If you buy through our links, Amazon pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. That’s how we keep the site running. How we choose.
Contents
Overview
The honey gourami is one of the smallest and gentlest gouramis you can keep. It comes from rivers, ponds and rice paddies in northern India and Bangladesh, where the water is slow and thick with plants. Females and resting males are a soft golden beige; a male in breeding mood turns rich honey orange with a dark blue throat and belly. Stores often carry the "gold" and "red" line-bred varieties.
It is shyer than the dwarf gourami and far less quarrelsome, so it fits nicely into calm, planted community tanks. For beginners who want a labyrinth fish without the aggression issues of some other gouramis, it is an excellent choice.
Care and tank setup
A pair or a trio (one male, two females) does well in a cycled 15-gallon (54-60 L) tank with a heater, gentle filtration and a lid that keeps warm, humid air above the water.
- Plants: lots of them, including floaters such as salvinia, water sprite or red root floaters to diffuse light and add security.
- Flow: keep it minimal; a strong filter outlet stresses it.
- Tank mates: small, calm fish such as rasboras, small tetras, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus or kuhli loaches. Adult shrimp are safe.
- Avoid: tiger barbs and other boisterous or nippy fish.
Several males can share a larger tank with plenty of sight breaks, though they will claim small territories. The most common mistake is housing it with very active fish: it hides, loses color and goes hungry.
Feeding
It is an omnivore that favors tiny invertebrates. It accepts fine flakes and micro pellets, but really appreciates small frozen or live foods like daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops and mosquito larvae. It feeds near the surface and is slow, so make sure food reaches it before faster tank mates grab everything. Offer small portions once or twice a day.
Breeding
Breeding is fairly easy. A colored-up male builds a bubble nest under a floating leaf in a calm, warm tank (around 81-82 °F / 27-28 °C) with a slightly lowered water level. After the spawning embrace he collects the eggs and guards the nest. Remove the female after spawning and the male once the fry are free-swimming. The fry are tiny and need infusoria before moving on to baby brine shrimp.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Honey gourami. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Tiger barb Puntigrus tetrazona 26 gal (100 L) · 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae 11 gal (40 L) · 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Panda cory Corydoras panda 16 gal (60 L) · 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Honey gourami, and why.
- Common goldfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Angelfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Clown loach: one may eat the other due to size
- Oranda goldfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Honey gourami healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Honey gourami need?
At least about 54 liters for a group of at least 2 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Honey gourami need?
Between 22 and 28 °C, with a pH of 6 to 7.5.
What fish can live with the Honey gourami?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Cherry barb, Tiger barb, Bronze cory and Platy. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Honey gourami be kept with shrimp?
Yes: it usually won’t eat adult shrimp, though some shrimplets may get picked off. A tank with plenty of moss gives the babies cover.
