Tag Archives: pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii WILD – Borneo

30. October 2020

The pearl gourami (Trichogaster leerii, Trichopodus leerii) is one of the most popular aquarium fishes at all. It is probably not exaggerated if one assumes millions of individuals in aquariums all over the world. All these fish are bred ones. It is only little known that the pearl gourami belongs to the endangered species as a black water inhabitant in the wild, because the habitat is dwindling more and more. We have already succeeded in importing animals from southern Thailand (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/trichogaster-leerii-wild/) and from Sumatra (Jambi), now also from Borneo.

We very much hope that interested enthusiasts will succeed in building up strains of this wonderful animal of known origin by the occasional import (a threat to the free-living stocks by such removals is excluded from a scientific point of view). This would be an active contribution to the protection of species. Already frequently, species or populations of small fishes could be saved from extinction by such hobbyist—based breedings. However, a possible return to nature may only be attempted with animals whose original origin is known.

For our customers: the fish have code 469513 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trichogaster leerii

26. June 2019

The Pearl Gourami (Trichogaster leerii) is an absolute classic among the ornamental fish. The species is always available in the petshops all over the world and they are usually quite cheap. These traded fish are bred ones. Wild collected ones are hardly ever offered; the species is endangered in the wild, because the habitats become destroyed in a very great amount. Sadly the quality of the bred fish sometimes is not as good as it should be. This is due to the low price the breeders get for the animals. But currently we have obtained wonderful, fully coloured specimens from a local breeder.

For our customers: the fish have code 469504 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trichogaster leerii Wild

30. June 2017

For the first time we obtained wild collected pearl gourami from Thailand. This is worth mentioning for several reasons. First, it is very ambigously discussed in the scientific literature wether the species occurs in Thailand at all; twice: the wild populations of the pearl gourami are declining terryfing fast, for the species is strictly adopted to blackwater (collecting the fish for or the trade has no impact on natural populations); and finally we have even good informations where the fish were collected. They originate from Narathiwat province near the city of Su-Magi Kolok. At this place usually the glass catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus) is collected.

Initially the new arrivals looked very similar to their bred cousins. But a closer look showed an interesting difference: in the wild females the back has almost not pearl-spots! Currently the fish are something larger than half-grown (6-8 cm).

For our customers: the fish have code 469513 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.