Honey Gourami: Gentle, Colorful, and Easy to Keep

A Sweet Addition to Any Aquarium

The Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is one of those fish that quietly steals the spotlight. With its soft golden tones, delicate fins, and calm demeanor, it adds a gentle charm to any aquarium, making it a favorite among both beginners and experienced aquarists. Unlike some flashy species that dominate a tank, the Honey Gourami is subtle, moving gracefully through plants and mid-water areas, capturing attention with its understated beauty.

FISH PROFILE
Fish	Honey Gourami
Binomial Name	Trichogaster chuna
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Perciformes
Family	Osphronemidae
Subfamily	Macropodusinae
Genus	Trichogaster
Species	T. chuna
Varieties	Golden, Orange, Standard
ENVIRONMENT
Living Environment	Freshwater
Found in	India, Bangladesh, Nepal
Space Requirement	Minimum 10 gallons for a pair; 20 gallons for a small group
Average Lifespan	4–6 years
Exceptional Cases	Up to 7 years with ideal care
Length	4–5 cm (1.6–2 in)
Weight	Up to 10 g
Temperature	24–28°C (75–82°F)
pH	6.0–7.5
PERSONALITY
Temperament	Peaceful, shy, non-aggressive
Social Behaviour	Best kept in pairs or small groups; males may be territorial during breeding
Diet	Omnivore
Food Type	Flakes, micro pellets, frozen/live foods (daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms)
KEY FACTORS AFFECTING LIFESPAN
Enclosure / Tank size	Needs sufficient swimming space; overcrowding causes stress and aggression
Habitat / Water quality	Clean, well-filtered water; gentle flow; floating plants for hiding; stable parameters important
Diet	Balanced diet essential; poor nutrition reduces health and lifespan
Companions	Peaceful species recommended; avoid fin-nippers or overly aggressive fish
Temperature / Environment stability	Sensitive to sudden changes in temperature or water chemistry
CARE DIFFICULTY
Difficulty Level	Moderate
Messiness	Low to moderate; regular water changes required
Additional Requirements	Planted tank, floating plants, gentle filtration, stable water conditions, hiding spots
Special Notes	Males build bubble nests during breeding; ideal for peaceful community tanks

Native to South Asia, particularly India and Bangladesh, these Gouramis inhabit slow-moving, shallow waters rich in vegetation. Their natural habitats are often soft-bottomed streams, swamps, and densely planted ponds. In these environments, they weave through plants, occasionally surface for air with their labyrinth organ, and engage in quiet, sociable behaviors with their tankmates. Recreating even a hint of this environment in your home aquarium allows them to thrive physically and behaviorally.

Despite their small size—usually around 2 inches for females and slightly larger for males—Honey Gouramis are surprisingly hardy. They tolerate a range of water conditions but flourish in soft, slightly acidic water with gentle filtration. Their small stature makes them perfect for smaller tanks, yet they still exhibit dynamic behaviors that draw the eye and encourage observation.

What sets Honey Gouramis apart is their gentle temperament. They are peaceful, shy but curious, and exhibit subtle personality traits that emerge over time. Some may hover near floating plants, exploring cautiously, while others glide confidently in open areas, responding subtly to human presence or tank activity.

Keeping a Honey Gourami is like inviting a small living gem into your aquarium. It’s a fish that combines visual charm with calm personality, offering rewarding observation and quiet interactions. As we move into the next sections, you’ll see how their appearance, temperament, tank requirements, diet, and breeding behaviors all contribute to their enduring popularity among aquarists.

Appearance and Temperament – Subtle Beauty with Calm Personality

Honey Gouramis are small but visually striking in a soft, understated way. Their slender, slightly compressed bodies allow them to glide gracefully through mid-level waters, and their long, flowing fins add elegance to every movement. Males and females are easily distinguishable, especially during breeding. Males display a warm, honey-gold hue with a slightly more elongated body and brighter fins, while females are softer, often silver or pale yellow, with a gentler pattern.

