What tank size does a Honey Gourami need?

A Honey Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Honey Gourami need?

Honey 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 Honey Gourami suitable for beginners?

Yes — Honey Gourami is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Honey Gourami

Trichogaster chuna

Osphronemidae

FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 Antoondommerholt (uploader) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Honey Gourami — Trichogaster chuna — 📷 Antoondommerholt (uploader) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The honey gourami is a small, gentle labyrinth fish from the still and slow-flowing waters of northeastern India and Bangladesh. Wild and selectively bred forms range from a soft honey-yellow to the vivid 'red honey' and 'sunset' varieties; breeding males develop a deep honey body with a dark blue-black throat and belly. Far hardier and more peaceful than the true dwarf gourami, it is an excellent centrepiece for a calm, planted nano or community aquarium. It is shy at first and settles best with floating plants and quiet tankmates.

Care

Keep singly or as a pair in a planted, gently filtered 40 L+ tank at 22-28°C with floating cover. Peaceful and hardy; feed small omnivore foods.

Diet

Small-mouthed omnivore; micro-pellet, crushed flake and small live/frozen foods.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

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.

All the methods, with diagrams

Also in these lists

Fish for a 54 litre tank Shrimp-safe fish Fish for a first aquarium Peaceful community fish

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Honey Gourami need?: A Honey Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Honey Gourami need?: Honey 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 Honey Gourami suitable for beginners?: Yes — Honey Gourami is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–28°C

Optimal temp.23–27°C

pH6–7.5

Hardness (GH)4–15°d

Carbonate (KH)2–10°d

Adult size5 cm

Min. volume≥ 40 L

Min. tank length≥ 45 cm

Swimming zoneTop

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~5 yrs

Try in the calculator