Gold Gourami is a species of freshwater aquarium fish that are native to Southeast Asia. They belonged to the Osphronemidae family and were first spotted and identified in 1970.
Since then, these fish have massively grown in popularity, thanks to the ease of care and peaceful temperament that they have.
Just like their name suggests, Gold Gourami is a type of Three Spot Gourami with a color variation, save for the two distinct spots on their body. This makes them an interesting and striking alternative to other species of Gourami.
Moreover, these fish are known to be a community species, and they get along well with other species. However, they don’t always stay peaceful and easy-going, and their temperament tends to change as they grow older.
If you are looking to buy and raise Gold Gourami, you will have to adhere to certain care guidelines. Luckily, we have designed the ultimate care guide that you can follow.
This helpful care guide also familiarizes you with the habitat, water requirements, diet, tank mates, breeding, and other factors of Gold Gourami. Let’s dive in and see what makes these fish so interesting and fun.
Species Summary
Gold Gourami are among the 86 species of freshwater fish that belong to the Osphronemidae family, and they have the scientific name Trichopodus trichopterus. Their scientific name is similar to Three Spot Gourami because they are considered as a variation.
| Category | Rating |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Life Span | 4-6 years |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Color Form | Various colors and patterns |
| Care level | Easy |
| Compatibility | Similar size and temperament |
| Size | Up to 6 inches |
| Tank Setup | Freshwater with live plants and hiding places |
| Minimum Tank Size | 35 gallons |
These fish are native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia. However, they aren’t found in the wild and are bred in captivity, which makes them a more popular choice for aquarium owners.
Gold Gourami thrive in shallow water with moderate flow. Therefore, you can provide them with an environment similar to marshes, swamps, and canals. These species are hugely popular and easily available in all reputed pet stores. Plus, you can also buy them online.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of Gold Gourami is expected to be between 4 to 6 years. Since they are bred in captivity, their life expectancy largely depends on the conditions they were bred and kept in.
Moreover, other factors also play a major role, including the conditions you subject them to.
It is worth mentioning that Gold Gourami, like other species of Gourami, get stressed and ill when they aren’t kept in proper tank and water conditions. It can also affect their lifespan, which is why you should always maintain proper conditions, as mentioned in our guide.
Appearance
Gold Gourami instantly catches your eye, thanks to its unique coloration. They have either a deep gold or bright orange and yellow coloration, along with a striped pattern that stretches to the back of their bodies.
Their coloration is also affected by their mood, as well as the tank conditions. Moreover, the mood can be affected by other fish in the aquarium, especially if you have put them with larger and aggressive fish. Even putting them with all kinds of Gourami might not be the best idea since all of them have different characteristics.
The fins of Gold Gourami are large and round. The male species have a pointy and longer dorsal fin than the females.
It is easy to confuse Gold Gourami with the Three Spot Gourami at first glance, but they don’t have the two recognizable spots for identification.
Size
When they reach full maturity and adulthood, Gold Gourami can grow up to six inches in length. However, if you subject them to a smaller tank, you may hinder their growth, and they might peak out at four or five inches only.
To make sure that your fish grow to their full potential, make sure to keep the water parameters and other conditions right in the tank.
Gold Gourami Care
Caring for Gold Gourami is comparatively easier, and there isn’t a lot that you have to worry about in this regard. They are hardy creatures, which also makes them suitable to look after for beginners.
Since they are bred in captivity, they can also thrive in varying levels of oxygen, water temperature, and pH.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about any diseases when it comes to these fish, as long you are adhering to the care guidelines that we have laid out for you. However, you might need to be careful when it comes to community tanks since overcrowding can cause a lot of problems for them.
Let’s have a look at the more specific care requirements that you need to keep in mind.
Tank Size
Although Gold Gourami is a relatively smaller fish, this doesn’t mean that you can get away with a smaller tank of only 10-15 gallons. The minimum tank size recommended by aquatic experts is 35 gallons since they need ample space to swim around and explore the entire aquarium.
These fish aren’t bottom-dwellers. In fact, they have a labyrinth organ that helps them breathe oxygen from the atmosphere. Due to this, they swim up to the surface every once in a while to take in the air and then spend most of their time in the middle area of the tank.
If you keep them in a smaller tank, not only will they get stressed, but it would also hinder their growth. As a result, they will be prone to diseases that affect freshwater fish.
Moreover, if you keep Gold Gourami in a community tank, make sure that the tank is large enough for them to cohabitate comfortably with other species. Otherwise, they will start to get restless, and this would also trigger their aggressive side.
Water Parameters
As mentioned above, Gold Gourami are used to a wide range of water temperature levels in the aquariums they are born and bred in. Therefore, you can maintain the level between 73°F to 82°F, and your fish will be hale and hearty. The water temperature will be more integral when you try to breed them.
