Red tailed Golden Honey Dwarf Gourami

Red-Tailed Golden Dwarf Honey Gouramis are beautiful tropical freshwater fish known for their vibrant golden-yellow bodies, warm orange-red colouring around their fins and gentle personalities. Their striking colour combinations and graceful swimming movements make them a wonderful addition to peaceful community aquariums.

These charming little gouramis are naturally curious and often spend their time exploring aquatic plants, swimming through sheltered areas and investigating their surroundings.

Unlike some larger gourami varieties, true Honey Gouramis are generally peaceful and well suited to smaller, carefully planned tropical aquariums.

Scientific Name: Trichogaster chuna (assuming the true Golden Honey Gourami variety)

Care Level: Easy to moderate

Temperament: Peaceful, shy and occasionally territorial

Maximum Size: Approximately 5–6 cm

Lifespan: Approximately 3–5 years with proper care

Minimum Tank Size:

A minimum of 40 litres is recommended for a single Honey Gourami, although a 60-litre aquarium or larger is preferred for additional swimming space and more stable water conditions.

For pairs or small groups, a larger, well-planted aquarium of approximately 75–80 litres or more is recommended.

Honey Gouramis naturally inhabit slow-moving, heavily vegetated waterways. They appreciate aquariums with plenty of live plants, floating vegetation, driftwood and sheltered hiding places.

Gentle water movement is particularly important, as they prefer calm areas where they can explore and rest comfortably.

How Many Should Be Kept Together?

Honey Gouramis can be kept individually, in compatible pairs or in carefully managed small groups.

A single Honey Gourami can make an excellent centrepiece for a peaceful community aquarium.

Pairs consisting of one male and one female may also be suitable, although males can become territorial during breeding.

In larger aquariums, a group consisting of one male and two or more females may work well when sufficient hiding places and visual barriers are provided.

Multiple males may compete for territory, particularly in smaller aquariums, so careful consideration should be given to group composition.

Ideal Water Temperature:

23–28°C, with approximately 25–26°C being an excellent target for everyday care.

Honey Gouramis are tropical fish and require a reliable aquarium heater to maintain a consistent temperature.

Water Conditions:

Honey Gouramis thrive in clean, stable freshwater with gentle filtration and plenty of plant cover.

• Ideal pH: Approximately 6.0–7.5

• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard

• Water Flow: Gentle to low

• Ammonia and Nitrite: 0 ppm

• Aquarium: Fully cycled and well maintained

Like other gouramis, they possess a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air directly from the water's surface.

They must always have clear access to the surface, even in a well-oxygenated aquarium.

Diet:

Honey Gouramis are omnivores and enjoy a varied diet consisting of both plant-based and protein-rich foods.

Quality tropical flakes or small pellets should form the foundation of their diet, supplemented with occasional frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia.

Their relatively small mouths mean appropriately sized foods are important.

Feed small portions and avoid overfeeding to help maintain good water quality.

Compatibility:

Red-Tailed Golden Dwarf Honey Gouramis are generally excellent community fish and are best suited to peaceful aquarium companions.

Suitable tank mates may include:

• Neon Tetras

• Ember Tetras

• Harlequin Rasboras

• Small, peaceful Danios

• Corydoras Catfish suited to similar water temperatures

• Peaceful freshwater snails

Avoid housing them with large, aggressive or particularly boisterous fish.

Fin-nipping species such as Tiger Barbs may cause stress or damage their delicate fins.

Things to Be Cautious Of:

• Territorial Behaviour: Although generally peaceful, males may become territorial towards other gouramis, particularly during breeding.

• Strong Water Flow: Honey Gouramis prefer calm water and may become stressed in aquariums with excessive current.

• Aggressive Tank Mates: Their gentle nature makes them vulnerable to bullying from larger or more aggressive fish.

• Hiding Places: These fish appreciate plenty of plants, floating vegetation and shaded areas. Bare aquariums may cause stress and shyness.

• Surface Access: Honey Gouramis breathe atmospheric air using their labyrinth organ and must always have unobstructed access to the water's surface.

• Poor Water Quality: They require stable water conditions and should only be introduced into fully cycled aquariums.

• Breeding Behaviour: Males may build bubble nests among floating plants and become more protective of their chosen territory during breeding.

• Colour Variation: The intensity of their golden and reddish colouring may vary depending on age, sex, breeding condition and individual genetics.

Helpful Notes:

Red-Tailed Golden Dwarf Honey Gouramis are a fantastic choice for aquarists wanting a peaceful, colourful and interesting centrepiece fish.

Their warm golden bodies and contrasting red-orange fins create a beautiful display against lush green aquatic plants and darker aquarium backgrounds.

These gentle fish are particularly enjoyable to watch in planted aquariums where they can explore, establish small territories and display their natural behaviours.

Providing clean, warm water, gentle filtration, floating plants and peaceful tank mates will help encourage their confidence and beautiful colouring.