Moonlight Gourami

The common name moonlight gourami describes this peaceful labyrinth fish quite well. Its body is silver-colored with a slightly greenish hue that is not unlike the soft glow of moonlight. Like all labyrinth fish, Trichogaster microlepis has a special organ that allows it to breathe air directly. Because of this labyrinth organ, it is not unusual to see it go to the surface to gulp air. The ability to breathe air allows these fish to survive in situations with very low oxygen. In fact, if this fish remains moist, it can actually survive out of water for up to several hours. The concave slope of the head in the moonlight gourami distinguishes it from other gourami species.