Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 4–5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 55 litres
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
Species profile
Giant Red Tail Gourami
Osphronemus laticlavius
Common names: Giant Red Tail Gourami
Recognized speciesGouramis
Adult size
Up to 50 cm
Up to 50 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper with room for a large aquarium
Think carefully if
- You keep smaller fish, which it may eat
- You cannot provide about 648 litres for a fully grown fish
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A very large relative of the Giant Gourami, reaching about 50 cm, with striking red in the fins. Keep alone or in a small group in 648 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A very large relative of the Giant Gourami, reaching about 50 cm, with striking red in the fins. It is still rare and expensive in the hobby.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Sexes are often hard to tell apart.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 1,300–1,940 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 650–975 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 648 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 180 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
This is an unusual fish with particular needs, so plan the tank around it. Check the adult size before you buy, and use a secure lid.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An unusual fish, kept for its looks and behaviour rather than as a community fish.
Varies by species, so see the notes.
Varies by species.
Choose tankmates with care, and check whether it will eat small fish, or be bullied by faster ones. It is likely to eat shrimp.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Spirulina or algae wafersShould make up much of the diet.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette, cucumber and peas work well. Remove leftovers within a day.
- Small frozen foodsAn occasional addition for protein.
Diet varies, so check what your fish accepts when you buy it.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Parental care
- Unknown
Little has been recorded about breeding this fish in aquariums.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Malaysia, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- River
- Aquarium contexts
- Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Specialist
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Osphronemus
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Species group
- Fish, Gouramis
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Licorice Gourami
Parosphromenus deissneri
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Moonlight Gourami
Trichopodus microlepis
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C
Mottled Ctenopoma
Ctenopoma weeksii
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 68 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C