Aquariumanabantoid · freshwater
Honey Gourami: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) grows to about 2.6 in (5.5 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 24 inches long and about 14 gallons. Keep at least 4 together, at 72–81°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 2.6 in (5.5 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 24 inches long and about 14 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Group size
- 4+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- top of the tank
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: long fins that nippers target · may eat baby shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
Honey Gourami tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Dwarf GouramiNeeds careDwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami.
- German Blue RamNeeds careHoney Gourami and German Blue Ram only share 81–81°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami.
- Cherry ShrimpHoney Gourami may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpHoney Gourami may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Nerite SnailHoney Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
- Mystery SnailHoney Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Zebra DanioNeeds careZebra Danio nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.
Avoid
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Honey Gourami and may treat it as food.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksHoney Gourami (72–81°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Honey Gourami only grows to about 2.6 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Honey Gourami only grows to about 2.6 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Honey Gourami
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Honey Gourami may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Honey Gourami may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Honey Gourami and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–81°F. That's a tight window. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Honey Gourami may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Honey Gourami may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Diamond Tetra | Caution | Diamond Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Dwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.; Electric Yellow Lab can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Honey Gourami and German Blue Ram only share 81–81°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Honey Gourami may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.; Ghost Shrimp nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami grows 5× longer than Honey Gourami and may treat it as food.; Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Honey Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Honey Gourami (2–15 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Honey Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Honey Gourami and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Pea Puffer | Caution | Pea Puffer nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Penguin Tetra | Caution | Penguin Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Pictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Serpae Tetra | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Caution | Silver Tip Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Honey Gourami and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.; Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Honey Gourami. |
| Zebra Danio | Caution | Zebra Danio nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Honey Gourami and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Honey Gourami is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Honey Gourami is peaceful. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Honey Gourami (72–81°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Honey Gourami only grows to about 2.6 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Honey Gourami only grows to about 2.6 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Tight-fitting lid (known to jump) with an air gap above the water. Gentle filtration, shady, well-planted tank with floating or tall plants. Slow-moving: avoid territorial, aggressive or boisterous tankmates.
Group: SF recommends buying no fewer than 4-6; groups form hierarchies with dominant fish chasing rivals at feeding. SF quick facts also say best in a pair, and a 60 cm tank suits a pair or small group.
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the top of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Honey Gourami get?
About 2.6 inches (5.5 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Honey Gourami need?
At least 24 inches long and about 14 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.
How many Honey Gouramis should be kept together?
At least 4. SF recommends buying no fewer than 4-6; groups form hierarchies with dominant fish chasing rivals at feeding. SF quick facts also say best in a pair, and a 60 cm tank suits a pair or small group.
What fish can live with a Honey Gourami?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Honey Gourami setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 20 gallon long (30 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 100 W for 20 gallons, holding 72–81°F.Find on Amazon →SandSoft sand protects barbels and lets it sift.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodMeaty frozen foods suit its diet.Find on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, AquariumSetup earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current options.
Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/trichogaster-chuna/
- fishbase.se /summary/Trichogaster-chuna.html