• Scientific name: Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
• Common name: Chocolate Gourami
• Group: Labyrinth fishes
• Habitat: Asia; Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo.
• Size: 6 cm
• Biotope: Shore areas of small, still and slow-moving black water with heavy vegetation in Southeast Asia
• Social behavior: A peaceful, timid fish that are best kept in a pair in a species tank. Although, if combined with other fish, keep with other small, calm, nonaggressive species.
• Diet: Flakes, live, Brine Shrimp, mosquito larvae, fruit flies.
• Breeding: Breeding is very difficult and unusual.
• Tank: Minimum 100 litres
• Population: 5-7 fish for 100 litres
• Decoration: The tank should be heavily planted with a cover of floating plants. Provide hiding places among wood, rocks,and roots. The substrate should be dark and the lighting should be dim. Use a filtration system that creates only slight circulation. Leave some open swimming areas. This species does best in peat filtered water.
• Temperature: 26-28°C
• pH : 4,5-5,5.
• Hardness: 0,56-1,2 NK°
• Lifespan: 2-3 years

Description: A short-bodied labyrinth fish which has a laterally compressed body. It has an oval-shaped body with a pointed head and a small mouth. The dorsal and anal fins are long and extend from the midsection of the body, nearly to the caudal fin. The main body coloration is chocolate brown with variations to reddish brown. Irregular white to yellow stripes run vertically along the body. The fins are brown with a yellow ridge along the edges.

The male has a yellow or white border along the edge of the anal fin.

This fish was originally thought to be a livebearer, but is now known to be a mouthbrooder. Sometimes an addition of a small amount of seawater may help initiate spawning. The pair spawns near the bottom. The male mouthbroods the 20-40 fry for 14-20 days. The young should be transferred to a rearing tank. They are delicate and very slow-growing. Often the fry die from infections and changes in water condition. Start feeding with small live foods.