Pearl gourami mouth, as they are slowly sinking, then he spits them into the bubble nest. This sequence is repeated several times, till she has completed her egg-laying. The fry are tiny at hatching. The male takes responsibility for the fry, rescuing them and spitting them back into the nest if they fall out. Some tend to grow faster than others, and will exhibit fratricide, eating their smaller siblings. Pearl gourami The pearl gourami ("Trichopodus leerii") is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia. These fish reach about TL. The body is a brownish-silver colour, covered in a pearl-like pattern with
Croaking gourami close to the water surface. At night, they might be found "sleeping" at the bottom, even resting on the substrate (which is not normally a cause for concern), or hovering motionless at the water surface. Like all gouramis, the croaking gourami can breathe atmospheric oxygen from above the water surface using a specialized labyrinth organ (like the Betta) if necessary. It is important, therefore, that the surface of the water be exposed to fresh air, usually accomplished by keeping them in an open-top tank or using a hood that allows air ventilation. If you are using good air pumps, this