Giant gourami
Osphronemus goramy
Also known asGourami · Gurame · Goramy
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 800 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 28% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 1.40% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.50% of body weight
- Max density
- 35 g per litre
A 5000 g adult eats about 70.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~700 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | check local regulations | verified 2026-05-13 |
| Northern Territory | check local regulations | Hobby legal; food aquaculture may require permit verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to freshwater habitats across Southeast Asia: Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Borneo), Malaysia, Thailand, and Indochina. The species (Osphronemus goramy) is the largest gourami, reaching 60–70 cm and 7–9 kg in the wild. It's a labyrinth fish that breathes atmospheric air, allowing it to survive in warm, low-oxygen water. Giant gourami has been cultured as a food fish in Southeast Asia for centuries and remains an important aquaculture species in Indonesia, where it's grown in ponds, cages, and rice paddies. The flesh is white, mild, and relatively boneless for its size. Giant gourami has been introduced to many tropical countries outside its native range for food production and the ornamental fish trade.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- tropical (needs warm water year-round)
- USDA zones
- 9–13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- yes
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A warm-water food fish for tropical aquaponics systems, primarily relevant in Southeast Asian contexts where the species is culturally valued and widely available. Optimal temperature is 26–30°C, with a tolerated range of 20–35°C. Growth is moderate to slow relative to the fish's eventual large size: 500–1 g in 12-18 months on commercial pellet (28-35% protein), but the fish continues growing for many years, reaching 3–5 kg with patience. FCR is 1.5-2.5 depending on feed quality and temperature. Giant gourami are herbivorous to omnivorous: they eat aquatic plants, vegetable scraps, fruit, leaves, and commercial pellet. This plant-heavy diet is an advantage in integrated aquaponics because trimmings from the grow beds (lettuce leaves, herb stems, vegetable waste) can supplement the fish diet significantly, reducing feed costs by 20-40% compared to fully pellet-fed systems. Stocking density should be moderate (10-20 g/L) because adults are territorial and aggressive toward each other. The air-breathing capability (via a labyrinth organ) means the fish survives dissolved oxygen crashes that would kill tilapia or catfish, adding resilience during power outages or equipment failures. Fingerlings are widely available from hatcheries across Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. The species is legal to culture in most tropical countries but restricted in temperate regions where it could become invasive if it escaped into warm waterways. In temperate climates, giant gourami are impractical without continuously heated indoor systems.