Types of Gourami Fish: 10 Popular Gouramis Compared
Published: 2026-10-29 · FishyKart Blog
Gouramis are labyrinth fish from South and Southeast Asia: they breathe air from the surface with a special organ, which is why you see them rising for a gulp. Aquarium gouramis range from the 1.5-inch sparkling gourami to the giant gourami, which grows past 2 feet. The species sold most often, such as honey, dwarf and pearl gouramis, stay under 5 inches and suit planted community tanks of 10-30 gallons.
Photo: André Karwath aka Aka - Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Gourami Types at a Glance
| Gourami | Adult size / Tank / Temperament |
| Honey gourami | 2-2.5 in / 10-20 gal / Very peaceful |
| Dwarf gourami | 3-3.5 in / 10-20 gal / Peaceful, males territorial |
| Sparkling gourami | 1.5 in / 5-10 gal / Peaceful, shy |
| Pearl gourami | 4-5 in / 30 gal / Peaceful |
| Moonlight gourami | 5-6 in / 30-40 gal / Peaceful |
| Three spot (blue, gold, opaline) gourami | 5-6 in / 30-40 gal / Can be aggressive |
| Kissing gourami | up to 12 in / 55+ gal / Semi-aggressive |
| Chocolate gourami | 2-2.5 in / 20 gal / Peaceful, delicate |
| Paradise fish | 3-4 in / 20 gal / Aggressive to small fish |
| Giant gourami | 24 in or more / 250+ gal or pond / Large, needs huge tank |
Typical ranges from aquarium references; individual fish vary. Betta fish are also labyrinth fish and close relatives; see types of betta fish.
Small Gouramis
- Honey gourami (Trichogaster chuna): golden orange males in breeding color, gentle with tetras and rasboras. Our honey gourami care guide covers males vs females.
- Dwarf gourami (Trichogaster lalius): bright blue and red, the most sold gourami. Many farmed dwarf gouramis carry dwarf gourami iridovirus, so buy from a trusted seller and quarantine new fish. See dwarf gourami tank mates.
- Sparkling gourami (Trichopsis pumila): tiny, makes a soft croaking sound, best in a calm nano tank.
- Chocolate gourami (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides): needs very soft, acidic water; not for beginners.
Medium Gouramis
- Pearl gourami (Trichopodus leerii): white pearl pattern, males show an orange throat. One of the most peaceful larger gouramis.
- Moonlight gourami (Trichopodus microlepis): silver and calm, needs a longer tank.
- Three spot gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus): sold as blue, gold or opaline. Hardy but often bullies smaller fish.
Large Gouramis
- Kissing gourami (Helostoma temminckii): the "kiss" is a mouth-to-mouth contest between rivals. Grows big over time; plan for a large tank. Read our kissing gourami care guide.
- Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy): a food fish in Asia that outgrows almost any home aquarium. Do not buy a juvenile unless you have a very large tank or indoor pond.
How Many Gouramis Per Tank?
- One male per tank for dwarf, pearl and three spot gouramis in tanks under 30 gallons.
- Pairs or a male with 2-3 females for honey and pearl gouramis in planted tanks.
- Small groups of sparkling gouramis work in calm, heavily planted nano tanks.
Gourami Care Basics
- Water: 74-82 F, pH about 6.0-7.5 for most species.
- Surface access: leave a gap under the lid and avoid strong surface current, because gouramis breathe air.
- Plants: floating plants such as duckweed or hornwort calm them and give males a place for bubble nests.
- Food: flakes or small pellets plus frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Good Tank Mates
Small and medium gouramis live well with tetras, harlequin rasboras, corydoras, kuhli loaches and otocinclus. Avoid fin nippers such as tiger barbs and do not keep gouramis with bettas, which often fight with them.
Gouramis are listed in our rainbows and gouramis collection.