Honey Gourami are an excellent choice for aquarists seeking peaceful and colorful fish for their community aquariums. A Honey Gourami makes an incredible, golden spotlight fish, reaching an adult size of 2 to 3 inches.
They have a calm and gentle demeanor, rarely showing aggression towards other fish. This is great news for selecting tank mates for your Honey Gourami, because you have a lot of options and flexibility. But what we love about the Honey Gourami is the semi-personable demeanor, as they often approach the glass confidently, and will frequently swim throughout the mid and top sections of the tank.
Being a relatively hardy fish, there isn’t a lot of special requirements for keeping the Honey Gourami happy and healthy. The ease of care make them a popular choice for both beginners and experienced fish-keepers alike.
In this article, we’ll delve into the details of this fascinating species and explore everything you need to know about Honey Gourami care.
So, let’s dive in!
At a Glance
| Min tank size: | 10 gal (40 l) |
| Temperature: | 70-82°F (21-28°C) |
| Lifespan: | 4-8 years |
| Size: | 3 inches (7.6 cm) males, 2 inches (5 cm) females |
| pH: | 6.5-7.5 |
| Hardness: | 6-13 dGH |
| Ammonia: | keep close to 0 ppm |
| Nitrite and nitrate: | keep close to 0 ppm |
In this article
Origins
Traditionally, the Honey Gourami (Trichogaster Chuna) is found in slow-moving rivers or stagnant ponds throughout India and Bangladesh. Although there have been appearances in Nepal and some parts of South-East Asia, by and large, the wild population of honey gouramis tends to come from India.
The Honey Gourami also prefers heavy foliage and tends to stay near fallen trees or wherever there is more leaf litter.
This species of fish do not grow large, a maximum of about 3 inches (7.5 cm), so they look exactly like a fallen leaf in the water.
You will also notice that due to the habitat that they come from, they tend to do exceptionally well in blackwater environments.
Like we mentioned earlier, their habitat consists of slow to stagnant pools of water which make great places for blackwater stew!
Appearance
In this section, we cover some of the interesting and important aspects of the fish such as size, behavior, food, and some interesting facts about the species!
The Honey Gourami is a small fish that is popular for a myriad of reasons. Its hardiness, ease of care, bright coloration are just a few reasons why they’re so popular.
Color
Once the Honey Gourami has successfully established itself in its new environment, you will realize that the males will display a beautiful shade of gold, much like honey! Hence its common name, the Honey Gourami.
Generally, they do not display their full-color potential in fish stores often due to stress and overcrowding, thus they are usually not picked by new hobbyists for this reason. One thing to note: don’t get the Honey Gourami confused with their slightly larger cousin, the dwarf gourami.
Size
The honey gourami is a small fish that grows to a maximum of 3 inches (7.5 cm) for males and about 2 inches (5 cm) for females.
They should not be confused with their slightly bigger cousin, the dwarf gourami which has a blueish hue and grows to a size of about 3.5 inches (9 cm).
Temperament
This species of fish is timid and usually reclusive, making them very suitable for community tanks due to their peaceful nature. They are not aggressive or territorial and will do well in small schools.
Although they do well in small schools, they will develop some form of hierarchy within the group and some aggression is to be expected. Do not be alarmed when you see them chasing each other.
Males are also more aggressive than females during feeding time and when they become sexually mature, which happens anywhere from 5 months of age.
That said, they can be bullied by fishes of similar size due to their timid temperament. Fin nippers should not be housed with honey gouramis as they are prime targets for fin nipping.
Sexing
Honey gouramis are sexually dimorphic, which means you can tell the males apart from the females visually via physiological differences.
Males once established are a bright maple color while females, once sexually mature are slightly smaller and have a paler color as compared to their male counterparts.
Also, males display brighter colors, like dark blue around their abdomen, during the breeding season. They also have generally sharper features as compared to females which tend to have more rounded features.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of Honey Gourami is typically around 3 to 5 years. However, with proper care and favorable conditions, they have the potential to live up to 6 years or even slightly longer.
It’s important to note that individual lifespans can vary based on various factors such as genetics, diet, water quality, tank size, and overall care.
There have been instances where certain fish species, including Honey Gouramis, have been overbred in the aquarium trade. Overbreeding can sometimes lead to health issues and reduced overall quality of the fish.
It is important to source Honey Gouramis from reputable breeders or suppliers who prioritize the health and well-being of the fish.
