
Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Family: Osphronemidae • Origin: South Asia
The Honey Gourami is a gentle, golden centerpiece fish. Healthier and more peaceful than the dwarf gourami.
Is Honey Gourami Right for Your Tank?
Honey Gourami is an excellent choice for beginners — rated "beginner" difficulty (2/5). They're hardy, forgiving of minor water parameter fluctuations, and generally easy to feed. At just 10 gallons minimum, they work well in nano tanks and smaller setups.
With a peaceful temperament, Honey Gourami makes a great community fish. They coexist well with other non-aggressive species of similar size. Expected lifespan: 5 years with proper care.
Common Mistakes with Honey Gourami
Relying on a heater without a thermometer
Honey Gourami needs 72–82°F. Heaters malfunction or drift over time — always use a separate thermometer to verify. Temperature swings of even 3–4°F can trigger stress and disease, particularly ich.
Putting them in a tank under 10 gallons
While 10 gallons is the minimum, nano tanks require more frequent water changes and leave less room for error. A slightly larger tank (20 gal) is much more forgiving.
Skipping the quarantine period
Even healthy-looking fish can carry parasites or disease. Quarantine new Honey Gourami for 2–4 weeks in a separate tank before adding to your main aquarium.
Care Tips
- • Healthier than dwarf gourami
- • Very shy — needs plants for cover
- • Males turn deep orange when breeding
- • Labyrinth breather — needs surface access
- • Great betta alternative for community tanks
Feeding: Flakes, pellets, frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms.
Compatibility Notes: Very shy and peaceful. Avoid aggressive tankmates. Better alternative to dwarf gourami (healthier).
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 10 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 20 gallons
- Swimming Level
- top
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- pH Range
- 6–7.5
- Hardness (dGH)
- 4–15
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- No
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- omnivore
- Growth Rate
- slow
Very shy and peaceful. Avoid aggressive tankmates. Better alternative to dwarf gourami (healthier).
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- bubble nest
- Breeding Difficulty
- moderate
- Lifespan
- 5 years
Ideal For
Compatible Tank Mates
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Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi

Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi

Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae

Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus

Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
Similar Species

Betta Smaragdina
Betta smaragdina

Sunset Thicklip Gourami
Trichogaster labiosa

Thick Lipped Gourami
Trichogaster labiosa

Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius