Tank mates
Chocolate Gourami tank mates
Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
The best tank mates for the Chocolate Gourami, matched on temperature, pH and temperament, with the reason each species fits.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Chocolate Gourami tank mates
The Chocolate Gourami is an easy-going community fish that settles best around 26 to 30 °C and pH 4 to 6.5. Good tank mates are species happy in that same water that won't nip it or get eaten. From the catalogue that comes to 73 fish, 83 plants, 1 shrimp and 13 mosses, each listed below with why it works. Match those numbers, keep group sizes sensible, and you've got a peaceful tank.
Compatible fish
Showing 15 of 73- Black Neon TetraHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Black Phantom TetraHyphessobrycon megalopterusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Black Skirt TetraGymnocorymbus ternetziTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Bloodfin TetraAphyocharax anisitsiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Bronze CorydorasCorydoras aeneusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Buenos Aires TetraHyphessobrycon anisitsiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Cherry BarbPuntius titteyaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- False Julii CoryCorydoras trilineatusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Florida FlagfishJordanella floridaeTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Glowlight TetraHemigrammus erythrozonusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Harlequin RasboraTrigonostigma heteromorphaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Honey GouramiTrichogaster chunaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Lemon TetraHyphessobrycon pulchripinnisTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Pearl DanioDanio albolineatusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Penguin TetraThayeria boehlkeiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
Compatible plants
Showing 12 of 83- Amazon FrogbitLimnobium laevigatumTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anacharis (Elodea)Egeria densaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias BarteriAnubias barteri var. barteriTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias Barteri 'Petite'Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias Barteri NanaAnubias barteri var. nanaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias CoffeefoliaAnubias barteri 'Coffeefolia'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Aponogeton CrispusAponogeton crispusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Asian AmbuliaLimnophila sessilifloraTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Bacopa CarolinianaBacopa carolinianaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Bacopa MonnieriBacopa monnieriTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Brazilian PennywortHydrocotyle leucocephalaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Cryptocoryne WalkeriCryptocoryne walkeriTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
Compatible shrimp
1 matchCompatible mosses
Showing 8 of 13- Java MossTaxiphyllum barbieriTemp ✓pH ✓
- Christmas MossVesicularia montagneiTemp ✓pH ✓
- Round PelliaMonosolenium tenerumTemp ✓pH ✓
- Singapore MossVesicularia dubyanaTemp ✓pH ✓
- Spiky MossTaxiphyllum sp. 'Spiky'Temp ✓pH ✓
- Stringy MossLeptodictyum ripariumTemp ✓pH ✓
- Süßwassertang / Mini PelliaLomariopsis lineataTemp ✓pH ✓
- Flame MossTaxiphyllum 'Flame'Temp ✓pH ✓
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
What can live with Chocolate Gourami?
Peaceful species that share its water. Good picks from the catalogue include Black Neon Tetra, Black Phantom Tetra and Black Skirt Tetra, plus compatible plants, shrimp and mosses. The full list with reasons is above.
How many Chocolate Gourami should you keep together?
The Chocolate Gourami is a schooling fish, so keep a group of at least 4. A bigger group looks better and the fish feel safer, so they colour up and stop hiding.
Are Chocolate Gourami shrimp-safe?
Mostly. Adult shrimp are usually fine with the Chocolate Gourami, but shrimplets can be eaten, so give a breeding colony plenty of moss and cover.
Do Chocolate Gourami eat plants?
No. The Chocolate Gourami is plant-safe, so it won't tear up a planted tank. That's why so many plants show up in the list above.