CheckMyFishTank

Moonlight Gourami care

Trichopodus microlepis · Freshwater · Beginner level care

Moonlight Gourami, painted illustration

A silvery, peaceful gourami that grows fairly large.

Smallest tank55 gallons
Adult size6 inches
Temperature77 to 82°F
pH6 to 7.5
GroupFine on its own
TemperamentPeaceful
SwimsMiddle of the tank
Lives4 to 8 years
Watch for: Males can fight each other in smaller tanks.

Feeding

Twice a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish. Flakes, pellets, frozen foods.

Has long fins that fin nippers target.

Good tank mates

Fish that pass every check with Moonlight Gourami in a 110 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Betta (Female)Betta (Male)Black Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlue AcaraBlue GouramiBoesemani RainbowfishBrilliant RasboraBristlenose Pleco

Do not mix with

  • Rosy Barb: Rosy Barb and Moonlight Gourami need different water temperatures.
  • Gold Barb: Gold Barb and Moonlight Gourami need different water temperatures.
  • White Cloud Mountain Minnow: White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Moonlight Gourami need different water temperatures.
  • Paradise Fish: Paradise Fish and Moonlight Gourami need different water temperatures.
  • Convict Cichlid: Convict Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Moonlight Gourami.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful Moonlight Gourami.
  • Green Terror: Green Terror and Moonlight Gourami need different water temperatures.
  • Red Zebra Cichlid: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Moonlight Gourami.

Questions

What size tank does a Moonlight Gourami need?

At least 55 gallons. Adults grow to about 6 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Moonlight Gourami like?

77 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 Moonlight Gourami should I keep together?

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

What do Moonlight Gourami eat?

Flakes, pellets, frozen foods. Feed twice a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish.

Sources

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