Fish profile · Osphronemidae

Three-spot gourami

Trichopodus trichopterus

AquariumFreshwaterNative to MalaysiaLeast Concern (IUCN)

Also called Blue gourami and Trichogaster trichopterus

A native Malaysian gourami also sold in several aquarium colour forms. Surveys have recorded it in rivers feeding Kenyir, and older references use the scientific name Trichogaster trichopterus.

Last reviewed 26 October 2026 · 10 sources

Photo of Three-spot gourami — (c) Zakqary Roy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Max length: 15 cm; without the tail
IUCN: LC; Least Concern
In Malaysia: Native
Family: Osphronemidae; order Perciformes

Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.

How big?

Linear scale · hand 18 cm

Up to 15 cm without the tail.

The hand is 18 cm long.

Where in Malaysia

28 open-licence records · GBIF

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Recorded (open records)

Recorded in Sarawak, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Johor, Pahang, Melaka, and Selangor. Based on 28 open-licence records on GBIF. Few records can mean few surveys, not few fish.

Habitat

Lowland rivers Rice fields and canals Reservoirs

Freshwater ponds and rice-field channels as well as rivers in the Kenyir catchment.

Diet: Tiny water animals, small shrimp-like animals and insect larvae, plus algae.
Native range: Southeast Asia; the precise historical range is obscured by long-standing introductions.

Aquarium care

Minimum tank: 114 L
Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 6–7.5
Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Sources

Last reviewed 26 October 2026