The Complete Guide To Keeping And Breeding The Pearl Gourami (Trichopodus leerii)

A beautifully filmed and detailed guide to keeping and breeding the Pearl Gourami. This care guide includes information on choosing tank mates, breeding, setting up a gourami tank, tank size, filtration, and feeding.

[@MattKeepsFish]

I’ll always be glad that you started putting your voice into these videos :) Inspiring and captivating as always

[@TheDave333]

Wow thank you so much. I wish that I started with the voice rather than text. . . 😁

[@moonpleco5083]

Function of those stringy ventral fins make sense . When I observed gourami I though about it, what are they destinated for. Beautiful video about gourami life.

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. ❤

[@badabing3391]

certainly lovely fish, cant wait to get my female pearl gourami a mate. Wonder if these guys would tolerate a school of honey gouramis if the tank is large enough?

[@TheDave333]

It might work in a really really big tank, but I have my doubts.

[@j4884us]

Beautiful fish and one of my favourites. Fascinating video.

[@TheDave333]

Thank you so much. They're one of my favorites too!

[@thaumatophyllum]

How many gouramis would be able to live healthly in a 30 g aquarium?

[@TheDave333]

One or two

[@AJ-pl2rc]

These videos are an escape from the college work I should be doing as always this one was another treat. I was wondering if anyone had opinions on Vaillant’s/Samurai Gourami and whether or not I should keep them in groups or separate like I see recommended for others? Thank you! Edit: I mean in the case where I can’t verify/specify their gender before purchase. I really don’t want the males attacking each other.

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching the video. I have no experience with this particular breed, but I do know that Chocolate gouramis can be difficult to keep. Now back to work! 😁

[@petecross9470]

Fantastic footage of such a gorgeous fish! Thank you!

[@TheDave333]

My pleasure, and thanks for watching both videos. I really appreciate it.

[@moonpleco5083]

I don't agree that Ancistrus is good tankmate for gourami because Ancistrus species love strong current of aerate water ! Gourami live in different environment, Ancistrus would be poor fish in low level oxygen and filtration. Pleco poops a lot 💩...

[@TheDave333]

You make some valid points. Ancistrus do poop a lot, and they do love a strong current, but mine do well in low flow tanks. Of course, a low flow environment is not ideal, I agree. I think the main problem with them is that they're nocturnal, so they can disturb the other fish while they're sleeping. I usually keep mine in tanks all by themselves.

[@moonpleco5083]

​@@TheDave333oh yeah, nocturnal way of living ! Of course it's crucial about peaceful coexisting! Plus many ancistruses like to walk on aquarium walls, roots etc. so aquarium shouldn't be so shallow.

[@TheDave333]

I agree 100% I assume you saw my video on the climbing bristlenose plecos (Ancistrus). kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIHLiaqsiLGop5Y

[@moonpleco5083]

​@@TheDave333Sure, I saw this informative video, enjoying it very much ! Among ancistruses some individuals like walking around, others not so. Usually from time to time, here and there. One my female was extremely eager climber but on the other hand seeing Gustav on the wall or high on root is holiday 😆🐟

[@TheDave333]

It's always a treat to see fish doing what they would do in the wild. Have you kept many Ancistrus? And is there a moon pleco? :-)

[@ronnyv.d.b.8152]

nice video

[@TheDave333]

Thank you

[@matteld3179]

I have seen these guys a lot in my local lfs's they're my absolute favorite of the gouramis (Next to dwarfs that is) and like I always say, just because they're "common" doesn't mean bad.

[@TheDave333]

I agree 100% they're awesome fish! My next gourami subjects will probably the turquoise dwarf gourami. That was the first gourami that I ever bred way back in the early days.

[@matteld3179]

@@TheDave333 oh really? that's an interesting fact, looking foward to that gouramis in general have been around in the hobby for a while, such interesting fish.

[@TheDave333]

Gouramis are really interesting fish, but many people are worried about the iridovirus that can affect them. So, far I've been lucky enough to avoid it.

[@matteld3179]

@@TheDave333 oh yeah THAT virus, all fish imported from india have it from what I heard, so its best to buy from local breeders, or if your lfs quarantines fish.

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

blue gourami sir

[@TheDave333]

Maybe one day. . .

[@elvinsworld11]

Nice

[@TheDave333]

Thanks

[@ZeethK92]

One of my Dream fish.

[@TheDave333]

They are so beautiful. What's holding you back? Highly recommended. 😁

[@ZeethK92]

@TheDave333 Oh, the fun stuff. Apartment living and not having an appropriate tank available.

[@TheDave333]

Oops, sorry I completely understand.

