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Honey GouramiHoney Dwarf Gourami ~ Red Flame Honey GouramiFamily: Osphronemidae Trichogaster chunaLatest Reader Comment - See More I own 1 flame gourami and i am not sure if I like this fish or not. Every where on the net I have read it to be peaceful ect, but that is not true at all mine is... (more) michelle One established, the Honey Gourami is a beautiful fish and very desirable for a smaller aquarium!Honey Gourami Contents The Honey Gourami are pretty little fish that are fairly easy to maintain. They are not as popular as their close relative the Dwarf Gourami. This is presumably due to the fact that their coloring is quite bland in a retail setting, they may even be mistaken for female Dwarf Gouramis. However once they become acclimated and comfortable in their own environment, their truly beautiful colors begin to come out. They have a great appetite and are not in the least bit picky about what foods they will eat. The Honey Gouramis are the smallest members of the Colisa genus. Males will only reach about 1 1/2" and the larger females will grow no more than 2". Being a peaceful fish makes them a good addition to a community tank but they can be a little timid, especially if housed with fish that pester them. These fish are very desirable for a smaller aquarium. Be sure to provide them with lots of plant cover so they have plenty of places to hide. Ideally place plants along the back of the aquarium, have some floating plants, and leave open spaces in the front for them to swim. Characteristic of all the Labyrinth fishes, the Honey Gourami is a bubble nest builder. It does not use vegetation in its nest as the Dwarf Gourami does, but it will build the nest under a leaf if available. There are a couple of behaviors that are unique to this species. In courting the male is not as aggressive towards the female as the Dwarf Gourami. Rather he will display vertically in front of the female, then swim towards the nest a bit to encourage her to follow. He will repeat the displaying and swimming until they reach the nest and begin to spawn. The male will also spit water droplets in both brood care and to catch prey. Spitting water above the nest bubbles forces them down into the water where he can arrange them back in the nest. The beautiful Red Flame Honey Gourami is a variety of the Honey Gourami. It looks similar to the Honey Gourami but has a bright blue dorsal fin. The Honey Gourami is also more orange than red and has a darker belly and dorsal fin. For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Honey Gourami or Honey Dwarf Gourami was first described by Hamilton, F. [Buchanan] in 1822 as Colisa Chuna, today it is described as Trichogaster chuna. This fish It is found in the rivers and lakes of Asia: India and Bangladesh. They typically inhabit areas with thick vegetation in soft, mineral poor waters.
This term Colisa Soto has also been used to describe the female of this species. Reportedly there is also a species described as Colisa Soto that has rarely been imported. But whether this fish is the female of this species or a separate species that deserves special ranking has not yet been determined.
- Scientific Name: Trichogaster chuna
- Social Grouping: Groups - Can be kept singly, in pairs, or groups. If kept in a group make sure there are plenty of hiding places to keep one or more of the individuals from being bullied.
- IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed
The body of the Honey Gourami is somewhat compressed and similar to that of the Dwarf Gourami, though slightly narrower and the dorsal and anal fins are not as large. The ventral fins are threadlike and extremely sensitive. The basic coloring is a silvery gray to light yellow with a light brown horizontal band mid body. Females retain this coloring while males develop more coloration when in nest building and spawning mode. The sides of the male's body, the anal and caudal fins, and the posterior portion of the dorsal fin will become bright honey-yellow or reddish-orange. The dorsal fin will become a brighter gold and the face, throat, and belly will become bluish black.This fish has a labyrinth organ, a part of the fish which allows it to absorb atmospheric oxygen directly into the bloodstream.
- Maximum Size: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) - Two inches (5 cm) is a good length for this gourami to reach in the aquarium, though females can get slightly larger up to two and a half inches (6.4 cm). The Honey Gourami is the smallest member of the Colisa genus.
- Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
- Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
Since the Honey Gouramis are omnivores, these fish will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a quality flake or pellet food as the base to the diet. Supplement this with live foods such as white worms, blood worms, brine shrimp, or any other suitable substitute. Vegetable tablets can be offered as well.
These gouramis are fairly hardy fish. Although the labyrinth organ allows the fish to survive in oxygen depleted water, it is a common misconception that this makes water changes unnecessary. This is hardly the case as these fish will suffer the same tissue damage from built up toxins as any other fish. Regular water changes are a must with 25% weekly being recommended.
The tank should be decorated in a manner that provides plenty of hiding places for this shy fish to live happily. They appreciate dense vegetation and the cover of floating plants. They can be housed in smaller aquariums. The minimum size is 5 gallons for a single fish, but a pair will need at least a 20 gallon tank.
- Diet Type: Omnivore
- Flake Food: Yes
- Tablet Pellet: Yes
- Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
- Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
- Meaty Food: Some of Diet
- Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day
- Water Changes: Monthly
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gal (38 L)
- Substrate Type: Any
- Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
- Temperature: 72.0 - 82.0° F (22.2 - 27.8° C) - Keep the surrounding room temperature consistent with the water temperature to avoid causing trauma to the labyrinth organ.
- Breeding Temperature: 80° F
- Range ph: 6.0-7.5 - 7.0 for breeding.
- Hardness Range: 4 - 15 dGH - 8 ° dGH for breeding.
- Brackish: No
- Water Movement: Weak
- Water Region: All - These fish will swim in primarily in the middle and top portions of the aquarium.
The Honey Gourami are generally a good community fish. They are timid, however, and may take a bit of time to become comfortable in an aquarium and come out of hiding. Keep them with other peaceful fish. Once they are happily established the male's coloring will begin to show.
- Venomous: No
- Temperament: Peaceful
The male becomes much more colorful when in breeding mode. The female is larger than the male, but her coloring does not change. Pairs will generally swim together.
Like most fish in this family, Honey Gouramis are bubble nest builders. It does not use vegetation in its nest as the Dwarf Gourami does, but it will build the nest under a leaf if available. In courting the male is not as aggressive towards the female as the Dwarf Gourami. Rather he will display vertically in front of the female, then swim towards the nest a bit encouraging her to follow. He will repeat the displaying and swimming until they reach the nest and begin to spawn.
The eggs as well as the fry, are lighter than water and float to the top. The male will spit water droplets above the nest bubbles forces them down into the water where he can arrange them back in the nest.
See the description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.
- Ease of Breeding: Moderate
The Honey Gourami or Honey Dwarf Gourami is generally available, though not seen as regularly as the Dwarf Gourami. Males will be about $4 - $7 USD each with females (or purchasing by the pair) usually being a little less.
Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants
Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants
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