Species · Bettas & gouramis
Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
One of the gentlest, most beginner-friendly centrepiece fish — a small, peaceful, sunset-coloured labyrinth fish that suits a calm community where a betta or dwarf gourami might be too bold.
Difficulty: Beginner Tropical community tank ✓ Fact-checked care guide
Quick facts
| Adult size | ~5.5 cm / 2.2 in |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | ~40 L / 10 US gal — SeriouslyFish recommends a 60 × 30 cm base |
| Temperature | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F (within the species range of 22–27 °C / 72–81 °F) |
| pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Hardness | 2–15 dGH (soft to moderately hard) |
| Filtration & flow | Cycled, gentle filtration — dislikes strong flow |
| Diet | Micro-omnivore leaning carnivore — small pellet/flake plus small live/frozen foods |
| Social | Fine singly or as a pair; peaceful in a calm community |
| Temperament | Shy and gentle — one of the most peaceful gouramis |
| Lifespan | 4–6 years |
Overview
The honey gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is a small, sunset-coloured labyrinth fish and one of the calmest, most beginner-friendly centrepieces you can keep. Where a betta is solitary and a dwarf gourami can be bold and disease-prone, the honey gourami is gentle, hardy and adaptable.
Like all gouramis it is a labyrinth fish that breathes air from the surface, so keep a lid with an air gap above the water.
💷 Costing it out? See how much a honey gourami really costs to keep — the honey gourami itself is usually the cheapest part.
Water & tank
Undemanding on chemistry (pH 6.0–7.5, 2–15 dGH) at 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F. It comes from slow, heavily planted waters, so it thrives in a calm, well-planted tank with surface cover and gentle flow.
Give it at least ~40 L / 10 US gal (SeriouslyFish recommends a 60 × 30 cm base), cycled, with plants and some floating cover so this shy fish feels secure.
Feeding
A micro-omnivore leaning slightly carnivorous — a good small pellet or flake base plus small live/frozen foods (daphnia, baby brine shrimp, bloodworm) for colour and condition.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day; it can be a slow, deliberate feeder, so make sure it gets its share.
Behaviour & tankmates
Genuinely peaceful and a little timid — ideal with other calm, small community fish (rasboras, small tetras, corydoras). Avoid boisterous or fin-nipping tankmates that will out-compete or stress it.
It can be kept singly, as a male, or as a pair; it lacks the male-on-male aggression that makes dwarf gouramis tricky, though two males still want space.
What to expect
A new honey gourami is often pale and shy, hanging near cover; in a calm planted tank it settles, colours up to a warm honey-gold, and becomes a confident, curious centrepiece.
Myths, kindly busted
“Honey gouramis and dwarf gouramis are basically the same.”
The honey gourami is smaller, gentler and hardier, and it doesn't carry the same disease risk (DGIV) that farmed dwarf gouramis do.
“Gouramis don't need a lid because they breathe air.”
They breathe surface air through a labyrinth organ, which is exactly why they need a lid with an air gap above the water — and they can jump.
🐟 Did you know? — Honey Gourami fun facts
Little true delights about the honey gourami — each one checked against a named source, no pet-shop myths.
- A courting male transforms, his body glowing bright orange while his head and underside turn deep blue-black to woo a mate. SeriouslyFish
- The genus name Trichogaster means “hair-belly” in Greek, a nod to the thread-like pelvic fins these gouramis use like feelers. SeriouslyFish
- Unusually, the male's bubble-nest contains no plant material and is often built beneath a broad leaf or in a tank corner. SeriouslyFish
When to act
We triage, not diagnose — but these are worth a closer look (starting with a water test):
- Staying pale, clamped and hidden long after settling in — check water quality and whether tankmates are too boisterous.
- Lethargy, sores or laboured breathing — test the water first, then seek advice if it persists.
Heading to a vet? Print the Honey Gourami vet-prep sheet — what to bring, what to tell them, and the questions to ask.
Sources & further reading
- SeriouslyFish — Trichogaster chuna — Adult ~55 mm SL; recommended 60 × 30 cm base; temperature 22–27 °C / 72–81 °F; pH 6.0–7.5; hardness 2–15 dGH; peaceful, beginner-friendly, adaptable; community fish.
Written & fact-checked by The Finfern Team against the sources above — kind, general guidance, not a diagnosis. If something looks wrong, test your water and, if it persists, contact a fish-savvy vet.
Get the free Honey Gourami Starter Kit
The essentials at a glance, a setup checklist and a first-30-days plan for your honey gourami — what to get right and what to watch for. Join the shoal and we’ll send it over. Free sheets and tools always stay open, no gatekeeping.
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