Moreover, these Gourami thrive in neutral waters that are neither acidic nor alkaline. Therefore, you can maintain the pH level between 6.0 and 8.0. However, make sure that the pH doesn’t fall below 6.0, since they will suffer in acidic waters.
Lastly, you can maintain the water hardness between 5 to 15 dKH.
Make sure to monitor the water parameters from time to time since the fish can start to get stressed if there is a drastic change. For this purpose, you can buy a quality water testing kit and use it to check the water quality.
Moreover, you should replace 25-30% of the water after every one or two weeks, as it keeps the ammonia and nitrate levels in check.
What to Put in Their Tank?
Since they are bred in captivity, you won’t really find out the natural habitat of Gold Gourami. However, it is known that they prefer shallow and slow-moving waters, along with a variety of vegetation.
The best way to go about it is to replicate the conditions found in marshes or swamps, i.e., shallow waters with a slow to moderate flow. Moreover, you should add several live plants to the tank but leave enough space for them to move around.
Since they are labyrinth fish, you wouldn’t want to add floating plants to the tank since they can hinder their path to the surface.
Gold Gourami have to travel to the water’s surface every now and then. Otherwise, they might start feeling suffocated. Therefore, you should keep their path clear at all costs.
Other than this, you can also add lots of hiding places in the aquarium. Although they spend most of their time out and about, they often seek shelter during the daytime, and you might not see much of them during this time.
When you set up your tank, make sure to consider filtration too. It should have a slow or moderate flow. Since they avoid strong currents at all costs, you should place a sponge filter at the inlet tubes so they don’t get stressed.
Common Diseases
Since Gold Gourami is hardy, they aren’t typically infected with diseases that are common with freshwater fish. However, this is conditional on the aquarium conditions that you keep them in.
They are prone to bacterial infections, constipation, and a disease called Hole in the Head if you don’t provide good water quality, diet, and maintenance.
Moreover, adding new fish, plants, or substrates to the tank can also invite disease for them, so make sure that you check everything before adding it. If you notice any of them feeling sluggish or not coming up to breathe air as often as they do, this may be an indicator of disease.
The disease can also spread among other fish in the tank if not treated on time. Therefore, you should maintain a healthy and proper environment and quarantine any fish that may appear to be sick.
You can treat them with over-the-counter medication until they get well and then put them back in with everyone else.
What Do Gold Gourami Eat?
Gold Gourami aren’t really picky or fussy about their diet, and they are natural omnivores. They can eat anything you provide them with, including vegetables and meat. However, they thrive well on a balanced diet of vegetables along with pellets and algae-based dry flakes.
These foods should constitute most of their diet on a regular basis. You can easily find pellets and flakes from several reputed brands, and your fish will have no problem feasting on them.
When it comes to vegetables, you can feed them with fresh zucchini, peas, and leafy greens as well. They would provide an interesting addition to their flake and pellet-based diet.
Apart from this, you can also provide them with live food to supplement their nutrition. Some of the suitable options include smaller fish, dwarf shrimp, bloodworms, etc.
The best part about feeding the Gold Gourami is that they only require one or two feedings per day, so you would be able to manage it easily with your daily routine.
Behavior & Temperament
As mentioned above, the Gold Gourami have a semi-aggressive temperament, and their mood is largely affected by the tank mates that they have. Generally, they are peaceful and easy-going, but they grow older, you will have to factor in their growing aggression too.
When they are kept with larger and more aggressive fish, these fish can get highly stressed, which also affects their coloration. They start turning pale or black, which is an alarming sign.
Gold Gourami is comparatively more hostile than other members of the Gourami family, especially the male fish. When they grow older, they start to exhibit signs of attacking, ramming and devouring smaller fish.
If you are planning to keep them in a community tank, make sure to research the tank mates very well. We will cover them in the next section.
Breeding
Breeding Gold Gourami is an easy and straightforward process. You just have to follow a set of simple steps in order to breed them.
For starters, your fish should be happy and well-fed. Start feeding them multiple times a day, including the females. This helps in the production of eggs.
Next, get a 15-gallon breeding tank and add floating plants with a soft filter. The water temperature should be fixed at 80°F, and you can place a pair of healthy fish in the tank.
Almost instantly, the male Gourami will start building a bubble nest just below the surface of the water and use it to attract the female. Once the female is ready, the mating process will begin, and small eggs will float into the bubble nest.
At this point, you can put the female fish back into the main tank while the male guards the bubble nest. Within 2-3 days, the eggs will start to hatch, and you can place the male back into the main tank as well.
Until your fry are old enough to eat solids, you should keep them on a liquid diet. Later, they can eat Daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and other small foods.
Final Thoughts
We hope you are just as fascinated by Gold Gourami as we are and want to bring them to your aquarium as fast as possible.
While you can do this instantly, make sure to go through this care guide a couple of times to understand the care requirements well. As you have read, they can’t stand being stressed or living in poor water conditions.
Otherwise, Gold Gourami is a joy to watch and a delight to take care of.
