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Curated catalog

Sparkling Gourami (Pygmy Gourami)

Trichopsis pumila

The Sparkling Gourami (*Trichopsis pumila*), also known as the Pygmy Gourami, is one of the tiniest and most fascinating jewels in the fishkeeping world. With a maximum size of just 4 centimeters (1.5 inches), its elongated and transparent body seems insignificant at first glance, but under the right lighting it explodes into a hypnotic mosaic of iridescent red, green and neon blue dots, resembling tiny stars (hence the name "Sparkling"). This micro-labyrinth fish hides an incredible secret, however: it is capable of 'croaking' audibly from outside the tank, emitting loud snapping sounds during courtship or territorial disputes.

Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Sud-est asiatico (Bacino del Mekong inferiore: Vietnam, Cambogia, Thailandia, Penisola Malese)
Tank use
Used in 0 tanks
Temperature

22 °C - 28 °C

pH

5.5 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Tutte le zone. Esplorano meticolosamente ogni centimetro della vegetazione dal fondo fino al pelo dell'acqua.

Adult size

4 cm

Description

Shrimp Devourers:

A classic mistake in Nano Aquariums is inserting these seemingly harmless little fish into tanks full of dwarf shrimp (Red Cherry, Neocaridina). Along with Bettas, the Sparkling Gourami is one of the most ruthless and relentless exterminators of baby shrimp: it will hunt them incessantly through the moss, causing their extinction in the tank.

Care and observations

The Talking Fish (The Croak):

The most exceptional feature of this tiny fish is the noise. When two males compete for a female, or when they challenge a rival, they vibrate their chest muscles against their swim bladder emitting a loud rapid creaking (similar to croaking or rubbing two fingers together) that you will clearly hear outside the aquarium, even at night in your room. It is a natural and fantastic behavior to observe.

Curse of the Dry Food:

These are not fish for those who want to use only supermarket flake food. They have a very small mouth and a hunter instinct (not grazers). If fed only dry food, they will get sick and die of wasting (flat belly). You must breed or buy tiny live/frozen food such as baby brine shrimp or Cyclops, otherwise they will die in a few months.

Still Water and Dark Plants:

Given their millimeter size, they cannot fight against the strong current generated by a normal filter. They will end up crushed against the intake screens and you will find dead fish in the filter. Use sponge filters or position the outflow so as not to create turbulence. They absolutely need dense forests of moss (Java Moss) to hide, otherwise they will lose their colors living in terror.

Fish profile

Temperament
Timido, elusivo, ma sorprendentemente fiero. Mentre ignorano totalmente le altre specie, i maschi formano piccole gerarchie e si scontrano con parate a pinne spiegate accompagnate da scatti sonori.
Diet
Micro-Predatore insettivoro. Bocca lillipuziana. Spesso rifiutano il secco. Devono essere nutriti con micro-vivo o congelato (naupli d'artemia, cyclops, daphnia, microworms). Passano le giornate a 'brucare' infusori tra le foglie vive e il muschio.
Tank level
Tutte le zone. Esplorano meticolosamente ogni centimetro della vegetazione dal fondo fino al pelo dell'acqua.
Minimum group
4
Adult size
4 cm
Minimum tank
40 L
GH
2 dGH - 12 dGH
KH
n/a
TDS
n/a
Conductivity
n/a
Sex ratio
Gruppo. Dimorfismo sessuale bassissimo: i maschi hanno pinne leggermente più a punta, ma il sessaggio visivo certo si fa guardando gli ovari della femmina in controluce.
Feeding frequency
Piccole quantità 1-2 volte al giorno, somministrate tra la vegetazione densa.
Bioload
Bassissimo
Flow
Corrente da Nulla a Debole. Vengono spazzati via dai getti forti.
Reproduction
Bubble nesters. Costruiscono il nido di bolle all'interno di un intrico vegetale o perfino sotto le larghe foglie subacquee (come le Anubias), non necessariamente in superficie. Dopo la deposizione il maschio fa la guardia e può diventare insolitamente aggressivo verso pesci molto più grandi di lui.
Compatibility
Mantenimento ottimale ESCLUSIVAMENTE con altre specie di taglia micro e dal temperamento iper-pacifico: Boraras, microrasbore, Corydoras pygmaeus e Otocinclus. Non inserire MAI con Betta o pesci grossi che li ingoierebbero interamente. Attenzione: predano accanitamente le neocaridine nane (gamberetti).

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.