Thick-lipped Gourami
Trichogaster labiosa
The Thick-lipped Gourami (Trichogaster labiosa) is a semi-aggressive fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. 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.
Thick-lipped 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 Thick-lipped 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.
Thick-lipped Gourami Tank Mates
Males territorial; avoid keeping multiple males together. More peaceful than T. trichopterus. The Thick-lipped Gourami is semi-aggressive, 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 Thick-lipped Gouramis Good for Beginners?
Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.
Thick-lipped Gourami - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Thick-lipped Gouramis need?
Thick-lipped 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 Thick-lipped 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 Thick-lipped Gouramis eat?
Thick-lipped 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 Thick-lipped Gouramis good for beginners?
Thick-lipped Gouramis are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Common mistakes with Thick-lipped 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 Thick-lipped 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
