Blue Dwarf Gourami Trichogaster Lalius 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Blue Dwarf Gourami is a selectively bred colour form of the Dwarf Gourami, with an iridescent blue body crossed by faint red bars and long thread-like pelvic fins it uses to feel its way around. The wild species comes from weedy, slow waters in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It suits a gentle, planted community tank as a centrepiece.
- Adult Size: Around 8 cm (3 in); males larger and more colourful
- Lifespan: 4–5 years, occasionally longer
Origin
- Native to: Pakistan, northern India and Bangladesh
- Habitat: Sluggish, heavily vegetated ponds, ditches and streams
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Quality flake, micro pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia, blanched spinach
- Feeding Habits: Feed small amounts once or twice daily; vary foods for colour
Tank Mates
- Best with: Tetras, rasboras, corydoras, small loaches, peaceful barbs, otocinclus
- Avoid: Fin nippers, other male dwarf gouramis, boisterous fish
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful but shy
- Territoriality: Males territorial toward each other; keep one male per tank
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- Challenges: Prone to dwarf gourami iridovirus; choose healthy, active stock
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic
- Temperature: 22–27°C (72–81°F)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 2–18 dGH
- Flow: Slow
- Tank Size: Minimum 60 litres for a pair; larger for a community
Final Notes
Blue males are almost always what is sold, and two males in a small tank will fight, so keep one male or a pair. As a labyrinth fish it gulps air at the surface, so keep surface flow gentle and the room air warm, ideally with floating plants. It is a bubble nest builder and will spawn in a planted tank. Settled fish glow a deep metallic blue that few other small fish can match.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.