Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius
Osphronemidae
About
The dwarf gourami is a colourful labyrinth fish from the slow, heavily vegetated waters of the Indian subcontinent, particularly the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins. Males are vividly striped in red and metallic blue, while females are silvery-grey. Peaceful and somewhat shy, it appreciates a quiet, densely planted tank with floating cover and calm water at the surface, where it takes air with its labyrinth organ. Buyers should be aware that mass-bred stock is prone to Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus and bacterial disease, so sourcing healthy fish is important.
Care
Keep in a calm, planted 55 L+ tank at 22-28°C with gentle flow and floating plants. Best as a single specimen or a male-female pair; source healthy stock to avoid iridovirus.
Diet
Omnivore; flake/pellet plus live/frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (73)
Possible with care (109)
Avoid (89)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Full tank-mates guide with reasons →Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Dorsal fin shapeStrong · from about 4 months
In most gouramis the dorsal fin ends differently between the sexes, and it can be read from outside the glass without touching the fish.
- The ovipositorStrong · from about 4 months
A small white tube at the vent, just behind the ventral fins, visible on a mature female from below or head-on. It reads as a single white dot.
- Extended finsA hint only · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Dwarf Gourami need?
- A Dwarf Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 55 litres (14.5 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Dwarf Gourami need?
- Dwarf Gourami does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.5 and a general hardness of 4–15 °dGH.
- Is the Dwarf Gourami suitable for beginners?
- Dwarf Gourami sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.