Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius
Also known as Flame Gourami, Powder Blue Gourami
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A brilliantly colored gourami that is both shy and territorial, so it works best as the star of a small tank. Mass-bred stock carries known health problems, which is why it earns only a cautious recommendation. Buy from a careful seller, and pair it with calm schooling fish.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 15 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 72–81 °F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–18 dGH
- Swim zone
- Top
- Min group
- Single fish
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
Dwarf Gourami tank mates and swim zone
Top
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Trigonostigma espei
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Trichogaster chuna
Close relatives can fight over territory. Only try this in a large, well-planted tank.
Trichopodus leerii
Close relatives can fight over territory. Only try this in a large, well-planted tank.
Trichopsis pumila
Sparkling Gourami is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Dwarf Gourami.
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Dwarf Gourami is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Ember Tetra.
Boraras brigittae
Dwarf Gourami is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Chili Rasbora.
Danio margaritatus
Dwarf Gourami is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Celestial Pearl Danio.
Poecilia reticulata
Bright, gaudy fish like Fancy Guppy can trigger aggression in male Dwarf Gourami.
Poecilia wingei
Dwarf Gourami is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Endler's Livebearer.
Dwarf Gourami feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed flakes and small pellets as a staple.
- Add frozen foods and some vegetable matter, such as algae wafers.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males are a little larger and far more colorful. Females are plainer and silvery, with more rounded fins.
Dwarf Gourami care mistakes to avoid
- Plan on one as the centerpiece of the tank, and read the tank-mate lists before adding others.
- Buy carefully. Mass-bred fish are prone to an incurable iridovirus and bacterial disease.
- Keep only one male per tank, because males can be very aggressive to each other.
- Avoid bettas and gaudy fish such as guppies, which often trigger aggression.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 15 US gallons.
Dwarf Gourami tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 15 US gal (56 L), 60 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Dwarf Gourami. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 29 Gallon US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Dwarf Gourami, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Dwarf Gourami's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 29 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 72–81 °F (22–27 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateA dark substrate is recommended to calm these shy fish; no particular type is named.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorDoes best heavily planted with plenty of shade and hiding places; twigs, branches and leaf litter suit it.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Dwarf Gourami
We have not found a store that sells Dwarf Gourami under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Dwarf Gourami FAQ
What size tank do Dwarf Gouramis need?
Our sourced minimum is 15 US gallons (56 liters), with a footprint of 60 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Dwarf Gouramis should I keep?
One is fine in a tank this size. Add more only with plenty of extra room and cover.
What can live with Dwarf Gouramis?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Black Neon Tetra. Avoid Ember Tetra and Chili Rasbora.
How long do Dwarf Gouramis live?
Care guides report about 3–5 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Why did my dwarf gourami die so soon?
Mass-bred dwarf gouramis are prone to dwarf gourami iridovirus, which has no cure. Buy from a careful seller, and quarantine new fish.
Dwarf Gourami facts and sources
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Native to
- India, Bangladesh and Assam
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (8.8 cm)
- Temperament
- Semi-Aggressive
- Social needs
- Solitary/Centerpiece
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Low/Still
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- Low
- Vulnerable to nippers
- Yes
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.