Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
A tiny jewel-like nano gourami that audibly croaks.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Min. Tank Size | 30 L |
| Temperature | 22.0–28.0 °C |
| pH Range | 6.0–7.5 |
| Max Size | 4.0 cm |
| Lifespan | 4-5 years |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
Overview
The Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) is a tiny jewel-like nano gourami that audibly croaks. It is one of the most recognisable members of the gouramis group kept by Australian aquarists, valued for its appearance, manageable adult size of around 4.0 cm and its peaceful nature.
This guide covers everything you need to keep the Sparkling Gourami successfully - ideal tank size and setup, water parameters, diet, suitable tank mates, breeding, how to tell males from females, and the health problems to watch for. Rated Intermediate to care for, it can live for roughly 4-5 years when its needs are met.
Natural Habitat & Origin
Gouramis are labyrinth fish from the still and slow-moving waters of South-East Asia - rice paddies, ponds, ditches and slow streams that are often warm, oxygen-poor and densely vegetated. Their labyrinth organ lets them gulp air from the surface, so a tight-fitting but warm-aired lid and calm water suit them best.
Understanding where a fish comes from is the shortcut to keeping it well: matching the temperature, water chemistry and amount of cover it evolved with is far more effective than fighting against its nature.
Tank Size & Aquarium Setup
Provide a minimum of 30 litres for the Sparkling Gourami. Because it is a shoaling fish kept in groups, floor space and swimming length matter more than height.
Use a secure, well-fitting lid (this species can jump, and labyrinth fish also need a warm layer of air above the water).
Live plants, driftwood and some shaded retreats give the fish security and show off its colours against a natural backdrop.
Mature, well-cycled biological filtration is essential before adding any fish. Keep the flow gentle, as this species dislikes strong current.
Water Parameters
Keep the Sparkling Gourami in stable water at 22-28 °C with a pH of 6.0-7.5. It is adaptable across a moderate range, so stability matters more than hitting an exact number.
Test your water regularly: ammonia and nitrite must always read zero, and nitrate should be kept low (ideally under 20-40 ppm) with routine partial water changes. Sudden swings in temperature or chemistry cause far more illness than water that is slightly 'wrong' but stable, so always dechlorinate and temperature-match new water.
Diet & Feeding
The Sparkling Gourami is a carnivore. Base its diet on meaty foods - frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and a good carnivore pellet - rather than plant-based flakes it cannot fully digest.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day - only as much as the fish clears in a minute or two - and consider one fasting day a week. Overfeeding is the single most common cause of pollution and disease in home aquariums.
Temperament & Tank Mates
The Sparkling Gourami is an excellent peaceful community fish. It mixes happily with other calm species that share its temperature (22-28 °C) and pH (6.0-7.5) needs, are too large to be eaten, and are not large enough to eat it.
Keep it in a small group rather than singly; it is a social fish that is shyer and less active when kept alone.
Breeding
The Sparkling Gourami is a bubble-nest builder. The male constructs a raft of bubbles at the surface, entices the female beneath it, then tends the eggs and fry himself - remove the female after spawning.
Even if you do not plan to breed it, understanding this behaviour helps you recognise it in the tank and respond appropriately - for example by adding cover for fry or by giving a guarding pair some space.
How to Tell Males from Females
In most gouramis, males are more colourful and have a longer, more pointed dorsal fin, while females are plainer and rounder-bodied, particularly when full of eggs.
Common Health Problems
Like most aquarium fish it is susceptible to white spot (ich), fin rot and fungal infections, almost always triggered by stress or poor water quality. Quarantine new arrivals for 2-4 weeks to keep your main tank disease-free.
Prevention is far easier than cure: keep water pristine, avoid overstocking and overfeeding, quarantine new arrivals for two to four weeks, and watch daily for early warning signs such as clamped fins, loss of appetite, flashing (rubbing on objects) or laboured breathing. Caught early, most problems are very treatable.
Is the Sparkling Gourami Right for You?
The Sparkling Gourami is a rewarding choice for fishkeepers with a little experience and a stable, mature tank, as long as you can provide at least 30 litres, water at 22-28 °C and pH 6.0-7.5, the right diet and a proper group of its own kind.
Get those basics right and you will enjoy a healthy, colourful Sparkling Gourami for around 4-5 years. For tank planning, try our free aquarium tools, and browse our fish, plant and disease guides to build the perfect community.
How to Tell Males from Females
Males have longer, more pointed fins and stronger colour; females are shorter-finned, rounder in the body and often show faint horizontal barring. Mature females may display a small white ovipositor between the ventral fins.
