Silver Gourami

Also known as the Moonlight Gourami, the Silver Gourami is a welcome addition to the home community aquarium. Their placid nature, good looks and unique behaviour makes them the ideal fish for a tropical freshwater community tank.

Silver Gourami's are relatively large fish, growing to a maximum of 10-12cm. They are hardy and extremely easy to care for. As with all Gourami's, they are egglayers and will build a bubblenest to breed.

This magnificent looking creature has a silver colour and features long thin pelvic fins that are effectively used as feelers.

The Silver Gourami's comical antics amongst themselves in the aquarium is nothing short of entertaining. This magnificent looking species will chase one another around the tank, particularily after a feeding, that will consume you as you chuckle at their behaviour while you wonder what will happen next.

Silver Gourami's possess a labryinth organ, which allows them to breath air directly. You will notice them constantly visiting the water's surface to breathe. In the wild, this allows them to live in swamps or pools of low water quality.

Silver Gourami's generally habitat the mid to top level of the aquarium.

Female's grow larger than males. A Silver Gourami's sex can be identified by the shape of the dorsal fin, which is long and pointed in males, compared to the female's shorter rounded dorsal. Males can be very territorial, therefore only one male should be kept per community tank.

Silver Gourami's are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods including flake food, live or frozen brine shrimp, algae flakes, bloodworms, plants and frozen community dinners.

In the home aquarium, it is good practice to offer the Silver Gourami a well planted tank with a variety of foods.