Tank mates for thick-lipped gouramis

We checked thick-lipped gouramis against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for thick-lipped gouramis include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid betta fish, cherry shrimp and common goldfish: betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like thick-lipped gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.

Thick-lipped gouramis: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 9 cm (3.5 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full thick-lipped gourami care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (83)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (43)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Dwarf gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
    • Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase thick-lipped gouramis, which use the same area.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Zebra danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Thick-lipped gourami hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black skirt tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Clown loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Denison barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Thick-lipped gourami hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Rosy barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat thick-lipped gouramis, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
    • Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase thick-lipped gouramis, which use the same area.
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • African butterfly fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase thick-lipped gouramis, which use the same area.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Thick-lipped gourami hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
    • Black ghost knifefish may eat thick-lipped gouramis, especially young or small ones.
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black phantom tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Dwarf chain loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Thick-lipped gourami may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
    • Dwarf orange crayfish sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Giant danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Gold barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Odessa barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Penguin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Thick-lipped gourami may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Thick-lipped gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Black ruby barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • Glowlight danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Pearl danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (23)

  • Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like thick-lipped gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Cherry shrimp: Thick-lipped gourami eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Thick-lipped gourami 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat thick-lipped 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 thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Thick-lipped gourami 23–27°C (73–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Thick-lipped gouramis don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Thick-lipped gouramis don't belong in that setup.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Thick-lipped gouramis don't belong in that setup.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Thick-lipped gourami 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Buenos Aires tetra: Buenos Aires tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Thick-lipped gourami eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Thick-lipped gouramis don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat thick-lipped gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Thick-lipped gouramis don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Paradise fish: Paradise fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like thick-lipped gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Serpae tetra: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Thick-lipped gouramis don't belong in that setup.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with thick-lipped gouramis?

Good tank mates for thick-lipped gouramis include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat thick-lipped gouramis.

Can thick-lipped gouramis live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can thick-lipped gouramis live with bettas?

No. Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like thick-lipped gouramis, mistaking them for rivals. Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase thick-lipped gouramis, which use the same area.

Can thick-lipped gouramis live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can thick-lipped gouramis live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.