Three Spot Gourami
Trichopodus trichopterus
Three Spot Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) is a labyrinth fish native to Southeast Asia and widely introduced worldwide in warm freshwater. The two dark body spots plus the eye form the “three spots,” though ornamental color strains are common in aquaria.
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Identification points
- Two distinct dark round spots on the body, with the eye counting as the third spot
- Long, threadlike pelvic fins used as feelers
- Deep, laterally compressed body with a long dorsal fin
Habitat
Slow-moving or stagnant warm freshwater such as marshes, rice paddies, canals, floodplains, ponds, and vegetated margins of rivers and lakes; tolerates low oxygen and disturbed habitats.
Bait notes
For wild fish, small worms, insects, maggots, dough, bread, and tiny soft plastics or flies can work; aquarium strains are not typically targeted by anglers. In many areas they are more of an incidental catch than a dedicated game fish.
Behavior
Omnivorous and surface-oriented, often gulping air and foraging among plants for insects, small crustaceans, algae, and detritus. Males can be territorial during spawning, and the species is hardy in warm, shallow, weedy water.
Caution
No major consumption hazard is widely noted, but keep only where legal because feral introductions can be regulated or prohibited. As with many ornamental fish, avoid releasing aquarium fish into the wild.
Fishing notes
Fish light tackle around lily pads, weed edges, and shaded shallows with small hooks and minimal weight. Slow presentations near the surface or midwater are usually best; handle gently because they are commonly kept ornamentally and may be released.