Overbreeding can result in a higher occurrence of genetic disorders, weakened immune systems, and reduced vitality in fish. These issues can manifest as increased susceptibility to diseases, shorter lifespans, and overall lower quality of the fish. One common species that is overbred and commonly has a short lifespan due to this, is the Dwarf Gourami.
To ensure the health and well-being of Honey Gouramis, it is advisable to choose specimens from reputable sources that prioritize responsible breeding practices. Look for fish that exhibit vibrant colors, healthy body structure, and active behavior. Additionally, consider supporting breeders who prioritize genetic diversity and proper care for their fish.
Taking proper care of Honey Gouramis in your own aquarium is also essential. Provide a suitable environment with clean water, proper nutrition, and appropriate tank mates to minimize stress and promote overall health. Regularly monitor water parameters, maintain a balanced diet, and promptly address any signs of illness or abnormal behavior.
By being informed and mindful of the sources of your fish and providing optimal care, you can help ensure the well-being of your Honey Gouramis and contribute to their overall health and vitality.
Tank Size
Due to its small size and generally sedentary disposition, the honey gourami does not need a big tank. A 10 gallon (20 l) planted tank for a pair will do just fine.
Our general rule of thumb is to start with 10 gallons and add 1 gallon per inch of fish you want to add.
For example, if you’d like to add another 5 more 2-inch fishes to the tank, the minimum tank size you should have would be 10 gallons plus another 10 gallons for the additional fish which makes 20 gallons.
Not much equipment is required for keeping honey gouramis, however, a low power internal filter or a sponge filter is highly recommended as it keeps the water from going stagnant and helps to prevent dead spots in the tank.
Some owners even opt to keep them in a planted tank without any added filtration!
Parameters
The honey gourami does well in tanks that have slow-moving water flow, much like their natural habitat where they usually occur in slow-moving streams and stagnant pools.
As they are not fast fish, slow-moving water helps them feed easier and creates a less stressful environment for them.
Heating might be required for this species if you are located in colder parts of the world. However, heating is usually not required as they are a tropical species and can withstand temperatures anywhere from 70°F (21°C) to 82°F (28°C).
As for water parameters, the honey gourami originates from softer waters that are generally rich in tannins due to the abundance of fallen trees and plant matter that are commonly present within their habitat. A general hardness of around 6-13 dGH is recommended with a slightly lower pH range from 6.5–7.5.
Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates should be kept to a minimum as this species stresses out easily. Weekly water changes of 25% total volume should be made to keep them healthy.
Decor
In the wild, their habitat is filled with fallen logs, sticks, leaf litter, and aquatic plants. While they will do fine without many decors, it is best for them to have as much hiding space as possible.
Live plants also have the added benefit of oxygenating and reducing nitrates in the water. Honey gouramis tend to spend much of their day in a certain spot of the tank, much like a floating leaf.
The substrate is usually not needed however it is recommended if you are keeping plants in the tank.
Some substrate (like aquatic soil) also helps to buffer pH which is an added benefit considering they enjoy slightly acidic water.
Tank mates
The honey gourami is a very peaceful and usually reclusive species of fish. The most common aquarium fish like guppies and mollies will make very good tank mates.
However, there are certain species of fish that you should steer away from if you decide to house them in a community tank.
Below is a classification of types of fish that will not make suitable tank mates.
- Aggressive fish: Aggressive fish tend to stress tank mates out due to their territorial behavior. Fishes like betta splendens will attack most fish that infringe their territory.
- Carnivorous fish: Fishes that have a diet that consists of other fishes are a big NO. Fishes like arowanas and various species of catfish, should not be housed with honey gouramis as they will make a good snack for these carnivorous fishes!
- Large fish: Large fish tend to stress out their tank mates due to their larger disposition. Fishes like koi and big goldfish while do not necessarily attack are aggressive, they are very zealous especially when it comes to feeding.
- Fin nippers: Fish like neon tetras and tiger barbs don’t make good tank mates because they tend to nip at fins. Slow-moving fish like honey gouramis make perfect targets for fin nippers as they generally don’t move much and are docile.
If the fish you intend to get falls within one of these 4 categories, we highly recommend you reconsider the decision as this will cause a lot of stress for your honey gouramis.
Diet
The honey gourami, like most of its cousins, is an omnivorous fish. This means that their diet consists of both animal and plant matter.
It’s is very important because they often suffer from problems such as bloating and impaction due to an improper diet in the aquarium. While most commercially available floating pellets are sufficient nutritionally, they are still chemically processed and manufactured.
In the wild, they are opportunistic feeders and live near the surface of the water to feed on insects that come too close.
