Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Min Tank Size
40L
Adult Size
5.1 cm
Lifespan
4 years
About
Native to slow-moving, heavily vegetated waters of Bangladesh, India, and surrounding regions, honey gouramis are one of the genuinely beginner-friendly labyrinth fish available in the hobby. Males in breeding condition develop a striking deep orange-to-amber coloration on their belly and fins, while females stay a more subdued silvery-yellow with a faint horizontal stripe. They stay small, rarely exceeding about 5 cm, which makes them a realistic centerpiece option for tanks in the 40 to 60 liter range.
They prefer soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, though they're notably more forgiving than dwarf gouramis when it comes to water quality and parameter swings. Temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius suit them well. A gentle filter output matters a lot here since strong flow stresses them and disrupts their bubble nest building. Dense planting, floating plants especially, gives them the cover and calm they need to really color up and behave naturally.
Feeding is simple. They'll take quality flake or micro pellets without complaint, but thrive with regular additions of small live or frozen foods like daphnia, baby brine shrimp, or bloodworm. They're slow deliberate feeders, so anything faster at the surface will edge them out.
Honey gouramis have earned a solid reputation for disease resistance compared to their dwarf gourami cousins, who are notoriously prone to dwarf gourami disease. That alone makes them a smarter pick for beginners wanting a colorful top-dwelling centerpiece. Browse real community builds featuring honey gouramis to see how other hobbyists have planted and stocked around them.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Honey Gourami together
Honey Gourami is mildly territorial. Small groups can work in spacious tanks with broken sightlines, but expect occasional squabbles.
Compatibility
These fish do well with other small, calm species that won't bully or outcompete them at feeding time. Good choices include ember tetras, chili rasboras, pygmy corydoras, and otocinclus. Avoid anything nippy like tiger barbs or serpae tetras since honey gouramis are slow-moving and their fins make easy targets. They can coexist with shrimp, though adults may pick off shrimplets, so dense planting helps. Other peaceful gouramis of similar size are generally fine, but avoid larger or more assertive species like three-spot or moonlight gouramis.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common mistake is pairing them with fast or boisterous fish that eat all the food before the gouramis get a chance. They're slow methodical feeders and will quietly starve in the wrong community. Strong filter flow is another pitfall since it stresses them and can cause persistent fin clamping. Make sure the tank has a tight lid with minimal gap, both to prevent jumping and to keep the surface air warm and humid, which their labyrinth organ needs. Cold drafts over the water can cause respiratory issues.
Behavior & Aggression
Honey gouramis are genuinely peaceful toward other species. The one caveat is male-to-male interactions, especially in smaller tanks. Two males will posture and occasionally chase each other, which can stress the subordinate fish into hiding and refusing to eat. In a tank under 80 liters, one male is the safer call. Males can also become mildly territorial around a bubble nest site during spawning attempts, but this rarely escalates to real harm for tankmates outside their own species.
Things to Know
- Males may chase each other; keep only one male per small tank.
- Very timid, will be outcompeted for food by boisterous tankmates.
- Requires access to warm humid air above the water surface.
- Lid is essential, they jump and also need warm air to breathe.
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