Why is my Chocolate Gourami refusing to eat flakes?

This species is a micro-predator by nature and often stubbornly refuses dry commercial foods. To ensure they eat and thrive, you must offer live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, baby brine shrimp, or small bloodworms.

Do I really need a blackwater setup for them?

Yes, replicating blackwater conditions with leaf litter and humic substances is vital. Without extremely soft, acidic water, their immune systems weaken, and they rarely survive long-term in standard aquarium setups.

Can I keep just a pair of Chocolate Gouramis?

It is strongly recommended to keep them in a group of at least six. In a simple pair, the dominant individual may relentlessly bully the weaker one, whereas a group spreads out this natural hierarchical behaviour.

How do I breed them in captivity?

Breeding requires absolute pristine blackwater, zero disturbances, and a rich live food diet. The female is a mouthbrooder, holding the eggs for up to three weeks. Provide dense cover and do not stress the female during incubation, or she may swallow the eggs.

Why are my Chocolate Gouramis staying near the surface?

Like all anabantoids, they possess a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air. While it is normal for them to visit the surface for a gulp of air, constantly hanging there may indicate poor water quality or a dangerous lack of dissolved oxygen.

FreshwaterTropicalAdvanced

Chocolate Gourami

Sphaerichthys osphromenoides

The Chocolate Gourami is a delicate, highly sought-after anabantoid that rewards advanced keepers with its subtle beauty and fascinating maternal mouthbrooding behaviour.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 25 – 30 °C
pH range: 4 – 6.5
Hardness: 0 – 4 dGH
Adult size: 4 – 5 cm
60L for a small group: 60 litres+
Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
Diet: Carnivore/Micro-predator
Water flow: Very slow, almost stagnant
Preferred setup: Blackwater biotope with a soft sandy substrate, copious dried leaf litter, submerged driftwood tangles, and dim lighting.

About the Chocolate Gourami

Native to the deeply shaded peat swamps of Southeast Asia, Sphaerichthys osphromenoides is aptly named for its rich, chocolate-brown base colour intersected by striking cream vertical bands. These diminutive labyrinth fish are notorious for their exacting water requirements, making them a true test of a fishkeeper's dedication. They move with a deliberate, almost hovering grace, relying on their labyrinth organ to supplement oxygen intake in the poorly oxygenated waters of their native swamps.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Chocolate Gourami against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Chocolate Gourami comes from

Native range

Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Countries / regions

Malaysia, Indonesia

Habitat

Deeply shaded peat swamp forests and associated sluggish blackwater streams.

Their native habitats are highly threatened by deforestation and agricultural clearance, particularly for palm oil plantations.

Similar species

Samurai Gourami
Sphaerichthys vaillanti
Crossband Chocolate Gourami
Sphaerichthys selatanensis
Liquorice Gourami
Parosphromenus deissneri

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
Tiny, exceptionally peaceful, and thrives in the same highly acidic, warm blackwater conditions without outcompeting the gouramis for food.
Great
Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
Peaceful, nocturnal bottom dwellers that will not disturb the gouramis and appreciate dim, leaf-strewn environments.
Great
Glowlight Rasbora
Trigonostigma hengeli
Small, gentle mid-water swimmers that provide subtle dither activity, encouraging the timid gouramis to venture out.
Great
Siamese Fighting Fish
Betta splendens
While sharing similar water parameters, domestic Bettas can be excessively aggressive and unpredictable towards other slow-moving anabantoids.
Compatible with caution
Otocinclus Catfish
Otocinclus vittatus
Although peaceful, they prefer slightly cooler, faster-flowing water than the stagnant, warm blackwater required by Chocolate Gouramis.
Compatible with caution
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Far too boisterous and prone to fin-nipping, they will easily outcompete and severely stress the delicate gouramis.
Not recommended
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Will easily outcompete for food, intimidate the small gouramis, and potentially prey upon them as they grow.
Not recommended

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