Giant gourami

Scientific name: Osphronemus goramy

Country: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand

Continent: Asia

Diet: Water weeds, crustaceans - crustacivore, fish - piscivore, frogs - ranivore,

Food & feeding: Omnivore

Habitats: Freshwater

Conservation status: Not Threatened

Relatives: Kissing gourami, Siamese fighting fish

Description: Males of this species have more pointed dorsal and anal fins than females and when mature, a distinctive swelling of the forehead known as the 'nuchal hump'. Like all other gouramis, this fish can breath air using a special 'labyrinth organ' which acts like a lung, enabling them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters. Giant gouramis can grow to 70 cm length.

Lifestyle: Gouramis live in shallow weed-choked pools, where oxygen is sometimes in short supply. Being able to breathe mouthfuls of air is very useful in these conditions. They feed on the weed itself and almost anything that lives amongst it.

Family & friends: The males are usually aggressive towards each other. They may engage in violent fights as seen in Siamese fighting fish, or highly ritualised aggression, with the so-called 'kiss' of a kissing gourami.

Growing up: When gourami's are ready to breed, they build a nest of plants at the surface of the water suspended with bubbles. The eggs are guided in, then after about two weeks the fry leave the nest.

Did you know?

Giant gourami are an important food fish in South East Asia. This is because they can survive out of water for several hours, and so can be moved from one breeding pond to stock another without special equipment. This is ideal in rural areas where such equipment might not be available.

Conservation news

Conservation news: This species, as it is now farmed for food, is in no danger of extinction. However, it is a threat to other species as when it is introduced to pools, it can rapidly out-compete and outgrow the native species.