Gold Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) — Complete Care Guide
The Gold Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is one of the most charming and beginner-friendly freshwater fish available in the hobby. A selectively bred color variant of the wild Honey Gourami, the Gold form displays a warm, golden-yellow body that glows under aquarium lighting. Small, peaceful, and easy to care for, it is an ideal centerpiece fish for nano and community aquariums alike.
Ready to add one to your tank? Shop our Cute Gold Honey Gourami — available now at BioAcuatica. We also carry the Super Red Honey Gourami for those who love the red color variant.
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Trichogaster chuna (syn. Colisa chuna)
- Common names: Gold Honey Gourami, Honey Dwarf Gourami
- Family: Osphronemidae
- Origin: South Asia — India and Bangladesh (Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins)
- Adult size: 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm)
- Lifespan: 4–8 years with proper care
- Difficulty: Beginner
Tank Size & Setup
Gold Honey Gouramis are small fish that thrive in well-planted aquariums. A minimum of 10 gallons is suitable for a pair, with 20+ gallons recommended for a small group or community setup. They prefer calm, heavily planted environments:
- Dense planting with floating plants (Java moss, frogbit, water sprite) — they love surface cover
- Driftwood and leaf litter for a natural feel and tannins
- Dark substrate to bring out their golden coloration
- Gentle filtration — they dislike strong currents (a sponge filter or low-flow HOB is ideal)
- A tight-fitting lid — they are labyrinth fish that breathe air at the surface and can jump
Water Parameters
Honey Gouramis come from slow-moving, warm, slightly acidic waters in South Asia:
- Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
- pH: 6.0–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral preferred)
- Hardness: 4–15 dGH
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: <20 ppm
Perform 20–25% water changes weekly. They are sensitive to sudden parameter swings, so acclimate new fish slowly. Adding Indian almond leaves or driftwood to lower pH naturally is beneficial.
Diet & Feeding
Gold Honey Gouramis are omnivores with small mouths. Feed appropriately sized foods:
- High-quality micro-pellets or small flake food as a staple
- Frozen or live micro-foods: baby brine shrimp, daphnia, micro-worms, bloodworms (crushed or small)
- Blanched vegetables: zucchini, spinach (finely chopped)
Feed small amounts 2x daily. Their small mouths mean they cannot eat standard-sized pellets — always use micro or nano-sized foods.
Temperament & Behavior
Gold Honey Gouramis are extremely peaceful and one of the most gentle fish in the hobby. Males may display mild sparring behavior with each other (flaring fins, chasing) but rarely cause injury. They are labyrinth fish, meaning they have a specialized organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air — you will regularly see them rise to the surface to gulp air, which is completely normal.
Males in breeding condition develop a vivid orange-red throat and belly, making them even more striking. They are bubble nest builders — males construct a nest of bubbles at the surface under floating plants and guard the eggs.
Compatible Tankmates
Their small size and peaceful nature mean tankmate selection is important — they can be bullied or outcompeted by more boisterous fish:
- Small peaceful tetras (Ember tetras, Neon tetras, Chili rasboras)
- Corydoras catfish
- Otocinclus catfish
- Small rasboras (Harlequin, Lambchop)
- Dwarf shrimp (with caution — they may eat small shrimp)
- Other small, peaceful gouramis
Avoid fin-nippers (Tiger Barbs, Serpae Tetras), large or aggressive fish, and boisterous species that will stress them out.
Breeding
Gold Honey Gouramis are bubble nest builders and relatively easy to breed in a well-set-up aquarium:
- Raise temperature slightly to 80–82°F
- Ensure floating plants are present for nest building
- Feed a high-protein diet (live or frozen foods) to condition the pair
- The male builds a bubble nest and courts the female with elaborate displays
- After spawning, remove the female — the male guards the nest aggressively
- Fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial fry food for the first week
Common Health Issues
- Velvet (Oodinium): A common disease in gouramis. Look for a gold or rust-colored dust on the body. Treat with copper-based medication in a quarantine tank.
- Ich: Treat with heat therapy (raise to 86°F for 2 weeks) or medication.
- Bacterial infections: Usually caused by poor water quality. Maintain clean water and quarantine new fish before adding to the main tank.
Ready to Add Gold Honey Gouramis to Your Tank?
The Gold Honey Gourami is one of the best fish for planted tanks, nano aquariums, and peaceful community setups. BioAcuatica carries carefully conditioned specimens ready for your aquarium:
- Cute Gold Honey Gourami — 1 inch, Unsexed (Trichogaster chuna)
- Super Red Honey Gourami — 1 to 1.5 inches (Trichogaster chuna)
All fish ship with a live arrival guarantee. Contact us with any questions about compatibility or tank setup before ordering.