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Labyrinth fish have a special organ that lets them breathe air from the surface. Bettas, gouramis and paradise fish belong to this group, and many of them build bubble nests to breed.
Because they gulp air, they need access to the surface and warm, humid air above the water: a lid helps. They also prefer gentle flow and plenty of plants, especially floating ones, which give them shelter and nesting spots.
- Betta: needs at least 5 gallons (20 L), a heater and a filter. Bowls are not acceptable. Males cannot share a tank, and calm tank mates are a must.
- Honey and pearl gouramis: peaceful, good centerpiece fish for a community tank.
- Dwarf gourami: beautiful but males can be territorial, and some imported stock carries disease. Buy from a reputable source.
- Blue and kissing gouramis: grow larger and become pushier with age.
- Paradise fish: tolerates cooler water but is aggressive.
Avoid fin nippers such as tiger barbs with long-finned species. In general, keep one male per tank unless it is large and full of visual barriers, and check our betta tank mates list before mixing species.
Gouramis and bettas
| Species | Min. liters | Size | Temp. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Betta fish Betta splendens | 7 gal (25 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
 Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius | 16 gal (60 L) | 2.4 in (6 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Blue gourami Trichopodus trichopterus | 32 gal (120 L) | 4.7 in (12 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Honey gourami Trichogaster chuna | 14 gal (54 L) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Kissing gourami Helostoma temminckii | 79 gal (300 L) | 7.9 in (20 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Paradise fish Macropodus opercularis | 21 gal (80 L) | 3.5 in (9 cm) | 61–79 °F (16–26 °C) | Easy |
 Pearl gourami Trichopodus leerii | 32 gal (120 L) | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) | Easy |
 Sparkling gourami Trichopsis pumila | 12 gal (45 L) | 1.4 in (3.5 cm) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
No species match those filters.