FishTankPearl gourami care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
A large, graceful gourami covered in a pearly pattern. Pearl gouramis are calmer than most gouramis and breathe air from the surface.
Quick facts
| Type | Gourami |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 4.5 inches |
| Smallest tank | 30 gallons |
| Temperature | 77–82°F |
| Keep | 1, or a male with females |
| Watch for | Peaceful. Keep the right group size. |
How to keep them
Keep one male with a female or two, leave a gap above the water and add floating plants.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Cherry barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Angelfish · Amano shrimp · Mystery snail
Possible, with care
- Black skirt tetra: Black skirt tetras may nip the thread-like fins of gouramis.
- Serpae tetra: Serpae tetras may nip the thread-like fins of gouramis.
- Zebra danio: They only share 77°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Tiger barb: Tiger barbs may nip the thread-like fins of gouramis.
- Honey gourami: Different gouramis can squabble. Give them a planted tank of 30 gallons or more.
- Dwarf gourami: Different gouramis can squabble. Give them a planted tank of 30 gallons or more.
- Corydoras (bronze or peppered): Only a narrow shared temperature range (77–78°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Cherry shrimp: Pearl gouramis eat baby cherry shrimp. Adults usually survive with plenty of moss to hide in.
- Nerite snail: Only a narrow shared temperature range (77–78°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
Avoid
- White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: pearl gouramis like 77–82°F, white cloud minnows 60–72°F.
- Betta (male): Bettas and gouramis are close relatives and often fight over the same space.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
Check a whole tank in the fish compatibility checker, or see if they fit with the stocking calculator.
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