{"product_id":"cobalt-blue-dwarf-gourami-trichogaster-lalius","title":"Cobalt Blue Dwarf Gourami | Trichogaster lalius","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA deep cobalt-blue Dwarf Gourami, rich and glowing from nose to tail. A peaceful, small labyrinth fish reaching around 7 cm, it is a lovely, colourful centrepiece for a calm, planted community — and, like all gouramis, it breathes air at the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Dwarf Gourami comes from slow and still waters across South Asia — India, Bangladesh and Pakistan — in ditches, ponds, rice paddies and sluggish streams thick with vegetation. This warm, soft, oxygen-poor water is exactly why it evolved to gulp air from the surface. The cobalt form is a line-bred colour variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA compact, laterally compressed gourami washed in deep, luminous cobalt-blue, with the thread-like pelvic 'feelers' typical of the group. Males carry the strongest colour; females are smaller and much plainer silvery-grey. Body shape and size match the wild fish at around 6–7 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and rather retiring, but males can be territorial toward one another, so keep just one male in a smaller tank. It suits a gentle community and appreciates calm tankmates and quiet surroundings; boisterous fish will leave it stressed and hiding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy omnivore. Feed a staple of quality flake or small pellets and rotate in live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm, plus the occasional vegetable-based food. It will also pick at biofilm and small invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a well-planted tank with floating plants, gentle filtration and calm flow. As a labyrinth breather it must have access to the surface, and it appreciates a layer of warm, humid air beneath a lid — keep the tank covered to protect this warm air and prevent jumps. Keep water warm, soft to neutral and stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA bubble-nest builder. The male constructs a floating nest among plants, entices the female beneath it, then tends the eggs and fry alone. A separate, shallow breeding tank with still water and floating cover gives the best results; tiny fry need infusoria before microfoods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTrichogaster lalius\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCobalt Blue Dwarf Gourami\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan); line-bred colour form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (males territorial to each other)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–10 dGH (soft to medium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful tetras, rasboras, corydoras, small peaceful barbs, kuhli loaches and other calm community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFin-nippers, boisterous or aggressive fish, other male dwarf gouramis in a small tank, and anything that will out-compete this gentle feeder.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232839975203,"sku":"BA8923","price":18.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232840007971,"sku":null,"price":23.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Cobalt_Dwarf_Gourami_0696728c-e4a3-40bc-a213-6fa66cde4287.jpg?v=1781700357","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/cobalt-blue-dwarf-gourami-trichogaster-lalius","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}