Approx Max Length : 7cm

Samurai Gourami - Sphaerichthys vaillanti Fish Profile & Care Guide

The Samurai Gourami, Sphaerichthys vaillanti, also known as Vaillants chocolate gourami is a gentle and charming fish, perfect for fish keepers who appreciate subtle beauty and unique behaviours.

With its shy and introverted nature, the Samurai Gourami finds comfort in dimly lit aquariums filled with floating plants and lush vegetation.

In our experience with this fish, this cosy environment helps them feel secure, making observing their unique and fascinating behaviour easier.

We've observed some fascinating behaviours while keeping these stunning Gouramis. They exhibit intense territorial instincts toward each other yet remain completely non-aggressive toward other fish in the aquarium. A dominant male and female will establish their place by harassing the less dominant individuals, who may even turn pale from stress to avoid attention. Interestingly, the dominant female often asserts herself over the dominant male, adding another layer to their unique social dynamics.

Based on this, we recommend keeping Samurai Gouramis in pairs rather than groups to create a more harmonious aquarium environment.

Another interesting note about this fish is that the females are arguably more beautifully coloured than the males. However, in our opinion, the males are equally stunning in their own unique way!

These little Gouramis are among the smaller species you’ll find in the fish-keeping hobby, reaching a petite size of just 6 to 7 centimetres. Their compact cuteness makes them a perfect fit for a larger nano aquarium!

Thanks to their peaceful personalities toward other species, Samurai Gouramis are easy to house alongside other calm tankmates like Rasboras and Tetras.

During courtship, the males' colours intensify and become even more striking, while the females maintain their vibrant patterns year-round. Whether you're captivated by their gentle nature or mesmerised by their stunning colours, Samurai Gouramis bring a serene and personable charm to any aquarium.

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Sexual Dimorphism

Determining the sex of Samurai Gouramis can be challenging during their juvenile stage. However, once the fish reach maturity, they display remarkable reversed sexual dimorphism. The female Samurai Gouramis exhibit a stunning red and green pattern during spawning, which further enhances their vibrant appearance, and they are slightly smaller in size than their male counterparts. In contrast, the males remain duller in colouration with a brownish appearance and are generally larger than the females.

Male Female

Quick Facts

Scientific Name	Sphaerichthys vaillanti
Year Described	1832
Other Names	Samurai Zebra, Vaillants chocolate gourami
Kingdom	Animalia
Classification	Actinopterygii
Order	Anabantiformes
Family	Osphronemidae
Genus	Sphaerichthys
Origins	Indonesia
Approx Max Size	7 cm
Temperament	Peaceful
Aquarium Level	All Levels
Difficulty	Intermediate - Advanced
Shoaling	No
Best kept as	Pairs
Diet & Feeding	Omnivore
Reproduction	Mouthbrooder
Average Lifespan	Up to 8 Years

Water Parameters

Water Type	Freshwater
pH	4.0 - 6.5
GH	1 - 54

Ideal Temperature Range
℉	75 - 82
℃	24 - 28

Natural Habitat

The Samurai Gourami originates from the enchanting peat swamp forests of Indonesian Borneo. Here, these little warriors live in gentle, tea-coloured blackwater streams filled with tangled roots and nutrient-rich, decaying leaves. This dark habitat, tinted by tannins and humic acids, is suitable for the Samurai Gourami, showing its impressive ability to adapt to low pH waters. Their knack for thriving in such a unique and challenging environment only adds to their charm, making them one of the most captivating fish you can welcome into your aquarium!

Breeding

When it comes to Samurai Gouramis, the female is the one who initiates the courting ritual, and the couple will remain upright in the water for several hours during the reproduction period. The female will lay approximately 10 to 40 eggs on any available surface in the tank, and the male will fertilize them. Once the eggs have been fertilized, the male will carefully gather them in his mouth and keep them there for about 7 to 21 days. During this time, males will usually not eat or eat very little and will often hide in a quiet corner of the tank to protect the eggs.

After the fry has hatched, they will feed on microorganisms present in the aquarium, and as they grow, newly hatched microworms or larval brine shrimp can be introduced to their diet. Once the male releases the fry, it is best to move him to a separate tank to prevent him from consuming his young. This separate tank should be tightly covered to maintain a warm temperature and humid atmosphere, which helps the labyrinth organs of the young fish develop naturally and stay healthy.

Diet & Feeding

When feeding Samurai Gouramis, we've noticed they are slow eaters who prefer to pick at food rather than gorge themselves like some other gourami species. Because of this, it's essential to offer small but frequent meals, especially when they’re first adjusting to your feeding routine. They can be somewhat picky, but we’ve found they have a particular fondness for decapsulated brine shrimp eggs.

Frequently asked questions

The scientific name of the Samurai Gourami is Sphaerichthys vaillanti.

Samurai Gouramis are smaller in size compared to many other Gouramis. They typically reach up to about 2.4 inches (6 cm) in length.

The average lifespan of Samurai Gouramis is around 5-8 years when kept in ideal conditions in an aquarium.

Samurai Gouramis prefer soft, acidic water with a pH range of 4.0-6.5 and temperature between 75-82°F (24-28°C). They thrive in densely planted tanks that mimic their natural habitat, with plenty of hiding spots and low light conditions.

Samurai Gouramis are omnivores, but their diet leans towards carnivorous. They can be fed a variety of live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms. Some may also accept high-quality flake or pellet food.

Male Samurai Gouramis have more intense coloration and longer, pointier dorsal fins compared to females. Females are generally duller in color and have shorter, rounded dorsal fins.

Yes, Samurai Gouramis can be kept in a community tank, but they are best kept with other small, peaceful fish species. They can be quite shy and prefer a calm environment, so it's best to avoid aggressive or overly active tank mates.