Fauna
Fish

Giant Gourami

Osphronemus goramy

Also known as Common Gourami, True Gourami

Giant gouramis navigate warm, stagnant waters using a specialized labyrinth organ, which allows them to breathe atmospheric air directly from the water surface. Breeding males display remarkable parental care by weaving large, spherical nests out of aquatic weeds and fiercely guarding the floating brood against intruders. Renowned for their voracious appetite for submerged and floating vegetation, these robust fish play a pivotal role in clearing waterways across Southeast Asia.

FreshwaterHerbivorousLabyrinth Fish
Giant Gourami reference1 / 2
(c) Tim Sheerman-Chase, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAquatic macrophytes, Fallen riparian fruits, Aquatic insects
Predators
  • Asian small-clawed otter
  • Giant snakehead
  • Water monitor
ThreatsOverfishing, freshwater pollution, and habitat disruption from dam development
HabitatsSlow-moving rivers, swamps, lakes, canals, and inundated floodplains
Life span15–25 years
Classification
  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilyOsphronemidae
  3. GenusOsphronemus
  4. SpeciesOsphronemus goramy
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Surface Watching: Look for gentle ripples as individuals surface to gulp air into their labyrinth organ.
  • Weedline Scanning: Search along dense mats of floating vegetation where adults graze on plant shoots.
Related species
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