Dwarf Gourami care

Trichogaster lalius · Freshwater · Intermediate level care

A colorful, calm gourami for a planted community tank.

Smallest tank20 gallons

Adult size3 inches

Temperature75 to 82°F

pH6 to 7.5

GroupFine on its own

TemperamentPeaceful

SwimsTop of the tank

Lives3 to 5 years

Watch for: Many carry disease from mass breeding, so quarantine new ones. Males fight each other.

Feeding

Twice a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes. Flakes, small pellets, frozen foods.

Claims a territory and guards it.

Jumps. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

Fish that pass every check with Dwarf Gourami in a 40 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Tinfoil Barb: Tinfoil Barb grows big enough to eat Dwarf Gourami.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow: White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Dwarf Gourami need different water temperatures.
Convict Cichlid: Convict Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Dwarf Gourami.
Oscar: Oscar grows big enough to eat Dwarf Gourami.
Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey grows big enough to eat Dwarf Gourami.
Severum: Severum grows big enough to eat Dwarf Gourami.
Green Terror: Green Terror grows big enough to eat Dwarf Gourami.
Red Zebra Cichlid: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Dwarf Gourami.

What size tank does a Dwarf Gourami need?

At least 20 gallons. Adults grow to about 3 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Dwarf Gourami like?

75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.

How many Dwarf Gourami should I keep together?

One is fine. If you keep more, keep one male, since males fight each other.

What do Dwarf Gourami eat?

Flakes, small pellets, frozen foods. Feed twice a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes.

Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.