This variety of Dwarf Gourami boasts beautiful vibrant blue colors that fade into vivid red. Like most Gouramis, males are more brilliantly colored than females. Regardless of sex, however, these beautiful fish create a splash of color in any home aquarium.

Peaceful, by nature, Gouramis are an excellent addition to any community aquarium with fish of like temperament and size. Dwarf varieties only reach 2″ in size. Though territorial at times, many Dwarf Gouramis do best when kept in groups, provided there are more females than males.

Originating from India, Bengal, and Bangladesh, wild Dwarf Gouramis are found in heavily vegetated waters. Here, they feed on small insects and larvae on the water’s surface and algae that gathers on plants. In the home aquarium, they do best in highly filtered water with neutral pH and water hardness.

Feed flake, algae pellets, and frozen or freeze-dried foods, supplemented with an occasional live worm. They like open swimming areas with spots to hide amongst plants, decorations, or rocks. It is especially beneficial to have floating plants that cover part of the water’s surface.

When bred, pairs of Dwarf Gouramis create spectacular bubble nests amongst plant leaves at the water’s surface and engage in a delicate, graceful spawning process that lasts up to four hours. After spawning, however, the female needs to be removed from the aquarium and the male will care for the eggs. While defending his brood, a male Dwarf Gourami will become very aggressive towards other fish.

As with all fish, Dwarf Gouramis require excellent water conditions. They do not handle fluctuations in water parameters well. However, for any aquarist, Dwarf Gouramis are an essential aquarium addition.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 72-82° F, pH 6.0-7.5, KH 4-10
Max. Size: 2″
Color Form: Blue, Red
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Tank Bred - Asia
Family: Belontiidae

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The Giant Gourami, also known as Banded Gourami, Rainbow Gourami, or Striped Gourami, is a pale to golden yellow with silvery pale blue stripes running vertically along its body. In some parts of India it is used as a food fish, where it is dried and then eaten.

The Giant Gourami requires a tank that is 30 gallons or larger with densely planted edges, with preferably a dark tank bottom. There should be plenty of room left in the center of the tank for this gourami to swim. They prefer the company of other fish that are similar in size and temperament.

The Giant Gourami is an egg layer and the male will build a bubblenest before spawning. The male and female are distinguished by the dorsal fins and body color. The dorsal fin on the male ends in a point and the body is darker, changing to nearly black during spawning. When breeding, the water in the tank should be decreased to about 8 inches deep and the temperature should be 82°F. After spawning, the female should be removed to a separate tank because the male will jealously guard the eggs, sometimes becoming aggressive towards the female. The eggs will hatch in 24 hours.

The Giant Gourami is omnivorous and prefers algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 72-80° F, pH 6.0-7.5, KH 4-10
Max. Size: 4″
Color Form: Blue, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Assam, Bengal, Burma, India
Family: Belontiidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.

The Licorice Gourami is one of the smallest and most beautifully colored labyrinth fish. The male is much more brightly colored than the female, especially during courtship. The male has vertical stripes in black and silver with iridescent turquoise blue and red in the fins and tail. The female is brownish with black edging the fins. Because it can breathe through its gills it will rarely surface for air, unlike other labyrinth fish. The Licorice Gourami makes a great addition to the accomplished hobbyist’s tank.

The Licorice Gourami requires a well planted tank of at least 20 gallons or larger. It needs soft, slightly acidic water with good filtration. It is a peaceful, gentle fish but does best in a species only tank. If this fish is housed in a community tank it should not be bred. The other fish in the community tank should be peaceful and shy.

The Licorice Gourami is a cave breeder. After spawning, the male will take care of the nest and chase away the female. The larvae will hatch after 72 hours in water temperatures of 77°F, and will be free-swimming within 6 days. The fry will grow very slowly and should be fed infusoria and brine shrimp. They require very clean, pure water.

The Licorice Gourami is an omnivore and prefers both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 74-82° F, pH 5.6-7.2, KH 0-10
Max. Size: 1½”
Color Form: Black, Blue, Red, Tan
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Malaysia, Singapore
Family: Belontiidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.

