Sharp-nosed Gourami

About

Found in the peat swamp forests and blackwater streams of southern Borneo, Sphaerichthys acrostoma goes by several informal trade names including sharp-nosed gourami, moonlight chocolate gourami, and black-tailed chocolate gourami. Though you won't encounter it often in the hobby. Males display a pale lateral stripe running from the caudal peduncle toward mid-body, with a darker stripe beneath it, plus two small red markings near the eye. Females are a more uniform brownish tone with a few darker scale rows on the lower anterior body. Like all labyrinth fish, it can breathe atmospheric air directly, an adaptation well suited to its naturally oxygen-poor habitat. This is a slow, deliberate fish that will lose out badly to anything boisterous or competitive at feeding time, so tankmates need to be chosen carefully. Peaceful small cyprinids and slender loaches are the standard recommendation. Keep at least six together, as individuals seem to need the social dynamic of a group to show their best behavior, and a clear pecking order tends to emerge. Breeding is genuinely fascinating: the male is a paternal mouthbrooder, collecting eggs directly from the substrate and holding them for up to three weeks before releasing fully formed juveniles. Given clean water and a good diet, spawning is achievable without advanced expertise.