[@ZeethK92]

@TheDave333 No worries. Someday, I'll get the chance.

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

First!

[@TheDave333]

Awesome! Thanks Chi ❤❤❤

[@thominaduncanson7596]

Fabulous documentary on pearl gouramis! Your smaller male has better conformation, and his caudal fin is perfect-I would definitely want offspring of his breeding. The part about the sounds that male pearl gouramis make was fascinating-when I kept a community tank (two pearl gouramis 1 M/1 F, 10 zebra danios, 10 cardinal tetras, two unsexed zebra plecos L046, 3 red wag platys 1 M/2 F) the pearl gouramis were silent, but doubtless my hang-on filter + air stone obscured what sounds the male was making. The zebra danios never seemed to bother my pearl gouramis…the stately progress around the tank by the pair usually had the smaller fish moving politely out of their way, and if they were too engrossed in danios “I-chase-you, you-chase-me”, a tapping with the pearls “antennae” would break up the game. 😏

[@TheDave333]

That sound like a fun little community of fish. Never a dull moment in that tank! Thanks for sharing. 😁

[@steve-adams]

Ah, you did it again. This is so beautiful. I've been enjoying your content more and more over time. I have to give the fish some credit here; they're exceptionally beautiful. I've never kept a pearl gourami (only sparkling), so I've never seen the way they use their ventral fins. It's kind of amazing! This was genuinely fascinating. I've held off on getting pearl gouramis because I hear the ones kept in the hobby in North America tend to get sick easily and die quite quickly. Is this true in your experience, or have you heard anything of the sort? I'm curious to know how long yours have been around and if they have any issues with disease. My frogbit doesn't mind water movement much at all, either. Every other floating plant I have is bothered or even killed by moderate or even mild agitation, but frogbit does just fine. I wonder what's different about it? I also wonder why the others are so delicate. Thank you for another great video!

[@TheDave333]

Hello once again. Pearl gouramis are fascinating fish. Unfortunately there's a Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus that prevents many people from keeping these fish, as well as other gouramis. I guess it's a real problem in some places. I live the the Northeastern U.S. and so far I've not seen it in any of my gouramis. . . I've had them for several years with no trouble. I do plan on getting some turquoise dwarf gouramis in the near future, so I'm hoping they'll be in good health as well. I think the frogbit might do better than other floating plants because the top surface of the plant is very smooth so the water just rolls right off without any trouble, while a plant like the redroot floater has a rough texture on the top side which traps the water and causes it to rot. The same thing happens with water lettuce, rough on top leads to rot. . Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@PaulsFishroom]

Always envy your photography Dave. I’d be very interested in you producing a video documenting the growing of the fry feeding brine shrimp as a first food. Personally, I’ve never had any success feeding brine shrimp as a first food to the newly free swimming fry. I would strongly suggest starting the fry off with infusoria supplemented, between feeds, with Golden Pearls fry food. I start introducing the fry to brine shrimp around the 7 to 10 days mark… 🤓👍

[@TheDave333]

Hello Paul. Thanks for watching another video and for your sage advice. On several occasions you've had me questioning my approach, and I love it! 🤔 Unfortunately, I haven't documented the growth of the fry because I've been trying to streamline my workflow. So, many fish, so little time. . . However, I do believe that you're correct as my fry survival has not been as good as I would like. It must be the bbs . . . I do supplement with Golden Pearls, and you're advice definitely has me thinking more about infusoria. Thanks for the tips and tricks. I really appreciate it.

[@PaulsFishroom]

@@TheDave333 you’re v welcome 🤓✌️

[@quinnstancil5939]

Class A

[@TheDave333]

Thanks

[@andicarson1339]

You did an exceptional job on this presentation! Back in college (many many years ago) my roommates would tease me about my Gourami talking to me (via clicks). Haha, of course I could never get the timing right for them to hear it. Also, I found it interesting that you included the information about many people having allergies to bloodworms. I actually ended up in the hospital emergency room because my throat was swelling up from an allergic reaction to bloodworms. I would have someone else feed bloodworms in my fishroom, but just going into the fishroom after they were fed was enough to cause the reaction. Thank-you very much for this great compilation on such an incredible fish!!!

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment. I love how they make sounds. . . Someday, I'll buy a hydrophone, find a quiet room, and record the various sounds that so many fish make. I think it's fascinating. In the facilities where they process and package bloodworms, the workers wear hazmat suits!!! I made a video on the danger of feeding bloodworms that might interest you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGmtd4JreMaErrs

[@andicarson1339]

@@TheDave333 Oh, yes! A hydrophone would be a fun tool! A hazmat suit!?! 😲 I hope they get paid well!