The Chocolate Gourami is a peaceful fish that is greenish-brown with pearly-yellow stripes running vertically along its body. There is a dark, almost black ’spot’ bordered in yellow at the base of the tail. This gourami makes a rewarding challenge for the advanced hobbyist, especially in breeding pairs.

The Chocolate Gourami is a delicate fish that should be housed in at least a 30 gallon tank. It can be prone to bacteria and skin parasites, so good water quality is essential. The Chocolate Gourami prefers a well-established, thickly planted tank, with peat extract. Frequent water changes are a must. They do best if kept in pairs and are compatible with other shy, peaceful fish as tank mates.

The best way to differentiate between the male and female is the yellow border that extends along the edge of the male’s anal and caudal fins. The Chocolate Gourami is a mouth brooder that is a frugal spawner. The male and female will spawn on the bottom of the tank and the female collects the eggs in her mouth. She will hold the eggs for 14 days during which time she does not eat, therefore, it is important that the female be in top condition before breeding.

The Chocolate Gourami is an omnivore and prefers both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 75-86° F, pH 6.0-7.0, KH 2-4
Max. Size: 2½”
Color Form: Tan, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Borneo, Malacca, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra
Family: Belontiidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.

The Gold Gourami is a color variation of the Blue Gourami that is a deep orange with lighter orange shading. The Gold Gourami also has rust colored markings and is lacking the “spots” of the Blue Gourami. This gourami is a rather peaceful fish that is very comical to watch as a juvenile. Gold Gouramis are considered Labyrinth Fish, meaning they breathe directly from the air and should have access to the surface of the aquarium.

The Gold Gourami can be housed with a variety of tank mates that are of similar size and temperament. While males can be territorial with each other, they become timid around other, more aggressive fish. The ideal tank set-up would be an aquarium of a minimum of 20 gallons and have plenty of live plants as well as rocks and driftwood for use as hiding places.

The best way to differentiate between the male and female Gold Gourami is by the dorsal fin. In the male, the dorsal fin is long and pointed, while the female’s is shorter and rounded. When ready to breed, the male builds a bubblenest and then begins to entice the female by swimming back and forth, flaring his fins and raising his tail. When this behavior is noticed, the water level should be reduced to 6 inches. After spawning the female should be removed to a separate aquarium as the male may become aggressive toward her. The male will tend to the eggs until they hatch, and after hatching, there should be frequent water changes, especially during the third week, as this is when the labyrinth organ is developing. The fry should be fed infusoria and nauplii.

The Gold Gourami is an omnivore and requires both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Water Conditions: 72-82° F, pH 6.0-8.0, KH 4-18
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Orange
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Malaysia, South China Sea
Family: Belontiidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.

The Blue Gourami is also known as the Three-Spot Gourami. This gourami is a rather peaceful fish that is very comical to watch as a juvenile. The Blue Gourami has only two spots, one in the center of the body, and a second at the beginning of the tail. The eye is actually the third “spot” that is referred to in the name. Traditionally silvery blue in color, their colors can change significantly with their moods, as well as during spawning, when they obtain a much deeper blue hue. Blue Gouramis are considered Labyrinth Fish, meaning they breathe directly from the air and should have access to the surface of the aquarium.

The Blue Gourami will be housed with a variety of tank mates that are of similar size and temperament. While males can be territorial with each other, they become timid around other, more aggressive fish. The ideal tank set-up would be an aquarium of a minimum of 20 gallons which has plenty of live plants as well as rocks and driftwood for use as hiding places.

The best way to differentiate between the male and female Blue Gourami is by the dorsal fin. In the male, the dorsal fin is long and pointed, while the female’s is shorter and rounded. When ready to breed, the male builds a bubblenest and then begins to entice the female by swimming back and forth, flaring his fins and raising his tail. When this behavior is noticed, the water level should be reduced to 6 inches. After spawning the female should be removed to a separate aquarium as the male may become aggressive toward her. The male will tend to the eggs until they hatch, and after hatching, there should be frequent water changes, especially during the third week, as this is when the labyrinth organ is developing. The fry should be fed infusoria and nauplii.

The Blue Gourami is an omnivore and requires both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Water Conditions: 72-82° F, pH 6.0-8.8, KH 4-18
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Blue
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Malaysia, South China Sea
Family: Belontiidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.