Silver Gourami 9cm

Silver Gourami
 

The Silver gourami makes for a beautiful and unique-looking fish. It is one of the larger gourami species and is a great entry-level aquarium fish for larger community aquariums. This fish is always a fantastic candidate and is an underrated fish that is often overshadowed by other gourami species. Silver gourami will make for a great showpiece fish in community aquariums as they grow to around 15cm. 

Silver gourami looks like delicate fish but is surprisingly hardy. They can tolerate a range of aquarium parameters and being an anabantoid, these fish have a primitive lung that allows them to take gulps of oxygen from the surface to breathe. These fish are often called moonlight gourami due to the stunning almost platinum white colour they carry, this almost bone white colour is something that is not commonly seen in aquarium fish either. They can also show shades of metallic silver and gold near the top of their body. Compared to most other gourami species, the silver gourami has a larger oval body and head. 

Blue gouramis can be bred in the home aquarium however unlike their close cousins the bettas, there isn’t any easy way of differentiating males and females. Generally, these fish will pair off naturally from a group and build a bubble nest in which they breed. The wild origin of the silver gourami is from Asia.  

Tank Recommendations for your Silver Gourami

Silver gourami does get fairly large at 15cm which is why the bare minimum aquarium would be around 60 liters. As always though a larger aquarium would be far better to allow ample space for the gourami and other tank mates. These fish can be slightly territorial at times as well which is why a larger aquarium would be ideal. Silver gourami can be easily kept solitary or in a group as well.

The silver gourami also does come from very calm, vegetation-dense waters in the wild, and replicating this would be the best environment for the fish. Silver gouramis are also almost exclusively fish that stick to the upper portions of the aquarium meaning that there isn’t any real concern about the substrate or escape materials used in the bottom portions of the tank. Because of their top dwelling nature, ensure that there is a lid on the aquarium. These are also tropical fish that are best kept at 24-26 degrees.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Silver gourami is a fairly peaceful fish, as long as there are no fish small enough to fit in their mouth there will be no issues. This species does have longer fins compared to other fish, which pose an easy target to open fin nipping species so these should be avoided

Usually Compatible

Torpedo barbs, corydoras, Black widow tetras, Plecos, ember tetras

Sometimes Compatible

Other gouramis and very small fish such as Endler guppies or maculatus raspboras.

Rarely Compatible

Aggressive species may prey on the gourami or any fin nipping species such as tiger barbs which could cause constant injuries to the fish.

Feeding your Silver Gourami

Silver gourami is very easy to feed. They will take a wide range of pellets, flakes, and frozen foods. Just like any fish though they should be fed a varied diet with a mix of different foods. The ideal diet would be a good quality floating food, supplemented with frozen bloodworms or black worms or even live foods like baby brine shrimp or micro worms.