Aquariumanabantoid · freshwater
Pearl Gourami: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Pearl Gourami (Trichopodus leerii) grows to about 5.7 in (12 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 36 inches long and about 21 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 75–86°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 5.7 in (12 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 36 inches long and about 21 gallons
- Temperature
- 75–86°F
- pH
- 5.5–8
- Hardness
- 2–30 dGH
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- top of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- 8 years
Watch for: long fins that nippers target · may eat baby shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
Pearl Gourami tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Cherry ShrimpPearl Gourami may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpPearl Gourami may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Mystery SnailPearl Gourami (pH 5.5–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Zebra DanioNeeds careZebra Danio nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.
- Tiger BarbNeeds careTiger Barb nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.
- Bamboo ShrimpPearl Gourami may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Black Skirt TetraBlack Skirt Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.
- Buenos Aires TetraNeeds careBuenos Aires Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.
Avoid
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds carePearl Gourami (75–86°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Gourami is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksPearl Gourami (75–86°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Pearl Gourami only grows to about 5.7 in.
- Paradise FishNeeds carePearl Gourami (75–86°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Weather LoachOutgrows tanksPearl Gourami (75–86°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures.
All 105 species we checked against the Pearl Gourami
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Blue Acara | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| German Blue Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Nerite Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pictus Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Pearl Gourami may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Pearl Gourami may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Pearl Gourami may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Caution | Pearl Gourami and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Pearl Gourami and Crystal Red Shrimp only share 75–76°F. That's a tight window.; Pearl Gourami may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Diamond Tetra | Caution | Diamond Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Pearl Gourami may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.; Ghost Shrimp nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Gold Barb | Caution | Pearl Gourami and Gold Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Hillstream Loach | Caution | Pearl Gourami and Hillstream Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Pearl Gourami. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Pearl Gourami (pH 5.5–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Pearl Gourami (2–30 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Oscar | Caution | Oscar can bully smaller, peaceful Pearl Gourami. |
| Pea Puffer | Caution | Pea Puffer nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Penguin Tetra | Caution | Penguin Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Rosy Barb | Caution | Pearl Gourami and Rosy Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Serpae Tetra | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Caution | Silver Tip Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Zebra Danio | Caution | Zebra Danio nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Gourami is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Gourami is peaceful. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Pearl Gourami (75–86°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Pearl Gourami only grows to about 5.7 in. |
| Paradise Fish | Avoid | Pearl Gourami (75–86°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures. |
| Weather Loach | Avoid | Pearl Gourami (75–86°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Avoid | Pearl Gourami (75–86°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Gentle surface water velocity, floating flora cover, and unobstructed atmospheric air access above water surface for labyrinth organ respiration.
Group: Maintained singly, in bonded pairs, or in trios of one male with two females to distribute conspecific courtship pressure.
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the top of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Pearl Gourami get?
About 5.7 inches (12 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Pearl Gourami need?
At least 36 inches long and about 21 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.
How many Pearl Gouramis should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Maintained singly, in bonded pairs, or in trios of one male with two females to distribute conspecific courtship pressure.
What fish can live with a Pearl Gourami?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Pearl Gourami setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 40 gallon breeder (36 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 200 W for 40 gallons, holding 75–86°F.Find on Amazon →SandSoft sand protects barbels and lets it sift.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/trichopodus-leerii