TankBud

One species · 2 varieties

Honey gourami

Trichogaster chuna

Also known as Honey Dwarf Gourami

FreshwaterFish

Honey gourami (Trichogaster chuna)
Curtis W.

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Very common
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages of northeast India, Bangladesh, and Nepal

Pick a variety

One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The honey gourami is a small, peaceful gourami for a calm, planted community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The honey gourami's labyrinth organ, behind the gills, lets it gulp air at the surface and pull oxygen from it. That is how it survives in the warm, low-oxygen backwaters it comes from.

Caring for the honey gourami

A single honey gourami or a pair fits a tank of 14 gal (54 L). A group of four to six needs 20 gal (75 L) or more, with more females than males to spread out any chasing. A heavily planted tank suits them, with floating plants up top, tall stems for cover and some open swimming room in the middle.

Hold the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Keep the flow gentle so the surface stays calm for breathing and nest building. A tight lid traps a warm, humid pocket of air, which keeps the labyrinth organ from being shocked by cold room air.

Feed small flakes, micro pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp. Honey gouramis are peaceful and a bit shy, and they spend most of their time in the middle of the tank. Pair them with other calm, small fish, and skip anything fast, nippy or large enough to bully them out of the open.

Honey gouramis are bubble-nest builders. The male builds and guards the nest, and breeding them is moderately tricky.

Good to know

The honey gourami, Trichogaster chuna, belongs to the family Osphronemidae and was formerly known as Colisa chuna. It is also sold as the honey dwarf gourami. A healthy fish lives several years. Many sold today are tank-bred sunset or red color forms rather than the wild type.

In the wild

Honey gouramis come from slow, weedy waters in the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages of northeast India, Bangladesh and Nepal. They live among thick marginal plants and in still backwaters.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a honey gourami need?

A honey gourami needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a honey gourami need?

A honey gourami is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a honey gourami eat?

A honey gourami eats small flakes and micro pellets. Add frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp.

How big does a honey gourami get?

An adult honey gourami reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

How does a honey gourami breed?

Honey gouramis build bubble nests. The male builds the nest and guards it, and breeding them is moderately tricky.

Related species