Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Also known as Sunset Gourami, Honey Dwarf Gourami
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A gentle, golden little gourami that is one of the calmest centerpiece fish for a beginner. It moves slowly and is easily bullied, so choose peaceful, non-pushy tank mates. A planted, shaded tank with floating cover and gentle flow lets it settle and show off its color.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 14 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 72–81 °F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Swim zone
- Top
- Min group
- 2 or more
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
Honey Gourami tank mates and swim zone
Top
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Boraras brigittae
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Honey Gourami.
Danio margaritatus
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Honey Gourami.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Poecilia wingei
Endler's Livebearer is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Honey Gourami.
Hyphessobrycon eques
Serpae Tetra is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Honey Gourami.
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger Barb is a known fin nipper and will shred the long, flowing fins of Honey Gourami.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Honey Gourami is a poor match.
Honey Gourami feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed small pellets or flakes, which it learns to take with time.
- Add small live or frozen foods such as daphnia.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males turn golden or fiery orange when in condition. Females are larger and brownish, with a broad stripe along the side.
Honey Gourami care mistakes to avoid
- Plan for a pair, and read up on sexing before you buy so you do not end up with two rival males.
- Avoid fast or pushy fish, which will intimidate it and take its food.
- Keep flow low. Strong currents stress this slow-moving surface breather.
- Leave an air gap under the lid, because it breathes surface air.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons.
Honey Gourami tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 14 US gal (54 L), 60 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Honey 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 Honey Gourami, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Honey Gourami's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 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.
SubstrateAny substrate
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorFares best in a shady, well planted tank with surface cover; clay pots, pipes, driftwood and dried leaves add shelter.
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 Honey Gourami
We have not found a store that sells Honey 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.
Honey Gourami FAQ
What size tank do Honey Gouramis need?
Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons (54 liters), with a footprint of 60 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Honey Gouramis should I keep?
A pair works well. Add more only if the tank is large enough for each fish to claim its own space.
What can live with Honey Gouramis?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Ember Tetra. Avoid Pea Puffer and Serpae Tetra.
How long do Honey Gouramis live?
Lifespan is not well documented for this species. Stable water and a good diet help any animal live longer.
Can honey gouramis live with a betta?
It is risky. Bettas and gouramis are close relatives and may fight, so give each its own tank or use a much larger, planted setup.
Honey Gourami facts and sources
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Native to
- India and Bangladesh
- Adult size
- 2.2 in (5.5 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Harem/Pairs
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Low/Still
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- 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.