Croaking Gourami Care Guide - Habitat, Feeding & Breeding

The Croaking Gourami is a small, characterful labyrinth fish named for the surprisingly audible clicking or croaking sound it can produce, especially during courtship or disputes. It has a laterally compressed body marked with brown to golden bands and lines, often with a darker stripe running along the flank. The iridescent blue-green sheen on the fins and body becomes more noticeable under good lighting.

These gouramis are generally peaceful but are more engaging and confident than their modest size might suggest. They explore the upper and middle levels of the aquarium, investigate their surroundings and may display to one another without causing serious damage. Males can become territorial around a bubble nest, particularly when breeding.

In nature, Croaking Gouramis live among submerged vegetation, overhanging plants and leaf litter in warm, shallow waters with gentle flow. Their specialised labyrinth organ allows them to breathe atmospheric air, an adaptation to habitats that can become poorly oxygenated.

Although sometimes overlooked beside larger gouramis, this species is an excellent choice for aquarists who enjoy observing subtle social behaviour. Individuals can recognise one another, communicate through their distinctive sounds and show their best colours when they feel secure among plants and shaded cover.

Croaking Gouramis originate in mainland and island Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. They inhabit quiet, densely planted waters such as rice fields, marshes, swamps, drainage channels and slow-moving streams.

Provide at least 60 litres for a small group, with a footprint around 60 x 30 cm or larger; a longer aquarium is more useful than a tall one. Use a gentle filter flow, a secure lid with a humid air space above the water and plenty of broad-leaved plants, floating cover, driftwood and shaded areas. A dark, fine-grained substrate helps show their colours, while open spaces between plant groups allow swimming and displays. Leave some calm surface area for air breathing and bubble-nest building.

Adults reach about 7 cm (2.8 in) in total length. Males are usually slightly slimmer and may grow a little larger, while females commonly reach around 6 cm (2.4 in).

Croaking Gouramis are small predators that feed on insects, insect larvae, tiny crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates in the wild. Offer a varied diet of high-quality small pellets or granules supplemented with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and bloodworms. Small portions fed regularly are preferable to large meals, and food should be sized for their small mouths.

Croaking Gouramis suit peaceful community aquariums with similarly sized, calm fish such as harlequin rasboras, small danios, peaceful tetras, kuhli loaches, small Corydoras and other non-aggressive Southeast Asian species. Avoid fin-nippers, boisterous feeders, large predatory fish and aggressive gouramis or cichlids. They should not be housed with species that demand strong current or constantly disturb the surface, and males may need extra space or separation if persistent territorial behaviour develops.

Croaking Gouramis are bubble-nest breeders. Condition a compatible pair with plenty of live or frozen foods, then provide floating plants or other cover near the surface. The male builds a nest beneath the cover, courts the female and gathers the fertilised eggs into the bubbles. He guards the nest and fry, so the female is often removed after spawning and the male should be separated once the fry become free-swimming. The tiny fry initially need infusoria or another suitably fine first food before moving on to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Males are generally slimmer, with longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins and stronger colour during display. Females are typically deeper-bodied, especially when carrying eggs, and have shorter, rounder fins.