Snakeskin Gourami

Looks how to spot one

Scaled, elongated, moderately compressed labyrinth fish

A longer, slimmer gourami than most. It has an olive back and grey-green flanks with a silvery shine, crossed by an irregular dark band from snout through the eye to the tail base, and fine scale patterning that gives the snakeskin look. Young fish show bold zig-zag lines. Males have a pointed dorsal fin and orange-red pelvic fins; females are plumper and plainer.32

Personality what they are like

A very peaceful, easygoing gourami. Males are not very territorial, even during spawning, so it suits a community of similar-sized fish.23

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moves calmly through the lower and middle layers of the tank and rises to the surface to breathe air.31

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Regular partial water changes and a covered tank with a little air space above the water. Floating plants and gentle filtration suit it well.21

Home where they are happiest

Tank with a base of at least 120 x 30 cm (about 110 litres); a larger tank for adults. Temperature 22-30 °C, pH 5.8-8.5, hardness 2-30 dGH.2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivore leaning toward plants: algae, plant matter and plankton, plus insect larvae and other small invertebrates. Accepts dried, frozen and live foods along with some vegetable matter.21

Company who they like around

Good with barbs, loaches, corydoras, danios, rasboras and angelfish. Very small fish may be eaten, so choose tankmates that are not bite-sized.2

The story where it all began

Once placed in the family Belontiidae and the genus Trichogaster, it is one of the most important farmed freshwater fish in Thailand and is sold fresh or dried. Its calm nature and size also made it a long-standing aquarium fish.31

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed February 2012)1

Taxonomy

Family Osphronemidae; formerly Trichogaster pectoralis; the largest species in its genus3