Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
Also known as Lace Gourami, Leeri Gourami
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
One of the most peaceful gouramis, covered in a lace of pearly spots, and an elegant centerpiece for a larger community. Males are territorial with one another and hard on females at breeding time, so provide plenty of plants, and skip very vigorous or aggressive tank mates.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 21 US gal
- Footprint
- 35 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 75–86 °F
- pH
- 5.5–8
- Hardness
- 2–30 dGH
- Swim zone
- Top
- Min group
- 2 or more
- Lifespan
- 4–8 years
Pearl Gourami tank mates and swim zone
Top
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Puntius titteya
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Paracheirodon innesi
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Neon Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Boraras brigittae
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Trigonostigma espei
Pearl Gourami is much larger than Lambchop Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Hyphessobrycon eques
Serpae Tetra is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Pearl Gourami.
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger Barb is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Pearl Gourami.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Pearl Gourami is a poor match.
Pearl Gourami feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed flakes and pellets, which it accepts readily.
- Add frozen or live foods, plus occasional vegetable matter.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Mature males develop a stunning orange-red throat and longer fins. Females are plainer with rounder fins.
Pearl Gourami care mistakes to avoid
- Plan for a pair, and read up on sexing before you buy so you do not end up with two rival males.
- Keep only one male unless the tank is large, because males are territorial.
- Avoid aggressive or very vigorous fish, which will make it withdrawn.
- Add plenty of plants and cover, so females can escape a persistent male.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons.
Pearl Gourami tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 21 US gal (81 L), 90 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Pearl Gourami. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Picks for Spain are still being checked. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 40 Breeder US
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Pearl Gourami, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Pearl Gourami's temperature range.
None of the kits we recommend fits Pearl Gourami yet. See Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For for what to look for.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 75–86 °F (24–30 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateAny substrate
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorA planted setup with some floating plants and open swimming areas; ensure adequate hiding places because males can be hard on females.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Pearl Gourami
We have not found a store that sells Pearl Gourami under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Pearl Gourami FAQ
What size tank do Pearl Gouramis need?
Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons (81 liters), with a footprint of 90 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Pearl Gouramis should I keep?
A pair works well. Add more only if the tank is large enough for each fish to claim its own space.
What can live with Pearl Gouramis?
Good matches on our list include Cardinal Tetra, Black Neon Tetra and Glowlight Tetra. Avoid White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Pea Puffer.
How long do Pearl Gouramis live?
Care guides report about 4–8 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Are pearl gouramis aggressive?
Rarely toward other species. They are among the calmest gouramis, though males may spar with each other.
Pearl Gourami facts and sources
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Native to
- Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia
- Adult size
- 4.7 in (12 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Harem/Pairs
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Low/Still
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- Low
- Vulnerable to nippers
- Yes
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.