Trichogaster lalius
Centrepiece fish for a planted 60-cm cube, a labyrinth breather that thrives in still water with floating plants for bubble nest cover. Sadly prone to Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus; buy from quality breeders only and avoid the heavily inbred 'flame' and 'neon' strains if you can find a wild-type or honey instead.
Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) reaches 6–8 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 75 L. Native to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, it lives in the mid to top water column with a peaceful (males territorial with other gouramis) temperament. Aim for 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 4–15 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 3–5 years with good care. Dwarf Gourami can be kept singly or in a small group. Diet: omnivore, Micro pellets, flake, frozen bloodworms, daphnia. Will pick at algae. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Mostly (may eat shrimplets).
Care at a glance
Centrepiece fish for a planted 60-cm cube, a labyrinth breather that thrives in still water with floating plants for bubble nest cover. Sadly prone to Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus; buy from quality breeders only and avoid the heavily inbred 'flame' and 'neon' strains if you can find a wild-type or honey instead.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
The parameters that decide whether dwarf gourami fits in your tank.
Mid to Top
No
Keep as a bonded pair
Osphronemidae
Omnivore
Micro pellets, flake, frozen bloodworms, daphnia. Will pick at algae.
3–5 yrs
Medium
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) needs a minimum tank of 75 L. They live in the mid to top water column and can be kept singly, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 4–15 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: Mostly (may eat shrimplets). Plant safety: Yes.
Dwarf Gourami are omnivore. Micro pellets, flake, frozen bloodworms, daphnia. Will pick at algae.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled. Breeding difficulty: medium.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 3–5 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
