Aquariumanabantoid · freshwater
Moonlight Gourami: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Moonlight Gourami (Trichopodus microlepis) grows to about 7.1 in (15 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 35 inches long and about 21 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 77–86°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
- 7.1 in (15 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 35 inches long and about 21 gallons
- Temperature
- 77–86°F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–25 dGH
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- top of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: long fins that nippers target · eats small fish · eats shrimp
Moonlight 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
- 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
- Lemon TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 68–82°F
Use caution
- Neon TetraMoonlight Gourami and Neon Tetra only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Panda CoryMoonlight Gourami and Panda Cory only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Nerite SnailMoonlight Gourami and Nerite Snail only share 77–78°F. That's a tight window.
- Mystery SnailMoonlight Gourami and Mystery Snail only share 77–78°F. That's a tight window.
- Zebra DanioNeeds careMoonlight Gourami and Zebra Danio only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Tiger BarbNeeds careTiger Barb nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins.
- African Dwarf FrogMoonlight Gourami and African Dwarf Frog only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Black Skirt TetraBlack Skirt Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins.
Avoid
- Cherry ShrimpMoonlight Gourami will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpMoonlight Gourami will eat Amano Shrimp.
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careMoonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Bamboo ShrimpMoonlight Gourami will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Moonlight Gourami is peaceful.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksMoonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Common / Comet Goldfish (68–75°F) need different temperatures.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins.
- Crystal Red ShrimpMoonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Crystal Red Shrimp (71–76°F) need different temperatures.
All 105 species we checked against the Moonlight Gourami
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Angelfish | 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 |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | 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 Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Blue Acara | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| German Blue Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Iridescent Shark | 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 |
| Otocinclus | 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 |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | 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 |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| African Dwarf Frog | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and African Dwarf Frog only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Denison Barb | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Denison Barb only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Diamond Tetra | Caution | Diamond Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins.; Moonlight Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Moonlight Gourami. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Mystery Snail only share 77–78°F. That's a tight window.; Moonlight Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH. |
| Neon Tetra | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Neon Tetra only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Nerite Snail only share 77–78°F. That's a tight window.; Moonlight Gourami (pH 6–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Odessa Barb | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Odessa Barb only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Oscar | Caution | Oscar can bully smaller, peaceful Moonlight Gourami. |
| Panda Cory | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Panda Cory only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Pea Puffer | Caution | Pea Puffer nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Pearl Danio | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Pearl Danio only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Penguin Tetra | Caution | Penguin Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Pictus Catfish only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Scissortail Rasbora only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Serpae Tetra | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Caution | Silver Tip Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Tinfoil Barb only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Zebra Danio | Caution | Moonlight Gourami and Zebra Danio only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.; Zebra Danio nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Moonlight Gourami is peaceful. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Common / Comet Goldfish (68–75°F) need different temperatures. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Moonlight Gourami is peaceful. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Crystal Red Shrimp (71–76°F) need different temperatures.; Moonlight Gourami will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami will eat Ghost Shrimp.; Ghost Shrimp nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Gold Barb | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Gold Barb (61–75°F) need different temperatures. |
| Hillstream Loach | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Hillstream Loach (68–75°F) need different temperatures. |
| Paradise Fish | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures. |
| Rosy Barb | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Rosy Barb (61–75°F) need different temperatures. |
| Weather Loach | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Avoid | Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Skittish; avoid vigorous or boisterous tankmates; planted tank with slow flow and open swimming areas; warm water (26-30 C)
Group: Not a shoaling fish; males may be territorial toward other males and other gouramis; no group advice on page
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the top of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Moonlight Gourami get?
About 7.1 inches (15 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Moonlight Gourami need?
At least 35 inches long and about 21 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.
How many Moonlight Gouramis should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Not a shoaling fish; males may be territorial toward other males and other gouramis; no group advice on page
What fish can live with a Moonlight Gourami?
Species that passed every check include Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb.
Gear for a Moonlight Gourami setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 40 gallon breeder (36 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 200 W for 40 gallons, holding 77–86°F.Find on Amazon →SandSoft sand protects barbels and lets it sift.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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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/trichopodus-microlepis/
- fishbase.se /summary/Trichopodus-microlepis.html