Dwarf gourami

Colisa lalia

Family : Osphronemidae

FishFreshwaterlabyrinthids

Small colorful gourami, very popular in aquaristics. Peaceful and suitable for small aquariums.

Dwarf gourami — photo 1 sur 4 — André Karwath aka Aka · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.51 / 4

Popularity

Community fish

classic in freshwater aquarium

Availability

Common in shops

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Biotope

Central Asia

Rivières d'Inde, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

Description

Dwarf gourami reaches 5-6 cm. Males are very colorful: vertical red and blue bands on an orange background. Females are silvery. The body is oval and compressed. It is a shy but active labyrinth fish. It lives in pairs or small groups. It is sensitive to diseases and water quality. Breeding involves a bubble nest.

Habitat

Region :

This small gourami inhabits calm shallow waters of rice paddies, swamps, and lakes. The water is warm, often murky, with dense vegetation.

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature24–28 °C

pH6–7.5

GH2–8 °dGH

KH1–5 °dKH

NO₃

≤ 15 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 0.3 mg/L

Care

Difficulty

2/5

Diet

Omnivore

Min. tank

40 L

Min. group

Adult size

6 cm

Lifespan

3 years

Temperament

Peaceful

Propagation

Care notes

A minimum 40-liter aquarium for a pair. Temperature 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5, low hardness. A planted setup with hiding spots and low current is ideal. Omnivorous diet: flakes, fine pellets, live food. Compatible with other small peaceful fish. Avoid aggressive or overly active species. Breeding is possible in a specific tank with floating plants.

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