Body Shape and Fin Structure

The body of the Honey Gourami is streamlined, perfect for weaving through plants without disturbing them. Their dorsal and anal fins sweep the water like silk, while their thread-like ventral fins act as sensory tools, feeling out the surroundings. This combination gives them a fluid, graceful motion that’s mesmerizing to watch, even in a community tank.

Coloration and Patterns

What makes Honey Gouramis stand out is their golden, honey-like coloration, often deepening in intensity during mating or times of excitement. Males develop a slightly darker orange or reddish tinge on their throat and fins when displaying, signaling both health and readiness to breed. Females remain more subdued, blending gently with the plant-dense environment.

Color highlights:

• Male Honey Gourami: Honey-gold body, brighter fins, throat color intensifies during courtship
• Female Honey Gourami: Pale yellow or silvery body, softer fins, subtle patterns

Personality and Behavior

These Gouramis are peaceful and gentle, making them excellent for community aquariums. They are curious but not aggressive, often interacting subtly with tankmates rather than dominating them. Males may show mild territoriality, particularly during breeding, but conflicts are usually limited to displays and fin flaring.

Suitable tankmates:

• Neon Tetras
• Corydoras catfish
• Guppies
• Small peaceful livebearers

Tankmates to avoid:

• Fin-nipping species such as Tiger Barbs
• Aggressive or large Cichlids

Honey Gouramis are quietly engaging. Some hover among floating plants, carefully surveying their surroundings, while others explore open spaces with cautious curiosity. They may even respond to human presence, becoming more active during feeding or when someone approaches the tank, adding a subtle, interactive dimension to the aquarium.

Their combination of soft coloration, delicate structure, and peaceful temperament makes Honey Gouramis a favorite among aquarists seeking a small, charming, and visually appealing species that complements a community setup without creating conflict.

Aquarium Setup – Creating a Comfortable, Calm Habitat

Honey Gouramis thrive in aquariums that mimic their natural habitat—slow-moving, densely vegetated waters with plenty of hiding spots and calm open swimming areas. A well-designed tank not only keeps them healthy but also allows them to display their graceful movements and subtle personality to full effect.

Tank Size and Water Parameters

Despite their small size—typically 2 to 2.5 inches for females and slightly larger for males—Honey Gouramis still need space to swim freely and establish comfortable territories. A 20–25 gallon tank is ideal for a pair or a small group, while larger tanks allow for multiple males without excessive territorial disputes.

Optimal water conditions:

• Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Hardness: 4–12 dGH
• Filtration: Gentle sponge or low-flow filter

Honey Gouramis are labyrinth fish, which means they can breathe air from the surface. This makes them adaptable to lower oxygen levels, but clean, well-maintained water is still critical to prevent disease and support vibrant coloration. Avoid strong currents that could stress them or interfere with surface breathing.

Plants and Decorations

Dense vegetation is essential, providing both security and visual appeal. Floating plants, mid-level stems, and background plants create shaded zones and hiding places that reduce stress. Driftwood and smooth rocks add natural structure without obstructing swimming space.

Recommended plants:

• Floating: Duckweed, Frogbit, Riccia
• Mid-level: Anubias, Hygrophila, Java Fern
• Background: Vallisneria, Amazon Sword

Soft substrates like sand or fine gravel allow for safe exploration and prevent injury to their delicate ventral fins. The combination of open swimming space and hiding spots creates a balanced environment where Honey Gouramis can thrive.

Lighting and Atmosphere

Moderate lighting is best, enhancing their honey-golden coloration without making them shy. Floating plants help diffuse the light and provide a sense of security. A 10–12 hour light cycle mimics natural day and night rhythms, encouraging natural behaviors, including bubble nest building for breeding males.

Community Compatibility

Honey Gouramis are peaceful but may exhibit mild territorial behavior in the presence of other males. Ideally, one male with multiple females or a small group in a spacious, well-planted tank prevents conflicts.

