Fish
Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna · also called honey gouramis
Flushing a warm honey-orange across its body as the breeding season begins, a male honey gourami briefly transforms from a subdued, easily overlooked little fish into one of the most colourful small gouramis kept in aquariums anywhere in the world.
Overview
The honey gourami, Trichogaster chuna, is a small, peaceful labyrinth fish native to still, densely vegetated wetland habitat across parts of India, Bangladesh, and neighbouring regions of South Asia. Its compact size, calm temperament, and dramatic seasonal transformation into warm honey-orange breeding colouration in males make it one of the most consistently recommended small gouramis for a quiet community aquarium.
A quiet fish with one dramatic season
For most of the year the honey gourami blends in with subdued, unremarkable colouring, but as the breeding season arrives, males undergo a striking transformation into vivid honey-orange, a temporary display aimed squarely at attracting a mate.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable wetland habitat throughout South Asia.
Honey Gourami: common questions
Why is it called the honey gourami?
Males of this species develop a warm, honey-orange colouring across much of the body during the breeding season, a striking seasonal transformation from their more subdued everyday colouring that gives the species its descriptive common name.
Is the honey gourami suitable for a small aquarium?
Yes, this species is among the smallest gouramis commonly kept in aquariums and is considered notably calm and peaceful, making it well suited to a smaller, quieter community aquarium alongside other small, non-aggressive fish.
Does the honey gourami look the same all year round?
No, outside the breeding season males typically show more subdued colouring similar to females, and it is only during courtship that males develop their signature warm, honey-orange body colour, a temporary seasonal display rather than a permanent feature.
Where is the honey gourami found in the wild?
This species is native to still, densely vegetated wetland habitat across parts of India, Bangladesh, and neighbouring regions of South Asia, where it forages among thick aquatic plants for small invertebrates and organic matter.