Therefore, feeding them should involve both commercially available pellets as well as fresh foods such as bloodworms or tubifex worms, to stimulate a healthy digestive system.
Another problem with commercially available feeds is that owners tend to overfeed, resulting in easily bloated fish due to the lack of water content in the dry food, causing the food pellets to rapidly expand once the fishes ingest too much of it.
Breeding
Breeding honey gouramis is easy and is suitable even for beginners. The honey gourami is a bubble nester, much like bettas, which means they build nests out of saliva bubbles to house their eggs once mating has taken place.
Of course, this is assuming you already have both a male and female fish. Both fishes must be healthy as breeding does take a toll on their health due to the amount of energy involved.
The Ritual
Males usually will have made a bubble nest on the surface of the water in a corner of the tank. Sometimes the nests also appear around an anchor that protrudes the surface of the water, like a plant or an object.
Once the bubble nest is ready, the males will start courting the female by displaying his dark blue coloration towards the female. You may also notice some chasing involved, however, this is normal mating behavior and you do not need to worry unless there is more aggression involved.
If the female is not ready, mating will not take place and the male will continue courting her. If the female seems stressed, remove her from the tank and try again in a few days once she has been nursed back to health.
Mating
This part of the process usually happens very quickly and the pair will mate multiple times up until the female rejects the male’s advances.
You will observe that the male wraps his body around the female and she will release her eggs. Fertilization happens simultaneously with releasing the ovum.
Eggs
The fertilized eggs usually sink and the male will proceed to collect and deposit them into his bubble nest. Each mating releases anywhere from 20-30 zygotes and the female is capable of laying up to 300 eggs each season!
Once the eggs have been deposited into the nest, you might also observe the male spitting water at the top of his nest. This behavior is to prevent them from drying out from the top of the nest as well as to push them down closer to the water.
The eggs will hatch within 36 hours. During this period, the nest is usually closely guarded by the male and sometimes will even chase the female away. At this point, the females should be removed.
Males should be removed by the 3-day mark after all the fry have hatched and are free-swimming.
Feeding the fry
Most keepers opt to feed liquid fry food or infusoria at this stage up until the fry are large enough to consume baby brine shrimp or daphnia. This should take about 2 weeks before they can be switched over.
During the first 2 weeks, the fry should be fed 3-4 times daily and once they have been switched over to baby brine shrimp they can be fed twice a day.
Interesting facts about the honey gourami
The honey gourami is an interesting fish because they possess an additional breathing organ called the labyrinth. In the wild, most of their habitat consists of oxygen-deprived waters, as such this organ comes in handy!
Like most other fishes, the honey gourami also possess gills that enable them to breathe in the water, however, the labyrinth allows them to extract oxygen from the air.
Although most aquarium environments are oxygen-rich, they still like to spend most of their time close to the surface of the water, much like they do in the wild!
Of course, this does not mean that they can survive on land because they can extract oxygen from the air, rather this organ aids the extraction of oxygen so that they can survive in environments with little to no oxygen.
Common diseases
Due to their sedentary nature and opportunistic feeding habits, coupled with the harsh environment that they originate from, they are surprisingly hardy fish and are quite disease resistant.
However, they are prone to certain diseases such as impaction, fin rot, and bloating, as we mentioned earlier in the article.
Impaction
Unlike other fish that swim freely in the water column, honey gouramis love their spot and will stay there for most of the day with little movement.
This causes a problem as they have a relatively short digestive tract and commercial pellets tend to be very dry. Blockages are common if you do not vary their diet with raw food such as tubifex worms or bloodworms.
Fin Rot
Fin rot is a common problem within aquariums that have slow-moving water flow and bad care. Fin rot is a bacterial infection that is easily prevented by consistent water changes.
When the water quality improves, the chances of fin rot are negligible
Bloating
Bloating and impaction are closely related. However unlike impaction, bloating occurs due to a gas buildup inside the fishes digestive tract.
To prevent bloating, a varied diet is a must. Some remedies for bloating include feeding your fish boiled peas or to stop feeding for a few days to let the digestive tract work itself out before feeding again.
Closing Thoughts
The honey gourami is an easy fish to keep and is an ideal choice for a starting fish. They are extremely hardy and will withstand most beginner mistakes that might happen.
Feeding them is also very easy as they will most likely eat anything that is thrown at them (no pun intended).
Although these species are prone to certain diseases, they are easily prevented with a varied diet as well as consistent water changes.
They are also very easy to add to existing community aquariums due to their calm disposition.
We’ve come to the end of the article, we hope you’ve enjoyed reading this as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you.
Do leave us questions and comments in the section below!