All fish / Osphronemidae

Crossband Chocolate Gourami

Sphaerichthys selatanensis

Also known as crossbanded chocolate gourami, selatan chocolate gourami, chocolate gourami, sphaerichthys selatanensis, selatanensis gourami, セラタネンシス, クロスバンドチョコレートグラミー, sepat coklat, 巧克力丽丽

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A small, shy gourami with a chocolate brown body crossed by pale yellowish bands that run fully across the flanks, often with reddish tones in the fins. It is kept by enthusiasts of blackwater biotopes for its subtle colours and calm group behaviour in dimly lit, heavily planted tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops, artemia and bloodworm, plus fine dried foods once settled

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern and Central Kalimantan, Borneo (Indonesia)

Breeding

A paternal mouthbrooder: the female lays eggs which the male gathers and incubates in his mouth for around two weeks. Breeding is achievable in very soft, acidic, clean water but fry are small and rearing them takes care.

Good to know

Very sensitive to nitrate build-up and hard or alkaline water, so it suits experienced keepers with stable blackwater setups. Easily confused with Sphaerichthys osphromenoides, which has incomplete bands in some forms and is often sold under the same name.