Good tankmates:

• Dwarf Gouramis
• Neon Tetras
• Corydoras catfish
• Guppies

Avoid:

• Fin-nipping species such as Tiger Barbs
• Aggressive Cichlids

Maintenance Tips

Consistency is key. Regular 20–30% weekly water changes, monitoring ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, and maintaining a calm surface environment for breathing are essential. Since Honey Gouramis are small and delicate, stability matters more than perfection.

With a thoughtful combination of gentle filtration, abundant plants, soft substrate, and compatible tankmates, you create a safe, comfortable home where Honey Gouramis can flourish, display their full beauty, and showcase the calm, subtle personality that makes them such endearing aquarium residents.

Diet and Feeding – Nourishing Health and Color

Feeding Honey Gouramis is both simple and rewarding. Their small size and gentle nature mean they require a carefully balanced diet to stay healthy, maintain vibrant coloration, and exhibit natural behavior. Observing them forage and nibble adds a lively, interactive element to the aquarium, making feeding time a highlight of the day.

Omnivorous Diet Basics

Honey Gouramis are omnivorous, enjoying both plant and animal-based foods. A staple diet of high-quality flakes or micro-pellets designed for small tropical fish provides essential nutrients for growth, color, and energy. Floating foods are particularly suitable, allowing them to feed naturally at the surface.

Staple foods include:

• Tropical flakes or micro-pellets
• Algae or spirulina-based flakes for extra vitamins and color enhancement
• Occasional vegetable flakes for fiber

Protein and Live Foods

Protein-rich foods support their active behavior and coloration. Offering live or frozen foods a few times a week stimulates natural hunting instincts and keeps them engaged.

Protein options:

• Brine shrimp: live or frozen, small enough for easy consumption
• Daphnia: excellent for surface feeding and activity
• Bloodworms: freeze-dried or frozen, in moderation

Seeing a Honey Gourami chase tiny brine shrimp or explore daphnia adds charm to the tank and encourages natural foraging behaviors.

Vegetables and Greens

Vegetable matter is important for digestive health. While not all Gouramis immediately accept vegetables, gently introducing soft, blanched options can gradually become part of their diet:

• Zucchini slices
• Shelled peas
• Spinach or other soft leafy greens

Feeding Schedule and Techniques

Feed Honey Gouramis twice daily, offering only what they can eat in 2–3 minutes. Overfeeding can lead to bloating, poor water quality, and stress.

Feeding tips:

• Scatter food across the surface to reduce competition
• Use floating rings or feeders if needed to contain portions
• Observe behavior: active, alert fish indicate healthy feeding habits

Seasonal Adjustments and Special Considerations

During breeding, increase protein slightly to support males building bubble nests and females preparing eggs. After spawning, return to a regular balanced diet to prevent overconditioning.

A proper diet for Honey Gouramis ensures they remain colorful, healthy, and active, while also encouraging subtle behaviors that make them enjoyable to watch. Feeding isn’t just about nutrition—it’s an opportunity to connect with your fish and observe the small, charming nuances of their personality.

Breeding and Social Behavior – Gentle Bubble Nest Builders

Honey Gouramis may be small, but their breeding behavior is fascinating and charming. Like other labyrinth fish, their reproductive process revolves around the construction of delicate bubble nests at the water’s surface. Watching this behavior up close provides a glimpse into their natural instincts and subtle social interactions, which are both rewarding and educational for aquarists.

Bubble Nest Construction

The male takes center stage when it comes to breeding. He selects a calm, shaded area—often above floating plants or under leaves—where he builds a floating nest made of tiny air bubbles coated in mucus. This nest serves as the nursery for the eggs and later, the developing fry. The male continually repairs and adds bubbles, maintaining the nest’s structure and size.

Optimal conditions for nesting:

• Water temperature: 27–28°C (80–82°F)
• Calm surface with minimal current
• Presence of floating or tall plants for shelter

Bubble nest building is not only functional but also a display of the male’s health and vitality. A robust nest signals readiness to breed and a strong protector for the upcoming eggs.

Courtship and Spawning

Courtship is gentle and deliberate. The male displays intensified golden-orange coloration on his body and fins to attract a female. He performs slow, graceful dances around the female, circling and flaring fins subtly. Once receptive, the female releases eggs during a wrapping embrace, and the male collects and places them carefully into the nest.

