Moonlight gourami care guide
Also called: Moonbeam gourami
The moonlight gourami is a large, peaceful gourami with a shimmering silver body and long thread-like feelers. It grows to about 5.5 in (14 cm), so it needs at least a 29-gallon (110 L) tank, ideally 3 ft (90 cm) long, with plants and calm tank mates.
Moonlight gouramis need a tank of at least 29 gallons (110 L), and water at 25–29°C (77–84°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 14 cm (5.5 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with moonlight gouramisSee all tank mates
Moonlight gourami quick facts
| Scientific name | Trichopodus microlepis |
|---|---|
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Origin | Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand (aquarium fish are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 14 cm (5.5 in) |
| Minimum tank | 29 gallons (110 L), at least 90 cm (35 in) long |
| Temperature | 25–29°C (77–84°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–15 dGH |
| Group size | Alone (only one male) |
| Temperament | Peaceful; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 4–6 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
- Long fins attract fin nippers.
Tank setup
One moonlight gourami needs at least 29 gallons (110 L), and the tank should be about 3 ft (90 cm) long because this fish grows large. A group needs 55 gallons (208 L) or more. Add floating plants, tall plants and wood for shade, and keep the current gentle. Leave an air gap under the lid, since it breathes warm air at the surface.
How many moonlight gouramis in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits moonlight gouramis is a 40 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 | Moonlight gouramis (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Up to 6 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 8 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 12 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 20 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male unless the tank is large and well planned.
What you need for moonlight gouramis
Sized for a 29 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits moonlight gouramis. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 29 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 29 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 242 lb (110 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 150 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 81 °F (27 °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 115–175 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 45 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 30 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 moonlight gouramis
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
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
Keep it warm at 25–29 °C (77–84 °F), with pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to medium-hard water (about 2–15 dGH). Farm-bred fish adapt to most clean tap water. Stable conditions and weekly partial water changes matter more than exact numbers.
Best tank mates for moonlight gouramis
These popular species share moonlight gouramis' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 51 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°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)
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 23–27°C (73–81°F)
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 23–28°C (73–82°F)
Avoid keeping moonlight gouramis with
- Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like moonlight gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
- Cherry shrimp: Moonlight gourami eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of moonlight gouramis.
- Celestial pearl danio: Moonlight gourami can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Feeding
It is an omnivore that eats insects, small crustaceans and plankton in the wild. Feed a quality flake or small pellet as the staple, plus frozen or live bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia a few times a week. Add some vegetable food such as spirulina flake.
Behavior
Moonlight gouramis are calm and rather timid, so pick gentle tank mates of a similar size, such as larger tetras, peaceful barbs, rasboras, corydoras and loaches. Avoid fin nippers like tiger barbs, which target the long feelers, and very small fish that could be eaten. Males can squabble with each other and with other gouramis, so give them room and cover. Watch at feeding time, as faster fish can take all the food.
Breeding
Males have a pointed dorsal fin and orange to red feelers, while females have yellowish feelers and a rounder dorsal fin. The male builds a bubble nest among floating plants in shallow, warm water around 27–29 °C (81–84 °F). Remove the female after spawning and the male once the fry swim freely. Feed the tiny fry infusoria first, then baby brine shrimp.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Plan for a 3 ft (90 cm) tank. The small fish in shops grow to about 5.5 in (14 cm).
- Skip tiger barbs and other fin nippers. They chew on the long feelers.
- Adults may eat tiny fish like chili rasboras and ember tetras, and they hunt small shrimp.
- Soft or feathery plants may get chewed. Java fern, anubias and fast-growing stem plants cope better.
- Floating plants and dim light help this shy fish settle and show off its silver sheen.
Frequently asked questions
How big do moonlight gouramis get?
Most reach about 5 to 6 inches (13–15 cm) in a home aquarium. Plan the tank around the adult size, not the size in the store.
Are moonlight gouramis aggressive?
No, they are peaceful and a bit shy. Males may chase each other or other gouramis, but they rarely bother other species of a similar size.
Can moonlight gouramis live with shrimp?
Not with small shrimp like cherry shrimp, which they will eat. Larger amano shrimp in a densely planted tank have a much better chance.
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.