Gouramis and other labyrinth fish
Air-breathers that must reach a still surface, which makes the space above the water a husbandry requirement rather than a detail. Ranges from a 3 cm sparkling gourami to a 30 cm kissing gourami.
29 species, separated by adult size. Part of the freshwater fish catalogue.
Nano — under 4 cm (2)
Small enough for tanks under 60 cm, and usually needing larger groups than their size suggests.
Small — 4 to 8 cm (12)
The core of most community tanks.
- Brunei beautyBetta rubra5.5 cmModerate
- Chocolate gouramiSphaerichthys osphromenoides6 cmSpecialistgroup of 6+
- Croaking gouramiTrichopsis vittata7 cmUndemanding
- Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius7 cmModerate
- Emerald bettaBetta smaragdina7 cmUndemanding
- Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna5 cmUndemandinggroup of 2+
- Midnight bettaBetta persephone4 cmSpecialist
- Peaceful bettaBetta imbellis5 cmModerate
- Siamese fighting fishBetta splendens7 cmModerate
- Snakehead bettaBetta channoides4.5 cmModerate
- Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumila4 cmModerategroup of 4+
- Wine-red bettaBetta coccina5.5 cmDemanding
Medium — 8 to 15 cm (7)
Needs real swimming length. Frequently sold as juveniles into tanks that will not suit the adult.
- Banded gouramiTrichogaster fasciata12 cmUndemanding
- Orange bushfishMicroctenopoma ansorgii8 cmModerate
- Paradise fishMacropodus opercularis10 cmUndemanding
- Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii12 cmUndemandinggroup of 2+
- Penang mouthbrooding bettaBetta pugnax9 cmModerategroup of 4+
- Roundtail paradisefishMacropodus ocellatus8 cmUndemanding
- Spotfin bettaBetta macrostoma11 cmSpecialist
Large — 15 cm and above (8)
Specialist tanks. Check the adult size and the lifespan before buying.
- Ceylonese combtailBelontia signata15 cmModerate
- Climbing perchAnabas testudineus25 cmDemanding
- Giant gouramiOsphronemus goramy70 cmSpecialist
- Kissing gouramiHelostoma temminckii30 cmModerate
- Leopard bushfishCtenopoma acutirostre20 cmModerate
- Moonlight gouramiTrichopodus microlepis18 cmUndemanding
- Snakeskin gouramiTrichopodus pectoralis25 cmModerategroup of 2+
- Three-spot gouramiTrichopodus trichopterus15 cmUndemanding