The three spot gourami is one of the numerous species of freshwater fish known as gouramis. These fish belong to the Osphronemidae family and are native to Southeast Asia.
A three spot gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) grows to about 5 to 6 inches, lives around 5 years, and needs a tank of at least 30 gallons kept at 75-82°F with a pH of 6.0-7.5. It is a hardy, adaptable fish, but not reliably peaceful: males fight each other, and some individuals bully smaller or long-finned tank mates. Keep one gourami per tank unless you have a very large aquarium.
The species gets its name from the two dark spots along its side. Together with the eye, they make three “spots.” Depending on color and pattern, it is also sold as the opaline gourami, blue gourami, and gold gourami. These are color forms of one species, not separate species.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What Are the Key Facts About the Three Spot Gourami?
- What Do Three Spot Gouramis Look Like?
- How Do You Care for a Three Spot Gourami?
- What Size Tank and Water Conditions Do Three Spot Gouramis Need?
- Which Fish Can Live With Three Spot Gouramis?
- What Do Three Spot Gouramis Eat?
- How Do You Breed Three Spot Gouramis?
- Is the Three Spot Gourami Right for Your Aquarium?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Key Facts About the Three Spot Gourami?
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Temperament | Varies by individual; males fight each other and some bully smaller or long-finned fish. Keep one per tank |
| Color | Blue, gold, silver (platinum), opaline/mottled and lavender forms |
| Lifespan | About 5 years (some report longer) |
| Size | Up to about 6 inches (4–5 inches typical) |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Scientific Name | Trichopodus trichopterus |
| Minimum Tank Size | 30 gallons for one adult |
| Tank Setup | Freshwater, 75–82°F, plants including floating cover, caves, gentle flow, small air gap under the lid |
| Compatibility | Sturdy fish of similar size; avoid other gouramis, bettas, shrimp, snails, and small or long-finned fish |
Where Do Three Spot Gouramis Come From?
The native range runs from Yunnan in southern China through mainland Southeast Asia (including the Mekong Basin) to Indonesia. In the wild, they live in slow rivers, swamps, marshes, and floodplains. During the wet season, they move into flooded forest and return to the main waterways as the water drops.
Because they are hardy and breathe air, three spot gouramis have also been introduced to other places, including the Philippines, India, Sulawesi, and Trinidad. Nearly all aquarium specimens are commercially bred rather than wild-caught.
How Big Do Three Spot Gouramis Get, and How Long Do They Live?
Adults reach about 6 inches (15 cm) in standard length at most. In home aquariums, 4 to 5 inches is more typical. Size depends on genetics, diet, and the space you give them, so a big tank and good feeding help them reach full size.
With good care, three spot gouramis live around 5 years, and some keepers report longer. Constant fighting, poor water quality, and stress shorten that.
How Much Do Three Spot Gouramis Cost?
They are widely sold in pet stores and online, and are among the cheaper gouramis. Prices vary by store, region, and color form, so check local pricing.
What Do Three Spot Gouramis Look Like?
The standard “blue” form is blue-gray to silver with a marbled or lightly mottled body. Gold, opaline (marbled), platinum (white), and lavender forms are also sold. Each side carries a dark spot in the middle of the body and another near the base of the tail. The eye acts as the third spot.
How Can You Tell Male and Female Three Spot Gouramis Apart?
Look at the fins. Males have a long, pointed dorsal fin and a longer anal fin. Females have shorter, rounded fins and a rounder belly, which becomes very full when they carry eggs. Males also grow somewhat larger.
What Is Their Typical Behavior?
Temperament varies by individual. Many three spot gouramis are calm in a big, planted community tank. Others turn spiteful as they mature, chasing or nipping tank mates, especially other gouramis, bettas, and fish with long, trailing fins.
Males are territorial and will fight each other, particularly during breeding. A male can also harass females constantly, so mixing sexes in a small tank causes stress and injuries. The safest approach is one gourami per tank. Anything more needs a much larger aquarium with dense plants and breaks in line of sight.
Three spot gouramis swim in the upper and middle levels of the tank. They have a labyrinth organ, which lets them gulp air from the surface, so leave a small gap between the water and the lid. Cold or dry air above the water can harm the organ, so keep the room air warm.
Signs of stress include:
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid breathing or gasping that is not just normal surface air-gulping
- Clamped fins
- Hiding constantly or erratic swimming
- Dull, faded color
How Do You Care for a Three Spot Gourami?
Three spot gouramis are hardy and tolerate a wide range of water conditions, which makes them a good choice for beginners with a cycled tank.
In the wild, they live among thick vegetation, so add live plants such as duckweed or other floating plants. Floating cover dims the light and gives them a place to rest near the surface.
They are omnivores and eat insect larvae, zooplankton, small crustaceans, and plant material in nature.
What Diseases Do Three Spot Gouramis Get?
Look out for these signs of disease:
- White spots on the body and fins
- Sudden color change or fading
- Sudden change in swimming or behavior
- Refusing food
- Ragged or rotting fins
- A swollen belly
The most common problem is ich (white spot disease). Ich is not a virus or a bacterial infection. It is caused by a protozoan parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, so antibiotics do not treat it. The usual treatment is to raise the temperature gradually (no faster than about 2°F per hour) to around 86°F, add extra aeration, and use a labeled ich medication or aquarium salt, as directed on the product. Keep treating for at least 2 weeks after the last spot disappears, because the parasite is still in the water in a stage you can’t see. Treat the whole tank, not just the affected fish.
