Sparkling Gourami

The Sparkling Gourami, also known as the Pygmy Gourami, is a tiny labyrinth fish that brings color and personality to nano tanks. Despite their small size of just 1-1.5 inches, they display brilliant emerald green and blue speckles that sparkle under aquarium lighting. Native to Southeast Asia, they are peaceful, hardy fish perfect for small planted tanks. Males make distinctive croaking sounds during courtship and displays, making them one of the few audible aquarium fish.

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Sparkling Gouramis thrive in heavily planted nano tanks.

Essential Setup:

• 10+ gallons minimum
• Dense planting essential
• Floating plants for security
• Gentle filtration (sponge filter)
• Driftwood and leaf litter
• Temperature 72-82°F

Water Quality

• Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderate (3-12 dGH)
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <15 ppm

Feeding

Require small foods due to tiny mouths:

• Micro pellets or crushed flakes
• Frozen cyclops
• Baby brine shrimp
• Small live foods
• Will eat tiny insects

The “Croaking”

Unique behavior:

• Males croak: During courtship
• Sound: Popping/croaking noise
• Mechanism: Modified pectoral fins
• Loudest: At dawn and dusk

Behavior & Compatibility

Peaceful but shy:

• Shy nature: Need dense planting
• Peaceful: Perfect for nano communities
• Labyrinth fish: Breathe air from surface
• Hiders: Often hidden in plants

Good Tank Mates:

• Chili rasboras
• Ember tetras
• Small shrimp
• Other peaceful micro fish

Avoid:

• Large or fast fish
• Fin nippers
• Aggressive species

Breeding

Easy to breed for their size:

• Bubble nest: Male builds at surface
• Condition: Feed well, raise temperature
• Spawning: Under floating plants
• Fry care: Very tiny, feed infusoria
• Male care: Male guards nest

Special Considerations

• Air breathers: Access to surface essential
• Very small: Tiny mouths need appropriate food
• Shy: Need hiding places
• Planted tanks: Do best with dense vegetation

Tips for Success

• Keep in pairs or small groups
• Dense planting essential
• Use gentle filtration
• Feed micro foods
• Listen for croaking at dawn/dusk