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Sri Lanka Gourami
Malpulutta kretseri
A small, colorful labyrinth fish with males displaying blue-green iridescence. Peaceful and hardy, suitable for community planted tanks.
Care Parameters
Adult size
5 cm
Min tank
40 L
Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
GH
2–10 dGH
Diet
Omnivore
Temperament
Peaceful
Water zone
Middle
Difficulty
Intermediate
Schooling
Pairs or small groups.
Suitable Plants
5Rotala sp. h'ra
A stunning stem plant that develops intense orange-red coloration under high light and CO2. Narrow leaves arranged in whorls create a striking background accent in aquascapes.
Bucephalandra
Care profile for Bucephalandra: low light, low CO₂, intermediate difficulty.
Marsilea hirsuta
Care profile for Marsilea hirsuta: low-medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.
Vallisneria spiralis
Care profile for Vallisneria spiralis: medium light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.
Hornwort
Care profile for Hornwort: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.
Compatible Invertebrates
4Amano Shrimp
The classic algae-eating workhorse shrimp, unmatched for clearing hair algae from planted tanks. Hardy at 3-15 dGH, but never breeds in freshwater: its larvae need brackish water, so all reports of 'Amano babies' in freshwater tanks are actually other shrimp species.
Nerite Snail
The best algae-eating snail for aquariums. Cannot reproduce in freshwater, so populations stay stable. Comes in zebra, tiger, and olive patterns. Will lay white eggs on glass.
Red Cherry Shrimp
A tiny, vivid red dwarf shrimp that breeds easily and endlessly entertains. Fine in nano tanks from 20 L; keep GH 4-15 dGH for successful molting, avoid copper-based medications entirely, and use a sponge filter so young shrimplets never get sucked in.
Assassin Snail
The striped predator of the aquarium world, kept to hunt down pest snails and worms. It burrows by day and hunts by night, and will happily share a tank with fish and plants - it ignores shrimp and fish entirely. Also known as Clea helena; both names are accepted.
Suitable Equipment
5
Common Problems
5O
Old Tank Syndrome
Water quality slowly worsens over months or years despite regular small water changes.
waterF
Fin Rot
Fins look frayed, ragged or are visibly shrinking with white or red edges.
fishF
Fish Hiding or Chronic Stress
Fish hide constantly, refuse food and fade in color.
fishD
Dropsy
Abdomen swells and scales stand out like a pinecone — usually a bacterial infection.
fishH
High Ammonia Poisoning
Elevated ammonia levels cause burns, redness and rapid breathing.
water