giant (common) gourami

[alabaster]

Has anyone ever owned or seen a giant or common guorami (Osphronemus gorami)? What's the minimum tank size, and what kind of filtration would be appropriate? Thanks in advance for the information!

 

[Dwarfs]

IDK about tank size, but I think a fairly huge tank would be needed because these guys can dwarf full grown oscars at over 2' in length!

 

[alabaster]

Yes, a huge tank is in order: I've heard that for a single specimen, a tank of 100-300 gallons is necessary. Since I've found such varied recommendations, my goal is to find out specifically what a good tank size is for one of these monsters. Anyone have any tips???

 

[mbhw]

Don't bother with under 300 gallons if you are serious. The fish gets anywhere from 24-26" full grown, and it doesn't take long for them to put on serious size. They also have tremendous depth and girth, as well as an enormous amount of power (can break thin glass). The red-finned giant gourami will top out at around 20", and you need a minimum of a 6' 150 gallon for him alone! Great fish, I used to care for them years ago at a place I worked, there were two in a 240 and it was a little tight for full grown specimens. Not a fish for someone with limited space, they will outgrow most home aquariums within 2-3 years. I had to pass on a beautiful gold(pink) giant gourami for $30 because I only have a 75 gallon, and ultimately, I know it will outgrow it too soon.

 

[alabaster]

Thanks for the advice mbhw. What are the dimensions for a 300 gallon tank? Is that the minimum for one specimen? Obviously I want to provide enough space to keep it healthy if i get one, but is 300 the minimum for just one fish? I was thinking about the Aqua Design Amano USA tanks, since they are expensive, high quality, and are made from optical-quality glass, which on the big tanks is a half-inch thick! The 180 gallon one is over $2 grand, but if my dad will buy it for me... is 180 big enough for one giant gourami, or should i forget it?

 

[mbhw]

well, you have to figure a fish that gets 24" in length needs at least an 8 foot long tank. It will also have to be at least 30" wide in order for that fish to turn around. 180 is pushing it for a full grown specimen. Look up all you can on these monsters on the web, and see if you can really house them comfortably. Keeping a full grown giant gourami in anything less than 6 feet long is insane and cruel. I don't know anything about the amano 180's dimensions, but a regular AGA or perfecto 180 is 72x24x24 which is too small.

 

[black angel]

the only place ive seen these fish are public aquariums or zoos. the tanks are enormous for them.

 

[Elisabeth83]

One of my lfs's have 2 They are housed with other various huge fish in a 4-5 hundred gallon tank if not bigger. I want to take pictures of them myself but I always forget my camera

There is one picture on their website. Here you can see both of them in the first bottom tank to the left. The rest of the bottom tanks house types of rays and sharks and some other cool big fish.

 

[cheesemaker]

Yeap, they're big fish.
I grew up in borneo, where they are native. My dad used to keep them in a 60G tank, eventually we had to put them in a lake nearby. Just too big for yer general home aquarium IMO.

Nice fish though. Nice and graceful, except during feeding time. We used to feed them cockroaches..... really.

 

[Auratus]

If you lived in a warm state like California you might be able to keep them in an outdoor pond or maybe sunroom type area with proper aclimation.

 

[Barracuda518]

Those fish look really cool when they are that big. Thats the first time Ive ever seen one.