This process is repeated several times over an hour or more, gradually filling the nest with eggs. After spawning, females are often removed from the breeding tank to reduce stress and prevent accidental egg consumption, while males diligently guard the nest until the fry become free-swimming.

Fry Care

Eggs typically hatch within 24–36 hours. Initially, the fry remain in the nest area or hidden among plants for a couple of days before swimming freely. During this stage, feeding begins with tiny foods:

• Infusoria or liquid fry food for the first few days
• Baby brine shrimp or finely crushed flakes as they grow

The male continues to protect the fry until they are capable of independent foraging, at which point normal community conditions can be restored.

Social Behavior

Outside of breeding, Honey Gouramis are peaceful, calm, and sociable. Males may show mild territoriality, but it rarely escalates if the tank is spacious and well-planted. Females typically maintain a low profile, observing quietly and interacting gently with tankmates.

Community-friendly tankmates:

• Neon Tetras
• Corydoras catfish
• Small peaceful livebearers

Tankmates to avoid:

• Aggressive or fin-nipping species
• Larger Cichlids

Honey Gouramis exhibit quiet curiosity and subtle interactions with their environment. Whether exploring plants, hovering near the surface, or engaging in gentle social behaviors, they are endlessly rewarding to watch. Their calm personality and delicate reproductive habits make them a joy to maintain, offering both aesthetic and behavioral enrichment to the home aquarium.

Why the Honey Gourami is a Must-Have for Every Aquarist

Honey Gouramis are small but pack a big personality into their golden, shimmering bodies. Their gentle temperament, vibrant color, and easy care make them one of the most beloved freshwater fish for both beginners and experienced aquarists. They aren’t flashy in the way some tropical species are, yet their quiet elegance and subtle interactions give an aquarium a calm, living charm that’s hard to match.

Visual Appeal

The warm, honey-golden coloration of males, combined with delicate fins and subtle shimmer, brings a natural elegance to any tank. Females offer a softer contrast with pale, silvery tones, making small groups visually dynamic. Their gentle gliding through mid-level waters and hovering near plants creates a serene, almost meditative scene, especially when paired with complementary species like Neon Tetras, Corydoras, or Dwarf Gouramis.

Peaceful Temperament

One of the biggest advantages of Honey Gouramis is their calm, non-aggressive nature. They coexist peacefully with a variety of small, community fish, rarely disturbing tankmates. Males may show mild territorial behavior, especially around bubble nests, but it is manageable in a well-planted, spacious environment. Their gentle demeanor makes them ideal for beginner setups or peaceful community tanks where stress-free interactions are a priority.

Engaging Behavior

Watching Honey Gouramis is endlessly rewarding. Their exploratory nature, hovering near plants, and occasional surface visits for air or feeding provide a constant source of subtle, engaging movement. During breeding, the male’s bubble nest construction and protective behavior add a fascinating layer of natural behavior to observe. Even their small, thread-like ventral fins, which they use to sense their environment, contribute to the sense of quiet intelligence and personality.

Ease of Care

Honey Gouramis are hardy and adaptable. They tolerate a range of water parameters and thrive in moderately planted tanks with gentle filtration and a calm surface. Their omnivorous diet is simple to provide, and with proper feeding and maintenance, they maintain vibrant coloration and active behavior with minimal stress.

Enduring Popularity

Since their introduction to the aquarium hobby, Honey Gouramis have remained favorites due to their combination of charm, beauty, and approachability. They add life, color, and tranquility to any freshwater setup, making them more than just a decorative species—they’re a living companion that enhances the overall aquarium experience.

Honey Gouramis are a perfect balance of beauty, calm personality, and easy care. They enrich a community tank, provide subtle, fascinating behaviors to observe, and maintain a gentle presence that draws aquarists back to watch and appreciate them daily. For anyone seeking a small, charming, and low-stress species, the Honey Gourami is an unbeatable choice.