant gourami, common giant gourami, true giant gourami, gourami, albino giant gourami, red tail giant gourami, golden giant gourami, giant gouramy, ปลาแรด, kalui, ikan kaloi, オスフロネームス・グーラミィ

A massive, deep-bodied gourami that starts as a striped juvenile and becomes a brownish-grey adult with a bulging forehead in males. It is kept for its size, long life and personable behaviour, often learning to recognise its keeper, and is also an important food fish in Asia.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

45 cm

Temperature

20 to 30 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a pair in a very large tank

Diet

Omnivore: pellets, vegetables, fruit, aquatic plants, insects, worms and shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

15 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam; widely introduced elsewhere

Breeding

Males build a large bubble-and-plant nest and guard the eggs and fry. It is bred routinely in Asian ponds, but spawning in home aquariums is rare because of the space adults need.

Good to know

Juveniles are sold small but can exceed 60 cm, so only buy one if you can provide a huge tank or indoor pond. Large adults will eat small fish and can be territorial with others of their kind.