Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf gourami (Trichogaster lalius) is a species of colorful freshwater fish. They inhabit the waters of Southern Asia and are often aquarium pets. These are small-sized fish, 2 to 5 inches, that are available in many color and pattern variations. Dwarf gouramis were first described by F. Hamilton in 1822, and live in places like Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and Thailand.

3 Facts About Dwarf Gourami

1. The male dwarf gourami is much more colorful than females, with females having a duller appearance.
2. Dwarf gourami are social fish that benefit from opposite-sex pairs or groups.
3. Dwarf gourami are anabantoids. They can develop a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe oxygen from the surface of the water. This allows them to survive in low-oxygen environments.

Dwarf Gourami Species

There are currently over 130 recognized species belonging to four sub-families and 15 genera of gourami in the Osphronemidae family. Dwarf gourami is one of these species, and the common name dwarf gourami itself only describes one species of fish.

Dwarf Gourami Classification and Scientific Name

Scientifically known as Trichogaster lalius, dwarf gourami belongs to the Anabantiformes order in the Trichogaster genus.

Dwarf Gourami Appearance

These beautiful dwarf fish have a fascinating appearance that has made them a top choice for many tropical fish keepers. They are small, at around 2 to 5 inches in length, with males being slightly smaller than their female counterparts. Dwarf gouramis have a compressed and horizontal body that is framed by long dorsal and pelvic fins.

The female dwarf gourami typically has a more rounded belly and dorsal fin. Conversely, the males have a larger dorsal fin that ends at a point. One of the dwarf gourami’s most distinctive features is their long, threadlike unique ventral fins. These long ventral fins have touch-sensitive cells that allow the fish to gain sensory information from their surrounding environment. Dwarf gouramis rely on their ventral fins to navigate their environment and detect various objects.

In some cases, dwarf gourami may use their ventral fins to find food. And one ventral fin can sometimes be more independent than the other when moving. It’s also possible for these fins to give the dwarf gourami a better understanding of their environment. They can use these fins to judge distances between themselves and other fish or objects like plants, rocks, and substrate.

Another fascinating aspect of their appearance is their wide range of colors. The male dwarf gourami is much more colorful than the female. It has color variations such as blue, flame, honey, neon blue, red, and sunset. In the wild, the males have diagonal stripes along their bodies that are generally red or blue. Females are duller with a silverish-grey coloration. Due to all their color variations, they are sometimes labeled by their color rather than as dwarf gourami.

Dwarf Gourami Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Dwarf gourami is native to Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan in Southern Asia. They also reside outside their native range in the United States and Singapore. Here you will find them inhabiting the slow-moving waters with thick vegetation. The water is usually acidic and shallow, while murky with a muddy bottom. These water bodies include swamps, streams, rice fields, ponds, and lakes which have tropical conditions.

As an anabantid, dwarf gourami can develop a lung-like labyrinth organ. This allows them to gulp oxygen from the surface of the water. This organ allows dwarf gourami and other anabantids like betta fish to temporarily survive in less-than-ideal conditions.

The dwarf gourami is a popular fish as a food source and in the pet trade industry. This has allowed them to be a least concern according to the IUCN red list. This fish currently faces no threats to their population numbers.

Dwarf Gourami Predators and Prey

Dwarf gourami are omnivores both in the wild and in captivity. Their wild diet consists of insects, zooplankton, small crustaceans, and algae. Wild dwarf gouramis will prey on insects that land on the water’s surface, such as mosquitos and their larvae. Captive-bred dwarf gouramis are usually fed an omnivorous diet that consists of plant and animal matter in a pellet or flake form. When feeding your pet gourami, you should include live or freeze-dried foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp in their diets as a supplement.

While they are small predatory fish themselves, it’s unknown which predators dwarf gourami face in the wild. However, larger carnivorous fishes like cichlids can injure and kill dwarf gouramis in aquariums. This makes it important to choose compatible tank mates for your gourami to ensure they stay safe from other predatory fish.

Dwarf Gourami Reproduction and Lifespan

Most dwarf gourami live between three to five years, with an average lifespan of four years. However, several factors such as stress, poor water quality, disease, and improper living conditions can reduce a dwarf gourami’s overall lifespan.

Male dwarf gouramis will build a bubble nest to attract a potential mating partner, and it may indicate that they are ready to spawn. Once males find a reciprocating female, they engage in a spawning ritual. During this ritual, the male fertilizes around 80 to 100 eggs. The fish deposit these eggs into the bubble nest where the male guards them until they hatch.

Not all of these eggs are guaranteed to hatch, and there will be significantly fewer fry that hatch than eggs. The spawning ritual is fascinating and similar to other anabantids. The male and female dwarf gourami will swim in a spiral underneath the bubble nest, and the male will appear as if he is squeezing the female by wrapping his body around her to release the eggs.

Dwarf Gourami in Fishing and Cooking

In South Asian countries, dwarf gourami is a low-cost freshwater fish commonly eaten. They are a source of animal protein rich in essential nutrients for the lower class in South Asian countries. They are also small indigenous target fish for artisanal fishers. These fishers use traditional gear like drag-and-push nets, traps, or a hook and line to catch the dwarf gourami.

1. IUCN Red List , Available here: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/166445/6210533
2. Seriously Fish Database, Available here: https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trichogaster-lalius
3. Research Gate, Available here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352508965_Growth_Condition_Maturity_and_Mortality_of_the_Dwarf_Gourami_Trichogaster_lalius_Hamilton_1822_in_a_Wetland_Ecosystem_Beel_Dakatia_Southwestern_Bangladesh
4. Research Gate, Available here: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Position-of-the-ventral-fins-in-intact-gourami-during-a-slow-swimms-and-in-stationary_fig1_261034643