Moonlight gourami
Trichopodus microlepis
intermediate careOverview
The moonlight gourami (Trichopodus microlepis) is a large, serenely beautiful gourami with a silvery, faintly greenish body that shimmers like moonlight and long thread-like pelvic fins it uses to “feel” its surroundings. Peaceful and rather shy, it is a gentle centrepiece for a calm, spacious community. It lacks the vivid colour of smaller gouramis but makes up for it with elegant size and a graceful, unhurried presence.
Tank & water
A moonlight gourami needs a calm tank of at least 150 litres (40 gallons). Hold 24–28 °C with a gentle filter on soft to moderately hard, well-cycled water, and keep flow low — they dislike strong current.
- Calm, planted setup: tall plants and floating cover give the security this shy fish craves.
- Surface access: as a labyrinth fish it must breathe air, so leave a warm air gap under the lid.
- Smooth substrate: any soft substrate suits it — see the substrate hub.
Feeding
As omnivores, moonlight gouramis take a wide range of foods. Feed quality flakes and pellets as a staple, with frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, and the occasional vegetable matter. See our best fish food picks and browse the fish food hub. Feed a varied diet and avoid overfeeding this slow, deliberate eater.
Tankmates
Peaceful and gentle, moonlight gouramis suit calm communities of larger tetras such as the congo tetra, rasboras, peaceful barbs, corydoras and angelfish. They mix with other calm gouramis such as the pearl gourami given space. Avoid fin-nippers, which target their long feelers, and boisterous or aggressive fish.
Frequently asked questions
The moonlight gourami is a large, elegant, peaceful centrepiece for a calm community tank. Give it space, gentle flow and quiet company, and its shimmering, unhurried presence becomes the focal point of the aquarium.
Moonlight gourami — frequently asked questions
How big does a moonlight gourami get?
Larger than the little dwarf and honey gouramis — around 13–15 cm. That size, plus its need for calm open water, means a tank of at least 150 litres. It is a gentle giant among gouramis, not a nano fish, so plan accordingly.
Are moonlight gouramis aggressive?
They are among the most peaceful of the larger gouramis, quite shy in fact. Males can show mild rivalry, so give them space and cover. Overall they are calm community fish that dislike boisterous or nippy tankmates more than they cause trouble themselves.
Do moonlight gouramis breathe air?
Yes. Like all gouramis they have a labyrinth organ and periodically rise to gulp air from the surface, so they need access to the surface and a warm, humid air layer under the lid. This is normal behaviour, not a sign of a problem.
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