Giant Gourami

The giant gourami looks like an ugly gentle giant when it gains its massive size, but looks are deceiving. Giant gourami have a lot of personality and are a favorite single fish pet. The giant gourami is an ideal pet for large species fish tanks where everyone is tough enough to respect each other. The fish comes from Indonesia, where it is more popular for taste than personality. In fact, the giant gourami is an important source of food for the natives of that region. So, if he gets too rough for the fish tank....

These fish are easy to care for and eat just about anything. Be prepared to have them for a long, long time.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Giant gouramis start small but can reach two feet, so they need very strong filtration. Keep a lid on the tank and leave a gap of air above the water, since gouramis breathe from the surface.

Feeding: Feed a quality pellet or flake with plenty of vegetable content once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods now and then.

Tankmates: Young giant gouramis are peaceful, but adults need equally large, robust tankmates such as large catfish, oscars or arowanas. Anything small will be eaten.

Good to know: Giant gouramis grow fast and learn to recognize their owners, which is why they are kept as single "pet fish."