All fish / Osphronemidae

Moonlight Gourami

Trichopodus microlepis

Also known as moonlight gourami, moonbeam gourami, moon gourami, silver gourami, trichogaster microlepis, ปลากระดี่นาง, sepat siam, ムーンライト・グラミー, sepat mutiara bulan, 月光丝足鱼, 月光马甲

A slim, deep-bodied gourami with tiny scales that give it a plain, pearly silver sheen, and long thread-like pelvic fins. Males develop orange to red pelvic fins when mature. Keepers like it as a calm, elegant centrepiece for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

25 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

A pair or one male with several females

Diet

Omnivore: flakes, small pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong and Chao Phraya basins: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

Breeding

Males build a large bubble nest, often mixed with plant material, at the surface and guard the eggs and fry. Spawning is fairly easy in a quiet, warm tank with low flow, but the female should be removed after spawning and the tiny fry need infusoria first.

Good to know

It is shy and may be bullied by boisterous or fin-nipping tankmates; males can be territorial towards other gouramis. Needs a tight lid and access to surface air as it is a labyrinth fish.