Description

Moonlight Gourami

📌 Basic Info

• Scientific Name: Trichopodus microlepis (sometimes listed as Trichogaster microlepis)

• Common Names: Moonlight Gourami, Moonlight Fish, Silver Gourami

• Family: Osphronemidae (Gourami Family)

• Order: Anabantiformes

• Origin: Southeast Asia — Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia freshwater rivers and lakes

• Size: Up to 6 inches (15 cm) in captivity

• Lifespan: 4 – 6 years

• Tank Zone: Mid to upper water column

🌊 Water Parameters

• TDS: 100 – 250 ppm

• pH: 6.5 – 7.5

• Temperature: 24 – 28°C (75 – 82°F)

• Hardness: 5 – 15 dGH

🐟 Characteristics

• Body: Elongated, laterally compressed body with smooth scales.

• Coloration: Silvery-white body with a faint metallic sheen, giving a “moonlit” glow; fins are translucent.

• Fins: Long, flowing dorsal and anal fins; slightly forked caudal fin.

• Behavior: Peaceful and shy; uses labyrinth organ to breathe surface air.

• Nature: Slow-moving, calm; best in serene community tanks.

• Special Feature: Labyrinth organ allows survival in low-oxygen water; glows subtly under aquarium lighting.

🍽️ Food

• Type: Omnivorous

• Diet: Flakes, pellets, live/frozen foods like bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp; occasional vegetable matter.

• Feeding Frequency: Once or twice daily.

• Tip: Provide a varied diet to maintain color and health.

🛠️ Maintenance

• Tank Size: Minimum 80 liters (20 gallons) for a single adult or pair.

• Filtration: Gentle filtration; avoid strong currents.

• Substrate: Sand or fine gravel.

• Decor: Plants, driftwood, and floating vegetation; prefers dim or shaded areas.

• Lighting: Low to moderate; enhances moonlight silvery sheen.

• Water Change: 20–25% weekly.

👥 Social Behavior

• Group Size: Can be kept singly, in pairs, or small groups (3–5).

• Tank Mates: Peaceful species like tetras, rasboras, guppies, and small gouramis.

• Avoid: Aggressive or fin-nipping species.

• Compatibility Note: Calm species; best with similarly peaceful fish.

✅ Do’s

• Provide calm water with gentle flow.

• Include plants and shaded areas for security.

• Feed a varied diet including live and frozen foods.

• Monitor water quality; sensitive to ammonia and nitrite spikes.

❌ Don’ts

• Don’t keep in aggressive community tanks.

• Don’t expose to strong lighting or fast currents.

• Don’t overcrowd the tank.

⭐ Quick Tips
Moonlight Gourami is a beautiful, peaceful centerpiece fish that adds serenity to any community aquarium. Its subtle silver glow, flowing fins, and calm behavior make it ideal for planted or low-light aquariums.