Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna)

Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is a peaceful small labyrinth fish for calm planted aquariums. The older scientific name Colisa chuna also refers to this species. Both names are useful when comparing care information, but do not confuse Honey Gourami with the separate Dwarf Gourami species.

Quick Care Summary

Natural Behaviour

Honey Gouramis come from slow, vegetation-rich waters such as pools, ditches, ponds, beels, flooded fields and plant-filled river margins. Their labyrinth organ lets them breathe atmospheric air, so the surface must stay accessible. They often patrol the upper and middle levels, resting under floating plants rather than racing across open water.

Males can show stronger honey, orange and dark throat colour when settled. Females and young fish are usually softer in colour. Do not judge a new arrival on dispatch-day colour alone; calm water, cover and time are what bring out the best display.

Aquarium Setup

Use a mature aquarium with gentle filtration, warm stable water and plenty of cover. Floating plants such as frogbit, Salvinia or water lettuce are useful because they soften light and create the sheltered surface zone this species likes. Add rooted plants, wood, leaf litter or darker background cover, but leave open pockets for easy feeding and viewing.

A strong blasting current is not ideal. Use a sponge filter or controlled outlet if the fish are being pushed around. Keep the lid secure and the air above the water warm, especially in winter, because labyrinth fish regularly breathe at the surface.

Tank Mates

Choose quiet, peaceful companions that will not bully them or outcompete them at feeding time. Small rasboras, peaceful tetras, Corydoras, kuhli loaches and calm shrimp communities can work when the tank is mature and well planted. Avoid aggressive fish, fin nippers, fast boisterous feeders and larger gouramis that may dominate the surface.

Males can become mildly territorial around nests, but they are not rough community bullies. If keeping more than one male, use a larger planted aquarium with broken sight lines so each fish can retreat.

Feeding

Feed small foods that suit their mouth size. Fine flakes, micro pellets and small granules work well as staples, with frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm used for variety. Offer modest portions once or twice daily and make sure quieter fish actually get food.

A varied diet supports colour and condition. Heavy feeding in a small planted aquarium can quickly spoil water quality, so clean water and small regular meals are better than large portions.

Breeding Notes

These fish are bubble-nest builders. A settled male may build under floating plants, court a female and guard eggs at the surface. Fry are very small and need tiny first foods, so breeding is best handled in a dedicated mature setup with gentle filtration and stable warm air above the water.

Choosing Your Fish

Use the size selector to check the available dispatch grade before ordering. The choices are 2–3 cm, 3–3.5 cm and XL. A size grade is not a guarantee of sex, an established pair or full adult colour.

If you are exploring other labyrinth fish, compare the separate care requirements of Croaking Gourami. This is an alternative to research, not a recommendation to combine gourami species in a small aquarium.

Best For

• Peaceful planted aquariums with floating cover and gentle flow.
• Keepers who want colour without aggressive cichlid-style behaviour.
• Calm community tanks with small, non-nipping tank mates.
• Aquarists who can keep water stable and feeding gentle.

Not Ideal For

• Fast, boisterous community tanks where quiet fish are outcompeted.
• Strong-current aquariums with no calm surface area.
• Aggressive gouramis, fin nippers or large predatory fish.
• Bare bright tanks with no plants, shade or hiding cover.

Care Sources Used

For species identity, habitat and aquarium guidance, see FishBase and Seriously Fish. Further reading includes GBIF, Tropical Fish Hobbyist and established aquarium care guidance.