The pearl gourami is not only one of the most attractive gouramis but also one of the hardiest and easiest to keep. It has a labyrinth-like respiratory system, meaning it can breathe air from reaching the surface at any time. Like some other labyrinth fish, this species vocalizes; you might hear growling or croaking noises during breeding or fighting periods.
Origin and Distribution
The Pearl Gourami originates in Thailand, Malaysia, and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It prefers acidic water found in lowland swamps near the sea. Some of them have been introduced to Singapore and Colombia but they are a rare sight as most pearl gouramis are bred in captivity.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a pearl gourami is four to five years. There have been reported instances where they have made it past six, but that's quite uncommon.
Pearl gouramis need to be cared for correctly if you want them to live their lifespan in a fulfilling way. Generally, they are easy fish to maintain and care for- however, without the proper habitat condition this can drastically reduce the length of their lives which is why it is so important that these conditions be met.
Appearance
Pearl gouramis are a distinctive freshwater fish species. With their colors and patterns, they have the ability to stand out in an aquarium of any other ordinary looking fish. Pearl gouramis are easy to care for too! But it’s not just their appearance that sets them apart but also its habitat preferences. These beautiful creatures live on muddy bottoms with plants like Java moss or Vallisneria sp., (though there can be exceptions).
The name Pearl Gourami comes from the fact that there are little white dots on their body - these include spots around its caudal and dorsal fins. The only place you won't find these dots is under their mouth which starts at a small patch of skin slightly below the chest to the belly.
The pearl gourami is fascinating and entrancing because of the small, light-reflecting dots on their body. From the right angle they almost glitter! Another trademark feature of this fish species is a black line that runs down their middle from mouth to caudal fin, which can sometimes be difficult to see depending on how dark it appears against its natural coloration.
Pearl Gourami's bodies are long and thin but tall, giving it a "sideways pancake" appearance. Somehow this fish manages to look fast with its body shape.
The pearl gourami has a unique body shape. They are tall and long, but their bodies are flat like a pancake or side of cake! Another distinct characteristic they possess is that their ventral fins dangle past the end of their tail when swimming-they're kind of funny looking, but we think it's cute!
Size
The average pearl gourami size is anywhere between 4-5 inches. This measurement applies to their body, so it doesn't count any bonus length they might get from their ventral fins.
Genetics and care are two factors that can impact the fish's size, but genetics has a greater influence on the overall size than anything else does. The fish grows according to its age and gender as well, with females growing larger than males in general (not including other factors).
Diet
It is important to feed your fish a healthy diet. The food you provide can affect the growth and behavior of your gourami.
Pearl gouramis aren’t choosy about their food. Their omnivorous diet lets them eat all kinds of different foods.
In the wild, they eat whatever small insects, larvae, and eggs they can find. They have aquatic plants all around them to eat if nothing else passes by.
You won’t have trouble feeding them in an aquarium. They will eat most fish foods, like flake, pellet, and live and frozen foods. Just make sure whatever you feed them is small enough to fit in their mouths.
Live food is beneficial because it encourages the fish to exhibit different behaviors, such as working for their meal. Live foods include brine shrimp and glass worms.
