Giant Gourami – Freshwater Fish Species in Thailand
Species: Osphronemus goramy.
Common name: Giant gourami, Giant gouramy. Thai Name: Pla Let.
Distribution: Found in South East Asia to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and Indochina (Mekong basin)
Habitat: It inhabits fresh or brackish water. Swamps, lakes, medium to large rivers, flooded forests, and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals, among vegetation.
Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy)
Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy)Is a freshwater fish species belonging to the sub-family Osphronemus in the family Osphronemidae. Some other larger members of this family are also occasionally or regionally referred to as “giant gourami”. This includes the banded and three spotted gourami. In turn this species are also sometimes known as the rainbow, or striped gourami. In color it is a pale to golden yellow, with silvery pale blue stripes running vertically along its body. It is an egg layer and the male will build a bubble nest before spawning. Omnivorous, feeds on plants and animals, weeds, fish, frogs, earthworms and sometimes dead animals. It is able to breathe moist air so that they can survive out of the water for long periods of time.
Size: They are much larger than most other gourami, growing to a length of 70 cm (28 inches) Current IGFA World Record 5.60 kg (12,35lbs.) caught Oct. 10, 2004, Bung Sam Lan Lake in Thailand.
Fishing method: Many of the stock pounds / Fishing Park’s in Thailand have Giant Gourami, where they can be caught on bread, fish pellets and worms. In the wild, Gourami can be caught by fly fishing where you use flies that imitate local insects and fruit. The bait fisherman can use bananas and fruit.
Sexing: The male and female are distinguished from one another by the dorsal fins and body color. The dorsal fin on the male ends in a point. During spawning the body color changing to nearly black.
They are also a very popular aquarium fish
When one thinks about a pet, will dogs or cats often come to mind! But people who have raised a Giant Gourami for many years, have realized that these fish are the ultimate “pet fish” as they can live 20+ years and have a personality and intelligence that many say resemble a dog.
They are also known to be very hardy fish and aren’t too fussy with their water conditions; they will readily accept anything you throw into the tank. But keep in mind, you will need to give the Gourami a varied diet, otherwise you will end up with a picky fish; vegetable foods, flakes and pellets work great and other meaty orcan be incorporated into its diet.