Giant Chocolate Gourami (Sphaerichthys acrostoma)
The Giant Chocolate Gourami has the least attractive colouration of the chloclate gourami family but is a fascinating species. Unfortunately, these Gouramis are rare and hard to find in nature and stores.
Giant Chocolate Gouramis are not shoaling fish, but keeping six at a time can increase their activity. These species show interesting behaviours and dominance when kept in larger groups.
To have a successful tank, the Giant Chocolate Gourami must be put with other fish that are smaller, slower-moving, and aren't very aggressive or boisterous. They will do best in a species-only tank with other peaceful species.
Provide a heavily planted tank with a thick substrate, and include dried leaf litter, driftwood pieces with small holes created by branches, and low-light plants.
In their aquariums, Giant Chocolate Gouramis don't care about the decor as long as there's enough cover. Instead, this species prefers an artistically pleasing environment replicating their natural habitat. Fish-keepers often use what they have in their homes to make the aquarium seem like its natural habitat, but they may also use pieces of PVC pipes and ceramic flower pots.
Giant Chocolate Gouramis are highly stylized fish with gold and bronze scales that extend from the tip of their nose through the eye to the end of their gill cover.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphaerichthys acrostoma |
| Year Described | 1979 |
| Other Names | Golden Chocolate Gourami, Sharp Nosed Gourami, Moonlight Chocolate Gourami, Black Lined Chocolate Gourami, Black-Tailed Chocolate Gourami |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Anabantiformes |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Genus | Sphaerichthys |
| Origins | Indonesia |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate - Advanced |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Mouthbrooder |
| Lifespan | 5 - 8 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 3.5 - 6.5 |
| GH | 10 - 20 |
| TDS | 0 - 54 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 69 - 77℉ 20.6 - 25℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Giant Chocolate Gourami will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Tank Mates
3 interesting tank mate ideas for the Giant Chocolate Gourami could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
In breeding conditions, female and males of the same species are different. Males display a lateral stripe extending from their tail to their midsection. Females lack this stripe and display dark scales on the lower rear portion of their body and along the bottom edge of their anal fin.
Male and females have different appearances. Genetically, males have a slightly more rounded lower jaw attributed to the presence of distendable skin, whereas females maintain a greater degree of red pigmentation in their throat and in the unpaired fins.