Sunset Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
The Sunset Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons), water held at 73-82°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
Southeast Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Sunset Gourami Tank Setup
Give them at least 110 litres (29 US gallons) with gentle flow, water at 73-82°F, and a pH around 6-7.5. Gouramis breathe air at the surface, so keep it clear of thick film.
What Do Sunset 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.
Sunset Gourami Tank Mates
Flame/Sunset morph of Honey Gourami. Males display intense orange-red colouration. The Sunset 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 Sunset 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.
Sunset Gourami - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Sunset Gouramis need?
Sunset Gouramis need a tank of at least 110 litres (29 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 Sunset Gouramis need?
Keep them at 73-82°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 Sunset Gouramis eat?
Sunset 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 Sunset Gouramis good for beginners?
Yes - Sunset 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.
Common mistakes with Sunset Gouramis
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 110 litres (29 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
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 Sunset 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
