Dwarf gourami care guide
Also called: Powder blue gourami, Flame gourami, Red dwarf gourami, Neon blue dwarf gourami, Cobalt blue dwarf gourami
The dwarf gourami is a 3 in (7.5 cm) labyrinth fish whose males shine electric blue and red. It suits a calm, planted community tank of 15 gallons (57 L) or more. Keep only one male, and buy with care: many farmed fish carry disease.
Dwarf gouramis need a tank of at least 15 gallons (57 L), and water at 24–28°C (75–82°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 7.5 cm (3 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with dwarf gouramisSee all tank mates
Dwarf gourami quick facts
| Scientific name | Trichogaster lalius |
|---|---|
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Origin | Slow, plant-filled waters of Pakistan, northern India and Bangladesh (almost all aquarium fish are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 7.5 cm (3 in) |
| Minimum tank | 15 gallons (57 L), at least 60 cm (24 in) long |
| Temperature | 24–28°C (75–82°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 4–15 dGH |
| Group size | Alone (only one male) |
| Temperament | Peaceful; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Long fins attract fin nippers.
Tank setup
One dwarf gourami, or a male with one or two females, needs at least a 15 gallon (57 L) tank about 24 in (60 cm) long. Plant it well and add floating plants, because these fish like dim light and cover near the surface. Keep the filter outflow gentle and leave a small air gap under the lid so they can gulp warm, humid air.
How many dwarf gouramis in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits dwarf gouramis is a 15 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Dwarf gouramis (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Up to 6 |
| 20 gallon | Up to 8 |
| 20 gallon long | Up to 8 |
| 29 gallon | Up to 12 |
| 40 gallon | Up to 17 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 24 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 33 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 55 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male unless the tank is large and well planned.
What you need for dwarf gouramis
Sized for a 15 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits dwarf gouramis. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 15 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 75 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 79 °F (26 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 60–90 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 35 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 24 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for dwarf gouramis
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
Product links go to Amazon search results. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Water parameters
Aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and about 4–15 dGH. Farm-bred fish adapt to most tap water, but they cope badly with dirty or unstable water. Change 25–30% of the water weekly and only add them to a fully cycled, mature tank.
Best tank mates for dwarf gouramis
These popular species share dwarf gouramis' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 61 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 23–28°C (73–82°F)
Avoid keeping dwarf gouramis with
- Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like dwarf gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
- Cherry shrimp: Dwarf gourami eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Dwarf gourami 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Dwarf gourami 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat dwarf gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of dwarf gouramis.
Feeding
They are omnivores that feed at the surface and in mid-water. Use a quality flake or small floating pellet as the base, plus frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp a few times a week. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and check that faster tank mates are not taking it all.
Behavior
Most are calm with other species, but males claim the upper part of the tank and fight each other hard. Some males also chase bettas, other gouramis and bright, long-finned fish such as fancy guppies. Their long, thread-like feelers attract nippers, so skip tiger barbs and serpae tetras. Good tank mates are small peaceful schooling fish, corydoras, otocinclus and loaches, but not dwarf shrimp, which they hunt.
Breeding
Males are larger and brightly colored with longer dorsal and anal fins; females are smaller and silvery grey. The male builds a bubble nest among floating plants, spawns with the female under it and guards the eggs. Use a separate shallow tank at about 27–28 °C (80–82 °F), remove the female after spawning and the male once the fry swim. Feed the tiny fry infusoria first, then baby brine shrimp.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Buy only alert, colorful fish that are eating. Skip tanks with dark, hiding or thin dwarf gouramis, and quarantine new ones for a few weeks.
- Keep one male per tank unless the tank is large and heavily planted.
- Females are calmer than males and are often a better pick for a busy community tank.
- Floating plants such as frogbit or salvinia make them feel safe and give males a place to build bubble nests.
- A lid keeps the air above the water warm and humid, which suits these air-breathing fish.
Frequently asked questions
Can two male dwarf gouramis live together?
Usually not. Males fight over the surface area, and the weaker one gets chased, nipped and stressed. Keep one male, or one male with females in a large planted tank.
Why do dwarf gouramis die so easily?
Many mass-bred dwarf gouramis carry dwarf gourami iridovirus or bacterial infections, which are hard or impossible to cure. Choose healthy-looking fish, quarantine them, and keep the water clean and stable.
Can a dwarf gourami live with a betta?
It is not a good idea. Both are territorial labyrinth fish that live near the surface, and they often fight. Choose one of them as the centerpiece fish.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.