Constipation and bloating usually come from overfeeding or a diet that is mostly dry flakes. A swollen belly, stringy waste, and reluctance to eat are the usual signs. Fast the fish for a day or two, then offer a varied diet including live or frozen foods and some plant matter.
What Size Tank and Water Conditions Do Three Spot Gouramis Need?
Use a tank that copies their natural habitat: plenty of plants, driftwood, and caves, with dim lighting and a gentle current. Keep the aquarium out of direct sunlight, which overheats the water and encourages algae.
A siphon and regular water changes keep the tank clean. Vacuum the substrate and replace about 25% of the water weekly, or more often in a heavily stocked tank.
What Water Parameters Do They Need?
Reputable sources give slightly different ranges, so aim for the middle of these:
- Temperature: 75-82°F (some sources accept 72-86°F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5 (the species tolerates roughly 5.5-8.5)
- Hardness: roughly 4-18 dKH / 3-35 dGH; they adapt to most tap water
- Tank size: at least 30 gallons for one adult. More if you keep other fish.
Run a filter with gentle flow. Strong currents stress them, so choose a filter that produces little surface turbulence, or baffle the outflow. A gentle pump or a sponge filter also works. Choose smooth decorations so the long, thread-like ventral fins don’t snag.
Which Fish Can Live With Three Spot Gouramis?
Three spot gouramis can live in a community tank with fish of similar size and a sturdy temperament. Small, delicate, or long-finned fish are risky, because even a calm gourami may nip them. Avoid other gouramis and bettas.
Common tank mates:
- Tetras – larger, active tetras suit them better than tiny species.
- Mollies – hardy, active fish that can handle a lively tank mate.
- Danios – fast, striped fish from the Cyprinidae family that stay out of the way.
- Loaches – bottom dwellers from the family Cobitidae that use a different part of the tank.
Avoid snails, shrimp, and other small invertebrates, because gouramis will try to eat them. If a male starts to chase others relentlessly, rehome him or add hiding places and more cover.
What Do Three Spot Gouramis Eat?
Three spot gouramis eat both plant and animal foods. Offer a good flake or pellet as the base, and add frozen or live brine shrimp and bloodworms several times a week. Include some plant matter, such as spirulina flakes or blanched vegetables, for fiber.
Feed once or twice a day, and only what they finish in about 2 to 3 minutes. Overfeeding causes bloating and fouls the water.
How Do You Breed Three Spot Gouramis?
Three spot gouramis are bubble-nest breeders and are considered easy to breed. A healthy pair can produce several hundred to roughly a thousand eggs.
- Condition the pair with protein-rich foods, such as live or frozen foods, for a couple of weeks.
- Move them to a separate breeding tank (30 gallons or larger is easier) with floating plants and gentle filtration.
- The male builds a bubble nest under the floating plants and then wraps around the female to release eggs and sperm.
- Remove the female after spawning. The male guards the nest, but he can also be aggressive toward her.
- The eggs hatch in about 1 to 2 days. The fry become free-swimming in roughly 4 to 5 days. Take the male out at that point.
- Feed the fry infusoria or powdered fry food at first, then baby brine shrimp. Do frequent small water changes, especially around the third week, while the fry’s labyrinth organ develops.
Is the Three Spot Gourami Right for Your Aquarium?
A three spot gourami is an attractive, hardy fish that is easy to find and fun to watch. Its weakness is temperament: individuals vary, and males are aggressive toward each other.
Keep a single gourami in a 30-gallon or larger tank with robust tank mates, give it plenty of cover, and keep the water clean. Do that and you will have an active, long-lived fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 3 spot gouramis aggressive?
They can be. Males fight each other, and some individuals become spiteful toward tank mates as they mature. Keep one per tank and avoid small, shy, or long-finned fish. A male and female can work in a large, heavily planted tank, but the male may harass her.
How big do 3 spot gouramis get?
Up to about 6 inches (15 cm) in standard length, and 4 to 5 inches is typical in aquariums. A large tank and good feeding help them reach full size.
How long do 3 spot gouramis live?
Around 5 years with good care, and some live longer. Poor water quality, fighting, and stress shorten their lives.
What to feed 3 spot gourami?
A good flake or pellet as the base, plus frozen or live brine shrimp and bloodworms several times a week. Add some plant matter, such as spirulina flakes or blanched vegetables. Feed once or twice a day, only what they finish in 2 to 3 minutes.
Are gouramis hard to keep alive?
Not three spot gouramis. They are hardy and tolerate a wide range of water conditions, which makes them a good choice for beginners with a cycled tank. Most problems come from overfeeding, dirty water, ich, or aggression from tank mates.
What size tank does a 3 spot gourami need?
At least 30 gallons for one adult, and bigger if you add other fish. Seriously Fish lists a tank about 35 x 12 inches at the base (roughly 21 gallons) as the minimum, but most aquarium guides recommend 30 gallons or more because adults are active and can be territorial.
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