Description
The sparkling gourami, or pygmy gourami, is a minute labyrinth fish of about 4 cm, with a dark band on the flank topped by a row of blotches and iridescent sparkles. Its most curious trait: both sexes make audible croaking sounds with a specialised mechanism in the pectoral fins.
It is from the lower Mekong basin and central and southern Thailand, and almost all on sale are commercially produced.
Behavior
Peaceful and discreet: best as a pair or a small group, alone or with very calm species of its size. Large or energetic fish intimidate it and take its food.
It lives well with small shoaling cyprinids such as Microdevario, Boraras or Trigonostigma, and with tiny loaches such as Pangio.
Avoid housing it with larger, energetic fish or those known to prey on fry: some aquarists say it eats the fry of other fish.
Habitat
Trichopsis pumila lives in the lower Mekong basin and central and southern Thailand, in water with little current and plenty of vegetation.
Floating and broad-leaved plants, little current and a lid that keeps the air above warm.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
A bubble-nester. A separate breeding tank is best, with the tightest lid you can find, because the fry need a layer of warm, humid air above the water to develop the labyrinth organ.
Diet
A small-mouthed omnivore with a taste for live prey.
- Staple: micropellets or fine flake.
- Supplement: brine shrimp, small daphnia or cyclops, live or frozen.
Everything has to be small.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–6.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
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They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Trichopsis pumila. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6-7, 5-19 dH and 25-28 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 5-7.5, 1-12 dGH and 22-28 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Size: 4 cm SL in both sources.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.