Care Level: Advanced
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Live Plant Safe: No
General Description: The Giant Gourami, also referred to as the True Gourami, is found widely throughout southeast Asia but specimens within the aquarium trade are produced on a commerical basis. Often sold as cute juveniles at only a few inches, this gourami species truly lives up to its name of being a giant. On average, an adult Giant gourami can grow to 30″ in length and live up to 20 years, making this species one that is best left admired in the wild, public aquaria or to the few extremely dedicated aquarists that have the facilities to house one. Juveniles sport an attractive barred pattern against their gray body, but this will fade as your Giant gourami grows – which is rather quickly when their diets are being supplemented correctly. For its enormous adult size however, the Giant gourami can be a relatively non-aggressive fish so long as it is not kept with tank mates that can become a meal and its in an aquarium large enough to give it the room it requires among other tank mates. No other gourami species should be kept with a Giant gourami, and it is not recommended to have more than one Giant gourami due to the sheer care requirements and space need for just one. Diagnosable differences between male and female Giant gouramis are subtle, with males developing more pointed dorsal and anal fins.
Diet Requirements: Giant gouramis are omnivores. A very unfussy eater, a diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods and sinking pellet foods are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, chopped prawns or mussels. Appropriate food options will be subjective to the size of your Giant gourami. Giant gouramis will also accept a handful of fresh vegetables, including peas, romaine lettuce or blanched zucchini. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish. Giant gouramis are notorious for becoming greedy and will often learn to “beg” for food, but feeding only once a day should be exercised.
Care Requirements: An established minimum 75 gallon aquarium is the bare minimum for a juvenile Giant gourami. A subadult specimen will need an aquarium no less than 150 gallons. The realistic long term accommodations for a juvenile Giant gourami to mature into a 30″ adult is something between 800 and 1,000 gallons. While Giant gouramis are relatively hardy in nature, this fish should not be introduced into a biologically immature aquarium. Weekly water changes are needed to keep water parameters pristine (Nitrates < 20 ppm) as Giant gouramis do not like high nitrates and deteriorating water parameters. Equipping the aquarium with several canister filters, or a sump system, is required to maintain a healthier environment for this species and combat the large amount of waste it produces as Giant gouramis are messy fish. Water flow output should not be overly strong, however. Giant gouramis are relatively indifferent to aquarium decor because adults need a lot of unobstructed and open swimming space. Some stacked rocks or driftwood to create caves and dwellings would be appreciated. Compatible tank mates vary, but Giant gouramis have been documented with Knifefish, Oscars, Silver Dollars, Arowana, larger catfish species, Parrot cichlids, and certain large growing South American cichlids. Recommended water conditions, 70-82° F, KH 5-25, pH 6.0-8.0.
Purchase Size: Medium: 2” to 3”
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
