Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy)

Scientific name: Osphronemus goramy Lacep?de, 1801

Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy)

The Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) is a freshwater fish of the family Osphronemidae that grows to about 70 cm (28 in). It is easy to keep and aggressive and needs a tank of at least 475 L (125 US gal), water at 20–30°C (68–86°F) and a pH of 6.5–8.0. Native range: Asia, probably limited to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and Indochina (Mekong basin).

Giant gourami care at a glance

Care level
Easy
Temperament
Aggressive
Adult size
70 cm (28 in)
Minimum tank
475 L (125 US gal)
Temperature
20–30°C (68–86°F)
pH
6.5–8.0
Hardness
5–25 dGH (89–446 ppm)
Diet
Omnivore

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 9 - 13; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. With 8-10 complete dark vertical bars in juvenile color phase; adults without vertical bars or sexual dichromatism, both sexes drab; transverse scale rows usually 6.1.12; dorsal fin spines usually 12-13 (rarely 11 or 14); soft-rayed portion of anal fin greatly enlarged, its distal margin parallel to distal margin of caudal fin; caudal fin rounded or obtusely rounded, not truncate or emarginate. Pelvic fins with first soft ray prolonged into a thread-like tentacle reaching posteriorly to or beyond hind margin of caudal fin.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Osphronemus goramy
Family
Osphronemidae (Gouramies)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
70.0
Common length
45.0
Depth range
10 m (33 ft)
Environment
Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25 benthopelagic; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Asia: probably limited to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and Indochina (Mekong basin). Has been introduced to several countries for aquaculture purposes. Apparently absent in Sarawak and presence in Sabah may be due to relatively late introductions.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm > 1)

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Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.

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