Male vs Female Pearl Gourami | How to Identify & Care Guide

Welcome to the mesmerizing world of Pearl Gourami. This blog will enlighten you with amazing facts and provide a complete aquarium care guide for this beautiful small aquarium fish. Whether you’re interested in identifying male vs female Pearl Gourami or seeking tips on their care, this comprehensive guide has you covered.

Let’s start by exploring the ways to identify male and female Pearl Gourami and then examine their aquarium care requirements.

Identifying Male vs Female Pearl Gourami

Male Pearl Gouramis have thinner and more angular bodies compared to females. Male gouramis have more colorful bodies and different fins than female gouramis. It is easy to distinguish male Pearl Gouramis from female gouramis by the red-orange color of their breast or throat. When a female Pearl Gourami is ready to spawn, she appears much fuller and rounder than the male Pearl Gourami.

Male vs Female Pearl Gourami: Coloration 

We can easily distinguish male and female Pearl Gouramis by their coloration. The male Pearl Gourami is always more colorful than the female. When male Pearl Gouramis are healthy and have a good diet, they become even more vibrant. During breeding, males produce a stunning splash of orange or red color on their throat and breast to attract their mates.

General Characteristics of Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gouramis are medium-sized species, renowned for their iridescent scales that give off a pearl-like sheen. Let’s explore the unique characteristics of Pearl Gouramis.

Size and Weight

The size and weight of Pearl Gouramis depend on their diet, care, and age. However, Pearl Gouramis can grow up to a maximum of 5 inches. Due to their medium size, the weight of a Pearl Gourami is approximately 0.25 kg.

Amazing Facts about Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gourami Breeding Behavior

Pearl Gouramis are easy to keep, whether you are a seasoned aquarium enthusiast or a beginner. Breeding them is also straightforward but requires some essential care to thrive in captivity. Some key points include:

Preparing the Breeding Tank

Prepare a separate tank for breeding Pearl Gouramis. A tank size of 10 to 20 gallons is sufficient for breeding purposes. Maintain a slightly warmer temperature, around 28°C, and ensure slightly acidic water conditions for successful breeding. Use floating plants or fine-leaf supports to provide a suitable environment for building bubble nests.

Breeding process

The breeding process begins when the male Gourami constructs a bubble nest. Once the nest is complete, the male Gourami displays it to the female. After courtship between the male and female Gouramis, the female will start laying eggs, which the male Gourami will then collect and place into the nest.

Caring for Fry

When the female Pearl Gourami lays eggs, it is essential to remove her from the tank to prevent her from eating the eggs. The male Pearl Gourami then protects the eggs until they hatch. After hatching, remove the male from the tank to prevent him from consuming the fry. Then, feed the fry with infusoria and commercially available fry foods.

Aquarium Care for Pearl Gouramis

Pearl Gouramis are popular fish among aquarium enthusiasts for their beauty. If you want to enhance your tank’s beauty, Pearl Gouramis is an excellent choice. They are not hardy and can be easily kept in captivity.

Tank Setup

For the well-being of your Pearl Gourami fish, it is crucial to set up the tank properly. How can you set up the tank? Here’s a complete guide:

Tank Size

The minimum tank size for Pearl Gouramis is 30 gallons. It is essential to provide ample space so that the Gouramis can swim easily in the tank. In a 30-gallon tank, you can keep a small group of Gouramis.

Tank Decor

Decorate the tank properly to give it a natural look. Gouramis, like every fish, thrive easily in a well-planted tank because it mimics their natural environment. For decoration, you can use live plants like Java Fern and Amazon Swords and also use substrate to further mimic their natural habitat.

Water Parameters

Water parameters play a pivotal role in the well-being of Gouramis. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the water conditions.

• The temperature should be between 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit 
• The pH should be between 6.0 to 7.5
• Soft to moderately hard water is 4 to 12 dGH.

Tank Mates

It is essential to choose peaceful tank mates because Pearl Gouramis are peaceful species that can coexist with a variety of species.

Diet and Feeding Habits of Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gouramis are omnivorous species and require a varied diet. They consume different types of foods such as:

Maintain the feeding frequency, and avoid overfeeding. Feed them small amounts 2 to 3 times a day.

Conclusion

In summary, we explored all the crucial aspects related to this elegant aquarium fish. We began by discovering amazing facts that helped us identify the male and female Pearl Gourami fish. Additionally, we delved into a complete aquarium guide covering tank setup, water parameters, and diet. We also learned about the breeding behavior of Pearl Gourami, including how to set up the breeding tank, the breeding process, and caring for fry in captivity. I hope you enjoyed this blog; please share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section.

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