Aquariumanabantoid · freshwater
Sparkling Gourami: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) grows to about 1.9 in (4 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 18 inches long and about 11 gallons. Keep at least 2 together, at 72–82°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
- 1.9 in (4 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 18 inches long and about 11 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–12 dGH
- Group size
- 2+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
Sparkling 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
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careSparkling Gourami (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- Dwarf GouramiNeeds careDwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami.
- BettaNeeds careBetta can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami.
- German Blue RamNeeds careSparkling Gourami and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami.
- Cherry ShrimpSparkling Gourami may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpSparkling Gourami may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Nerite SnailSparkling Gourami (pH 5–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
Avoid
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Sparkling Gourami and may treat it as food.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksCommon / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Sparkling Gourami is peaceful.
- Electric Blue AcaraNeeds careElectric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksSparkling Gourami (72–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Pictus CatfishOutgrows tanksPictus Catfish eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Sparkling Gourami
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | 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 |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | 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 |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Sparkling Gourami may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Sparkling Gourami may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Betta | Caution | Betta can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Sparkling Gourami and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Sparkling Gourami may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Sparkling Gourami may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Dwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami.; Sparkling Gourami (pH 5–7.5) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Sparkling Gourami (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Sparkling Gourami (1–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Sparkling Gourami and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Sparkling Gourami may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami grows 6× longer than Sparkling Gourami and may treat it as food.; Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Molly | Caution | Sparkling Gourami (1–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Sparkling Gourami (pH 5–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Sparkling Gourami (1–12 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Sparkling Gourami (pH 5–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Sparkling Gourami and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Sparkling Gourami (1–12 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Sparkling Gourami and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach grows 4× longer than Sparkling Gourami and may treat it as food.; Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Sparkling Gourami and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Sparkling Gourami is peaceful. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | Common / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Sparkling Gourami is peaceful. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Avoid | Electric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Sparkling Gourami (72–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Pictus Catfish | Avoid | Pictus Catfish eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Avoid | Tinfoil Barb eats small fish, and Sparkling Gourami only grows to about 1.9 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Tank must be covered and not filled to the brim so it can breathe warm humid air; well-planted shady tank with surface cover; only very peaceful similar-sized tankmates; live/frozen foods
Group: SF: keep as a pair or small group
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Sparkling Gourami get?
About 1.9 inches (4 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Sparkling Gourami need?
At least 18 inches long and about 11 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.
How many Sparkling Gouramis should be kept together?
At least 2. SF: keep as a pair or small group
What fish can live with a Sparkling Gourami?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Sparkling Gourami setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 20 gallon long (30 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 100 W for 20 gallons, holding 72–82°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 →FoodMeaty frozen foods suit its diet.Find on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, AquariumSetup earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current options.
Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/trichopsis-pumila/
- fishbase.se /summary/Trichopsis-pumila.html