Honey Gourami Care Guide

Introduction

Trichogaster chuna, commonly known as the honey gourami, is a small, peaceful, and often underestimated fish in the aquarium hobby. They live roughly 4–8 years and prefer temperatures of 72–82°F. They commonly reach around 2 inches in size. Males in peak condition develop a stunning golden-orange body with a dark, almost black belly, truly beautiful fish when comfortable and healthy.

Like bettas and other gouramis, honey gouramis are labyrinth fish, meaning they breathe air directly from the surface using a specialized organ. They come from slow-moving, heavily vegetated waters in South Asia, and a well-planted tank mimics their natural environment perfectly.

Their gentle temperament and relatively small size make them an excellent choice for peaceful community tanks. They are often recommended as a hardier, less disease-prone alternative to the more popular dwarf gourami.

Basic Overview

Common Misconceptions

"Honey gouramis are the same as dwarf gouramis!" These are distinct species. Honey gouramis are generally hardier, less prone to the infamous dwarf gourami iridovirus, and more peaceful. They are an excellent alternative for beginners.

"All gouramis are aggressive!" Honey gouramis are among the most peaceful gouramis available. They are gentle, non-confrontational fish that coexist well with most peaceful community fish.

"Honey gouramis are just plain, boring brown fish!" Males in peak condition are a gorgeous deep golden-orange. However, they are known to "stress color," appearing dull and washed out when newly introduced or unhappy. Give them time, once settled in, their true colors shine through.

"They need a large tank to thrive!" Honey gouramis do perfectly well in a 10-gallon tank, making them a great option for smaller aquarium setups.

Recommended Setup

• 10+ gallon tank, cycled, with a lid, heater, and gentle sponge or HOB filter
• Heavy planting, floating plants like frogbit or water lettuce are especially appreciated
• Plenty of hiding spots among plants and driftwood
• Soft substrate like sand
• Low to moderate flow, honey gouramis prefer calm, slow-moving water
• Aquarium siphon

Diet

Honey gouramis are omnivores and readily accept most prepared and live foods. Because of their small size, be mindful to offer appropriately sized foods. They enjoy:

• High-quality micro pellets or small flakes as a staple
• Frozen or live baby brine shrimp
• Frozen or live daphnia
• Frozen bloodworms (treat)
• Blanched zucchini or spinach (some individuals will accept these, some won't)

Feed once or twice a day in small amounts. Their mouths are quite small, so large pellets can be difficult for them. If you notice food going uneaten, try crushing flakes or switching to smaller pellets.

Personality

Honey gouramis are gentle, curious fish with a somewhat shy disposition. When first introduced to a new tank, they may hide for several days while they adjust. Don't be discouraged, once they feel safe, they become much more active and will explore the tank openly.

Males will occasionally display to each other with slow, fanning fin movements, but this rarely escalates into anything serious. They are also bubble nest builders: you may occasionally spot a male constructing a small nest of bubbles at the surface, especially near floating plants. This is a great sign, a bubble-nesting honey gourami is a happy honey gourami.

Their calm, deliberate movements through a planted tank are genuinely lovely to watch. They have a peaceful energy that makes an aquarium feel relaxing.

Compatible Tankmates

Honey gouramis are easy to find tankmates for, given their peaceful nature. Good options include small tetras like neon or ember tetras, rasboras, corydoras catfish, small loaches, and other similarly sized peaceful fish.

Honey gouramis are also generally safe with larger shrimp and snails, though very small shrimp (like newly hatched shrimplets) may occasionally be picked at. Overall, they are one of the more shrimp-friendly fish available.

Avoid aggressive or nippy species, as honey gouramis are not equipped to handle a confrontational tank. Large, boisterous fish will stress them significantly. They do best in calm, peaceful community setups.

Water Parameters

Honey gouramis are fairly forgiving with water parameters but prefer soft, warm water that mirrors their natural South Asian habitat. Target:

• pH: 6.0–7.5
• gH: 50–150 PPM (soft to moderate)
• Temperature: 72–82°F

Here are some top tips to deal with unwanted parameters:

• Honey gouramis are labyrinth fish, so they need clear access to the water surface to breathe air. Do not cover the surface completely with floating plants.
• A tight-fitting lid is important, like most labyrinth fish, honey gouramis can and do jump.
• To lower pH, use driftwood or Indian almond leaves. To raise pH gently, use crushed coral in the filter.
• Remember, using random chemicals is not recommended, since they can cause more problems through sudden, drastic changes.