Moonlight Gourami

General information

The Moonlight Gourami (Trichopodus microlepis) is a labyrnth fish that is native to Cambodia and Vietnam which is also known as Moonbean Gourami. The moonlight Gourami has a unique look with its shiny body and two long tentacles. The Moonlight Gouramis are named due to their silvery appearances.

The Moonlight Gouramis are omnivors so they will eat both plant and animal matter. In the aqurium they would be happy to take flake, pellet, frozen and live food. The growth would be enhanced if it is fed with live foods.

The males have reddish orange pelvic and long point dorsal fins. The females have yellow to colorless rounded pelvic and dorsal fins.

The spawning is easy if apropriate mate is found. The male makes a bubble nest which is around 25 cm long. There should be no current in the water. The female lays 200-300 eggs than the male carries eggs to bubble nest and start to take care of them. The female should be removed after she laid eggs. The males should be taken out of the tank after the fries can swim freely which usually takes 4-5 days. Fries grow very slowly and water should not be changed till they are 1 cm long.