Animal-World > Aquarium Tropical Fish > Labyrinth Fish > Giant Gourami

Giant Gourami

Common Gourami ~ True Gourami

Family: OsphronemidaeOsphronemus goramyPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

   The Giant Gourami is the largest of all labyrinth fishes...big, powerful, and an overall awesome fish to keep!

   This is a stunning fish when it gets large. In their natural environment, natives have reported lengths of 60 cm (24 inches) and it has even been suggested that the Giant Gourami can get as large as 70 cm (28 inches). Wow! One big gourami! They are usually sold in sizes of 4 - 8 cm (1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches) in pet stores, and are scarce in captivity over 40 cm (16 inches). When they are small, they have an attractive banded coloration of black and gold. As they get older they turn the color of the fish in the photo or sometimes completely black.

   Though the Giant Gourami will grow into a very large strong fish, they make a very personable pet. They will come to know you and some people even report being able to pet their fish. They will need a very large aquarium, and because of their appetite will put a load on the water and the filtration. A weekly water change is recommended and needed.

   Giant Gourami are considered a delicacy and are used as a food fish in their native areas.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Osphronemus goramy Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Osphronemidae

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Giant Gourami was described by Lacepède in 1801. They are found in the waters of China, Java, Malaysia, eastern India where they inhabit both rivers as well as canals where the water moves more sluggishly. They are considered an important and savored food source.

• Scientific Name: Osphronemus goramy
• Social Grouping: Varies - Can be kept singly or in pairs. Groups are possible with a large enough aquarium.
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

   The Giant Gourami has a compressed, oval shaped body and a blunt head. As juveniles their head is pointed, and they have 8 - 10 dark bars,giving them a black and gold striped appearance, and they have yellow fins. This coloration fades as they mature becoming rather plain, generally a brownish black or even an overall pinkish to white coloration. Mature males will develop a 'nuchal hump', a swollen knob or lump on the forehead.
   Like all other gouramis they can breath air, generally gulping it at the water's surface. They have a special 'labyrinth organ' which acts like a lung which enables them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters.

• Maximum Size: 28.0 inches (71.12 cm)

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Difficult - This species is very robust however the tank requirements mean a lot of work and commitment on the aquarist's part.
• Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivores, the Giant Gourami will generally eat all kinds of foods. Although it can be a voracious predator, this fish will eat almost any freshwater aquarium foods if it is trained to do so at an early age. If they are mainly fed live fish, your food bills will be very high so it is suggested that you start to train them on the dried foods as soon as they are obtained. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake or pelleted food everyday. They are not very picky eaters.
   In the wild they will eat aquatic algae as well as fish, crustaceans, frogs, worms, and even dead meat. Besides offering them regular fish foods, they will even eat cooked meat, bread, boiled potatoes and other vegetables. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. Sometimes, predatory fish that are never fed any live fish will grow up not knowing that other fish should be considered dinner. There are reports of large sized Giant Gouramis living peacefully with small tetras or danios
   These fish grow large (huge actually) so as adults they will need a very large aquarium, 200 gallons is recommended. You will also want to be sure to have a good filtration system and do large weekly water changes, with 25% or more being reasonable. As they are large and active, they will need minimal tank decorations.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes - Specimens may need to be taught to accept processed foods and it is recommended that the fish keeper begin this as soon as the fish is acquired.
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

Giant Gourami (male)

• Water Changes: Weekly - Due to their size, make sure you have good filtration and do weekly water changes!

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 175 gal (662 L)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 68.0 - 86.0° F (20.0 - 30.0° C) - Keep the surrounding room temperature consistent with the water temperature to avoid causing trauma to the labyrinth organ.
• Range ph: 6.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 5 - 25 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: All

Social Behaviors

   The Giant Gourami are generally a good community fish. Somewhat loners, they may fight fish of the same species when they are young. As they get older they mellow out but their size will allow them to eat smaller fish, so watch out for any smaller tankmates. Also, males tend to be aggressive to one another and may fight, rendering the well known gourami "kiss" in an aggressive ritualized manner.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Peaceful - This fish will become increasingly predatory with age, so choose tankmates with care.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
  • Peaceful fish (): Monitor
  • Slow Swimmers & Eaters: (): Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

   The male Giant Gourami has longer and more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Mature males will also develop a 'nuchal hump', a swollen knob or lump on the forehead.

Breeding / Reproduction

   Like most fish in this family, the Giant Gourami are bubble nest builders. The male will build a ball-shaped nest out of bits of plants just below the surface of the water. Their eggs as well as the fry, are lighter than water and float to the top.
See the description of how to breed labyrinth fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Propagation: Moderate - Although the fish is not difficult to breed, the breeding tank must be massive.

Availability

   The Giant Gourami is readily available and is inexpensive. Specimens run about $6.00 USD and up.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough. CFS.

