Moonlight Gourami Care Guide - Aquarium Tips, Diet & Breeding

The Moonlight Gourami is a graceful, laterally compressed fish named for its soft, silvery-green sheen, which can resemble moonlight on the surface of water. Its body is elongated and slightly arched, with long, thread-like pelvic feelers used to investigate its surroundings. The dorsal and anal fins create a flowing outline, while the orange-red eye adds a subtle contrast to its otherwise understated colouring.

This species is a member of the gourami family and, like other labyrinth fish, can breathe atmospheric air using its specialised labyrinth organ. It is generally peaceful and deliberate in its movements, often gliding through the upper and middle levels of the aquarium. Males can become territorial, particularly around potential nesting sites or in cramped conditions.

In the wild, Moonlight Gouramis live among dense aquatic vegetation and submerged roots in warm, quiet waters. Their muted colouring and slow, exploratory behaviour suit habitats where cover is plentiful and water movement is gentle. They may spend time near the surface, especially when taking air.

Although less vividly coloured than some related gouramis, the Moonlight Gourami has a refined appearance and an engaging personality. With its feeler-like fins, calm swimming style and interesting breeding behaviour, it is a distinctive choice for a spacious peaceful community aquarium.

Moonlight Gouramis are native to mainland Southeast Asia, especially the lower Mekong basin in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. They inhabit slow-moving and still waters such as swamps, marshes, floodplain pools and vegetated canals.

A pair or single Moonlight Gourami should have an aquarium of at least 110 litres, with a footprint around 90 x 40 cm; a larger tank is preferable for multiple fish. Use a secure lid because gouramis breathe air and may jump, while leaving a warm, humid layer above the water. Provide gentle filtration and subdued lighting, with dense planting, floating plants, driftwood and shaded areas alongside open swimming space. A dark, fine-grained substrate helps their pale colouring stand out, and water movement should remain mild rather than turbulent.

Up to 15 cm (6 in) in length. Males usually grow slightly larger and have a more elongated profile than females, which commonly reach around 13 cm (5 in).

Moonlight Gouramis are omnivores that accept quality tropical flakes, micro-pellets and sinking foods. Offer variety with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and mosquito larvae, supplemented with occasional vegetable matter or algae-based foods. Feed modest portions once or twice daily and remove uneaten food promptly.

Moonlight Gouramis can share an aquarium with peaceful, similarly sized fish such as harlequin rasboras, larger peaceful tetras, cherry barbs, kuhli loaches, corydoras and peaceful smaller catfish. They are best kept away from fin-nippers, highly boisterous species and aggressive cichlids. Avoid combining multiple males in a small aquarium, and be cautious with other gouramis because territorial disputes may develop. Very tiny fish and delicate shrimp may also be viewed as prey by larger adults.

Moonlight Gouramis are bubble-nest breeders. Provide calm, shallow water with floating plants or other surface cover, and condition the pair with nutritious live or frozen foods. The male builds a bubble nest, embraces the female beneath it and places the fertilised eggs in the nest. Remove the female after spawning, while the male may remain until the fry hatch and become free-swimming; remove him at that stage to prevent predation. Feed the tiny fry suitably sized infusoria or commercial fry food before moving on to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Males are generally larger and slimmer, with a longer, more pointed dorsal fin and stronger orange-red colouring in the pelvic and anal fins. Females are usually shorter-bodied and fuller through the abdomen, with a shorter, more rounded dorsal fin.