Chocolate Gourami Care Guide - Habitat, Diet & Breeding

The Chocolate Gourami is a small, distinctive labyrinth fish with a deep-bodied profile and a rich chocolate-brown base colour. Several pale cream to golden vertical bars cross the body, although their intensity varies with mood, age and locality. The fins are delicate and often carry warm reddish or amber tones.

Chocolate Gouramis are native to Southeast Asia, occurring in the Malay Peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They inhabit acidic, tannin-stained blackwater streams, peat swamps and slow-moving forest waters.

Provide at least 60 litres for a small group, with a footprint of around 60 × 30 cm or larger; a longer aquarium is preferable to a tall one. Use soft, acidic, well-filtered water with gentle flow, and create a shaded blackwater-style layout with dark sand or fine substrate, driftwood, dried leaves, dense plants and floating cover. Secure the lid because these fish breathe atmospheric air, and leave calm surface areas where they can rise without being disturbed.

Up to about 6 cm (2.4 in) in total length. Females are generally larger and fuller-bodied than males.

In nature, Chocolate Gouramis feed on tiny aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae and other small prey gathered among leaf litter and submerged vegetation. Offer a varied diet of finely crushed quality foods, small granules, frozen or live daphnia, baby brine shrimp, cyclops and blackworms. Small portions offered regularly are preferable to large meals, particularly for newly imported or timid specimens.

Chocolate Gouramis are gentle, shy fish best kept with other peaceful species that prefer warm, soft and acidic water. Suitable companions can include small rasboras, pygmy Corydoras, kuhli loaches and other calm blackwater fish, provided they are not boisterous competitors. Avoid fin-nipping species, large or aggressive fish, fast-moving community fish and tankmates that demand harder or alkaline water.

Chocolate Gouramis are maternal mouthbrooders. After courtship and spawning, the female gathers the eggs into her mouth and incubates them for roughly 7–14 days, depending on temperature and conditions. She should be left undisturbed during this period, as stress may cause her to swallow or release the brood prematurely. Once the fry are free-swimming, offer very small foods such as infusoria and newly hatched baby brine shrimp.

Females are usually slightly larger, deeper-bodied and more robust, particularly when carrying eggs. Males are often slimmer, and their fins or body markings may appear more contrasting, but sexing young Chocolate Gouramis can be difficult.