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Lastest Comments on Giant Gourami View all 40 comments on Giant Gourami Add Your Comment

Harry - 2011-03-03 Hi , I have a giant gourami ..it's about 3 years old ...Does anyone know how long they live ..I believe mine is a female as she does not have that hump on her head and fins are round. She is only about 16 - 18 inches . Does anyone happen to know their life span ? Click For Replies (8) Ray - 2011-03-04 Hi Harry, I used to have one a few yrs ago, and would like another now, they can live up to about 20yrs I read some where. So a long time, I'm thinking of getting a pond in a shed to house these, and a RTC I might be getting fingers crossed. bob - 2011-03-04 Hi I have a giant gourami I have had him for 40 years and he was a foot long when I got him, so he must be older, also favorite food is grapes and the odd prawn cracker, no problem with tiny fish when she's happy she will change colour to gold and let the small fish and clean her, she is 33" long. Hugo - 2011-03-04 I seen one at temple for over 15 years old already and still alive, the one that we had survived around 10 years. Coll Inn - 2011-03-03 About 20 years but some live up to 25 years. There's a mechanic shop here that has 1 about 2ft++ that old guy is about 25 years as the owner claims.... Johan - 2011-03-03 The last post states that the giant gourami would live to 20/25 years of age, however this is incorrect. If the giant gourami is cared for well they can live to be over 100 years plus. My giant gourami is 37 years old and 67 cm in length. zan - 2011-06-07 Hey Harry, giant gourami can live around 15 to 25 years. Mine is still alive and he is around 13 years. happy day JEANETTE - 2011-08-11 Hi I've had my osphronemus for 35 years! Wee - 2011-11-12 My best friend used to have one but a male gourami. If I'm not mistaken, he has been keeping this fish more than 20 odd years. If possible, avoid feeding it with meat. Fruits and vegetables the best. Reply

Lan Phan - 2008-09-23 Hi everyone this is Lan Phan again and recently in the last 5 months or so I've had a 1600 gallon aquarium that was custom built for me. For the moment my aquarium consist of 7 six-eight inches Jardini Arowanas, 1 four-five inch Redtail Giant Gourami, 1 five inch Albino Giant Gourami, 35 three inch Blood Parrot, 3 four and a half inch Sydontis Catfish, 1 four inch Albino Ruby Red Oscar, 1 four inch Red Tiger Oscar, 8 seven inch Silver Arowanas and 12 five inch Silver Dollars. On top of that I'm running 4 150 gallon wet/dry filters and 6 UV. My friend also helped me installed an automatic water change feature on my aquarium which allowed me to changed about 15-25% of water every two to three weeks and than it would automatically fill up by itself. Can't wait till my next project hopefully soon. Remember dreams are stretched to the limit as only you it allow it to. Click For Replies (2) frebs.. - 2010-10-23 Hi by your description I would like to see a picture of your aquarium,........... JOHN - 2011-08-09 You have too many aggressive fish in your tank.....Your tank water will get dirty easily and that needs a lot of changing to keep it in prime condition for your fish. You will need a powerful filter/filters to do the job. Reply

HARDIK DIXIT - 2011-03-10 I have a Giant Gourami, and his name is Chimi :) he is now 8 inches long and he eats kiwi fruit. So I decided to change his food into kiwis fruit, which he eats almost 5 times daily :: . As an alternative food, I also give him cooked rice, water melon,musk melon and some leafy vegetables :) I always play with him, when I point my finger at him he acts like he's attacking me, and he often follows my fingers whenever I point :0 When we eat our breakfast, lunch and dinner, he looks at me like he's begging for food to eat. :0 My Giant Gourami is a very friendly fish. I love very much my chimi. HARDIK DIXIT SURAT INDIA Reply

HARDIK DIXIT - 2011-03-10 Hi i am had gourami fish pink colour he is very aggressive and eat all vegetarian like cooked rice, banana, apple and musk mellon and kiwi most like fruit i put it into round pot and every 2 days i changing a water i put parctice gourami out of water 2 mins now he live 5 mins out of water. Reply

Imran H Kasmani - 2011-03-09 The shelf life of GIANT GOURAMI differs from condition to condition if provided with neat & clean water & a good diet twice a day it can live up to years & viceversa Reply

Pete - 2010-06-07 Hi I have a 1,200 gallon pond I have one of these fish and they are awesome. He is in the pond with 3 Dragon fish I have had for 4 years now. I also have 2 pacus. The key to doing this is filters and size of pond. I do not take water out much. I have a preform 60 gallon pond I use as a filter that spills over into the big pond. If you are going to have these fish try a pond they will love it. Click For Replies (1) Chris - 2010-11-03 Hi Pete, I have two mature Albino Giant Gouramis in my Koi Carp pond here in Thailand. Both GG's are around 20 inches long. The pond is 25,000 litres and the GG's get on well with the Koi. They are truly awesome fish. Reply

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