All fish / Osphronemidae

Banded Gourami

Trichogaster fasciata

Also known as giant gourami, striped gourami, colisa fasciata, colisa fasciatus, indian gourami, rainbow gourami, banded gouramy, ปลากระดี่อินเดีย, バンデッド・グラミー, sepat india, 条纹丽丽, 条纹密鲈

A sturdy gourami with an oval body crossed by slanting blue-green bars on an orange-brown base, the male showing brighter colours and a red-edged anal fin when in condition. Like other labyrinth fish it gulps air from the surface, and it is kept as a hardy, calm centrepiece for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

One male with two or more females, or a single pair

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and granules, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and some vegetable matter

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar (Ganges and Brahmaputra basins)

Breeding

The male builds a bubble nest among floating plants, spawns beneath it with the female and then guards the eggs and fry. It breeds fairly readily in a quiet, warm tank with low flow, but the female should be removed after spawning and the tiny fry need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Males can be territorial towards each other and towards other gouramis, so avoid keeping several males in a small tank. It hybridises with the thick-lipped gourami and is often confused with it and with the dwarf gourami in shops.