Golden Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus)

(Gold color morph of the Three-Spot Gourami)

The Golden Gourami is a bright yellow-gold color variety of the Three-Spot Gourami. Hardy and adaptable, it’s a bold centerpiece fish for medium to larger community aquariums.

Description

• Scientific Name: Trichopodus trichopterus

• Common Name: Golden Gourami

• Adult Size: 4–6 inches

• Lifespan: 5–7 years

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive

• Origin (wild form): Southeast Asia

Golden Gouramis are selectively bred from the blue/three-spot variety. They have a metallic gold body and may show faint spotting. Males are slimmer with a longer, more pointed dorsal fin; females are rounder with a shorter dorsal fin.

Like other gouramis, they are labyrinth fish, meaning they breathe atmospheric air and will occasionally gulp at the surface.

Tank Requirements

Tank Size

• Minimum: 30 gallons (single specimen)

• Recommended: 40+ gallons for community setups

Aquascape

• Moderate to heavy planting

• Open swimming space in the middle

• Floating plants help reduce aggression

• Moderate filtration (avoid extremely strong flow)

Golden Gouramis are larger and more assertive than Honey Gouramis, so space is important.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)

• pH: 6.0–8.0

• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard

• Very adaptable but prefers stable conditions

Tankmates

Because they are semi-aggressive, choose tankmates carefully.

Good Options:

✅ Larger tetras
✅ Rainbowfish
✅ Peaceful barbs
✅ Corydoras
✅ Loaches
✅ Medium-sized livebearers