All fish / Osphronemidae

Honey Gourami

Trichogaster chuna

Also known as honey gourami, sunset gourami, red honey gourami, gold honey gourami, honey dwarf gourami, colisa chuna, colisa sota, red flame gourami, honey gourami red robin, ปลากระดี่น้ำผึ้ง, ハニー・グラミー, sepat madu

This is a small, gentle gourami. Females are plain silvery brown with a dark lateral stripe, and breeding males turn bright honey orange with a dark blue-black throat and belly. It is popular because it stays small, is hardy, and suits calm planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

A pair or a small group with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: small pellets and flakes, frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

India (Assam, West Bengal) and Bangladesh, Ganges and Brahmaputra basins

Breeding

Males build a bubble nest, often under floating plants, and look after the eggs and fry once spawning is over. Breeding is fairly easy in a quiet, warm tank with shallow water, but the tiny fry need infusoria or other very fine first foods.

Good to know

It can be timid and gets outcompeted by boisterous or fin-nipping tankmates. Many fish sold as honey gouramis are actually bright trade strains, and hybrids with the dwarf gourami (Trichogaster lalius) turn up in shops.