Giant gourami

Quick facts

Adult size

60 cm, 5000 g typical harvest weight

Days to harvest

540 to 1095 days from fingerling

Lifespan (max)

up to 20 years

Diet

omnivore

Temperature class

warm-water

Difficulty

intermediate

Water parameters

Temperature range

20–30°C (optimum 26°C)

pH

6.5 to 8

Hardness

5 to 25 dGH

Minimum tank

800 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein

28% target

Daily feed (warm water)

1.40% of body weight per day

Daily feed (cool water)

0.50% of body weight per day

Max stocking density

35 g per litre of system water

A 5000g adult eats about 70.0 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 700 g of feed daily.

Legality

Aquaculture and possession rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This table reflects regulations as of the verified date on each row. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Jurisdictions not listed here default to "check local regulations". A non-listing is not a green light; rules in your specific county or municipality may apply.

Habitat and origin

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 classification

tropical (needs warm water year-round)

Outdoor pond zones (USDA)

9 to 13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)

Heating in a temperate climate

Required for year-round operation

Cooling in a temperate climate

Not required

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

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.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else