Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
The Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons), water held at 72-82°F, and a pH of 6-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Ganges and Brahmaputra basins, India and Bangladesh.
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Honey Gourami Tank Setup
Give them at least 60 litres (16 US gallons) with gentle flow, water at 72-82°F, and a pH around 6-7.5. Gouramis breathe air at the surface, so keep it clear of thick film.
What Do Honey Gouramis Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
Honey Gourami Tank Mates
Males may spar in small tanks; avoid multiple males in <80L The Honey Gourami is peaceful (males mildly territorial), which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Honey Gouramis Good for Beginners?
Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.
Honey Gourami - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Honey Gouramis need?
Honey Gouramis need a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Honey Gouramis need?
Keep them at 72-82°F with a pH of 6-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Honey Gouramis eat?
Honey Gouramis have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Honey Gouramis good for beginners?
Yes - Honey Gouramis are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Honey Gouramis
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
