[5] The species has been used for weed control on highly invasive aquatic plants like Salvinia molesta, as the giant gourami can be a voracious herbivore.

[5] The giant gourami is native to rivers, streams, marshes, swamps and lakes in Southeast Asia, from the lower Mekong of Cambodia and Vietnam, and Chao Phraya and Mae Klong of Thailand, as well as river basins in the Malay Peninsula, Sarawak of Malaysia, and Java, to Sumatra and Western Kalimantan of Indonesia.

[9] The final species in the genus, the giant red tail gourami, is restricted to Sabah where the others do not occur.

In Asia, this has expanded their range to include an area from southern China to India and Sri Lanka, and in other continents they are now found in Australia, Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar and elsewhere.

At this age, in addition to the rounded face, a mature giant gourami will have begun to develop the hump just above its eyes.

The slightly protruding forehead and long tail of these fish were prized in Taiwanese society as bringing luck in geomancy.

An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp, provides these fish with the proper nutrition while young.

Once of significant size, they can be fed legumes, partially or fully cooked fibrous or starchy vegetables, or fruits.

[13] In Southeast Asian cuisine, gourami is highly valued as food due to its thick flesh, pleasant texture as well as its tasty flavour.

Unlike carp and milkfish, gouramis do not have fine bones within their flesh, which render them easy to consume, thus elevate its economic value.