Here's the full guide to the Blue Gourami (also sometimes called Lily Gourami) with all external links removed:

🐠 Scientific & Common Names

• Scientific Name: Trichopodus trichopterus

• Common Names: Blue Gourami, Lily Gourami, Three-Spot Gourami, Opaline Gourami, Gold Gourami

🌍 Origin & Habitat

• Native to Southeast Asia—found in slow-moving or still waters like swamps, ponds, rice paddies, and canals

• Natural habitats have dense vegetation and low oxygen levels, which these fish can tolerate due to their labyrinth organ

🎨 Appearance & Variants

• Size: Typically grows to around 5 inches (12–15 cm), up to 6 inches in some cases

• Color: Light silvery blue with a dark spot mid-body and at the base of the tail (plus the eye = "three spots")

• Variants:

  • Opaline Gourami: Marbled or striped blue-white pattern

  • Gold Gourami: Yellow-gold coloration

  • Lavender/Amethyst: Soft purple hue

• Sex Differences: Males are more colorful with longer, pointed dorsal fins; females have shorter, rounded ones

🌡️ Tank Requirements & Care

• Tank Size: 20–30 gallons minimum for one; larger if housing with others or in a community setup

• Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)

• pH: 6.0–8.0 (ideal: 6.5–7.5)

• Hardness: 5–20 dGH

• Filtration: Gentle water flow preferred

• Tank Setup:

  • Floating plants

  • Dense edge vegetation and driftwood

  • Open central swimming space

  • Lid recommended (they breathe surface air and can jump)

🍽️ Diet & Feeding

• Diet Type: Omnivorous

• Foods:

  • High-quality flakes or pellets

  • Frozen/live foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia

  • Occasional veggies: blanched spinach or zucchini

• Feed 1–2 times daily in small amounts that they can consume within 2–3 minutes

• They are known to eat pest organisms like hydra

🧬 Behavior & Tankmates

• Temperament: Generally peaceful, but adult males can become territorial or semi-aggressive, especially when breeding

• Best Tankmates:

  • Peaceful to semi-active fish like rasboras, mollies, swordtails, larger tetras, cory catfish, bristlenose plecos

  • Avoid nippy species like tiger barbs or other aggressive gouramis in small tanks

• Swimming Zone: Middle to top

🥚 Breeding & Lifespan

• Lifespan: Typically 5–8 years with proper care

• Breeding Style: Bubble nest builders

• Spawning Setup:

  • Raise water temperature to 80–82°F

  • Provide floating plants or bubble wrap for nest-building

  • Male builds nest and courts female

  • After spawning, the male guards the nest

  • Remove female after spawning; remove male once fry become free-swimming

• Fry Feeding: Start with infusoria or liquid fry food, then transition to baby brine shrimp and finely crushed flakes

✅ Pros & Cons

📌 Quick Summary