three-spot gourami

fish

Also known as: Trichogaster trichopterus, blue gourami

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The three-spot gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) is a small gourami native to southeastern Asia that has been introduced to other countries as an aquarium fish. Gouramis are freshwater labyrinth fish found in Asia.12

The three-spot gourami is named for the three prominent spots on its body: one at the center, one at the base of its tail, and its eye. This species is typically a dark-spotted, silvery, or blue fish. Gouramis, in general, are characterized by an elongated ray in each pelvic fin and are popular in home aquariums.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

gourami
…red and blue; and the three-spot, or blue, gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus or Trichogaster trichopterus), a dark-spotted, silvery or blue species. The kissing gourami, or kissing fish (Helostoma temmincki), a greenish or pinkish white fish noted for its “kissing” activities, is a popular food fish and common in home aquariums.
Read More
…red and blue; and the three-spot, or blue, gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus or Trichogaster trichopterus), a dark-spotted, silvery or blue species. The kissing gourami, or kissing fish (Helostoma temmincki), a greenish or pinkish white fish noted for its “kissing” activities, is a popular food fish and common in home aquariums.
Read More