18 Gourami Fish Types Popular in 2023

Gourami is a well-known fish for aquariums, but there are many varieties and dozens of color morphs. Gourami is fascinating fish. They have a labyrinth organ that allows them to inhale air from the surface of the water. Gourami can be quiet or outgoing, calm or aggressive, large or small, and all depend on their species. They love digging in the soil and removing plants.

Bubble nests are a common feature of Gourami. Males will make floating islands of bubbles in the water to provide a nursery and home for eggs, or even young fry. Mouthbrooders are some Gourami varieties that allow the male to carry eggs in his mouth until they hatch. This reduces the chance of predation.

Gouramis are an omnivore, and they love to eat plants and algae in tanks. Gourami should have fresh vegetables and greens. Gourami, even those who are outgoing, prefer low lighting so they should be kept in areas with little natural light and bright over-tank lighting.

Here are 18 of our most loved and stunning Gourami fish varieties!

1. Kissing Gourami

The kissing Gourami can be easily identified by their upturned lips. They look like they are trying to get a smooch from someone. They may sometimes be seen kissing each other on their lips. However, this is often a male-only display. They come in a variety of colors, including silvery pinks and greens. They can grow up to 12 inches long and can live for seven years or more if taken care of properly. According to some reports, Kissing Gourami can live up to 20 years!

If they start to bully other fish, Kissing Gourami can be considered semi-aggressive. They are tolerant of water conditions outside their comfort zone but prefer tropical waters. They need to be surrounded by fish of the same size as them and not with fish that have similar body shapes. Clown Loaches, Angelfish, Congo Tetras and Rosy, Tiger Barbs, and Rosy are all good options for their tankmates. They need planted tanks that have swimming space and a steady current.

2. Pearl Gourami

The Pearl Gourami is a smaller fish that can only reach around five inches in size. They can live up to five years. They look like they are made of mother-of-pearl, which is how their name came about. They can produce grunts and growls as well as croaks.

Although Pearl Gourami is peaceful fishes, males can be aggressive toward other male Gourami. They are great tankmates with other peaceful, similar-sized fish as well as smaller schooling fish. It is best to have only one male Pearl Gourami in a school when keeping multiple Pearl Gourami. Pearl Gourami can be found near the water’s surface, creating floating bubbles by being bubble nest builders. These fish require tropical water conditions, but they can tolerate a wide range of water hardness.

3. Moonlight Gourami

Their silvery-green, iridescent appearance makes Moonlight Gourami look like shining moonlight. Females might have yellowish tones, while males may have orange or red coloring near their dorsal fins.

Moonlight Gourami are orange-red in coloration of their eyes. Although they are peaceful fish, it is best to keep them with other similar-sized fish. They can bully small fish, particularly males, and will require them to be separated. They do best in tropical tanks that are heavily planted and have a slow current. They can withstand a wide range of water parameters.

4. Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf Gourami is a gorgeous Gourami variety. They can grow to just over 4 inches in length and can live up to five years. They come in a variety of colors, including neon, iridescent, and matte. These fish are resistant to extreme temperature changes and inhospitable water conditions.

Dwarf Gourami thrives in planted tanks with floating plants. They are peaceful fish, but they are not sensitive to bullying or fin-nipping. They can be kept with peaceful fish such as Plecostomus, Mollies, and Loaches as well as invertebrates such as freshwater shrimps or snails.

5. Giant Gourami

Giant Gourami can reach up to 16 inches in length and are a large variety of Gourami. Giant Gourami requires large tanks to swim and they love floating plants. Giant Gouramis are most commonly seen in white or silver shades, but they are also available in other colors.

Giant Gourami is peaceful fish. However, they don’t naturally like to be surrounded by other fish so they can be kept alone in a tank. Giant Gourami is able to recognize people and will allow you to pet them. They are omnivores like other Gouramis but their large size means they can eat larger prey such as earthworms and fish. These fish can eat dead frogs in the wild.

6. Chocolate Gourami

Chocolate Gourami is less resilient than other Gourami varieties. They require special care and can be difficult to maintain. They require tropical temperatures and prefer acidic water (usually between 4.0 and 6.0 pH). They are small, measuring only three inches at most. However, they can live up to eight years.

Chocolate Gouramis are named for their brown coloration. However, they also have three to five yellow or white stripes running the length of their bodies. A tank hood will trap moisture and mimic humid environments. Although they prefer to be kept in planted tanks, this might require some supplementation. Peat may be required to remove minerals and nutrients from the water. This can make it difficult for them to keep their plants healthy.

Chocolate Gourami is a peaceful and slow-moving fish that prefer to go to school, but will often refuse Gourami from other families into their school. They are calm and slow-moving and can be kept with Danios, Loaches, and certain Rasboras.

7. Blue Gourami/Three Spot Gourami

Blue Gourami prefers tropical temperatures and planted tanks. They can grow up to five inches long and live for at least five years. They are whitish-blue with one spot in their middle and one at the base and tail. Their eye is the third spot on Blue Gourami. They can lose their colors if they are stressed.

These fish can be aggressive so they should not be kept with any other Blue Gourami. They can be kept safely with Loaches, Mollies, and Danios of the same size. Blue gouramis are an omnivore and hydra is one of their favorite food. This makes them a good choice to control this pest in tanks.

8. Paradise Gourami

Paradise Gourami measures approximately three inches in height and can live for up to ten years. Their bodies are usually orange-brownish with red and blue stripes. These colors will become brighter during the breeding season. They are also beautiful Gourami options, with long fins. Many people pick them for their looks, but they can be aggressive tankmates.

Paradise Gourami is known for their aggressive behavior towards other Gourami. However, they will sometimes attack tankmates and kill other fish. They prefer to be surrounded by calmer fish such as Comet and Common goldfish, or certain Cichlid species. You can keep them with peaceful, large fish, such as Clown Loaches and Bristlenose Plecostomus, that are kept near the bottom. They are attracted to tropical water temperatures and heavily planted tanks.

9. Snakeskin Gourami

Snakeskin Gourami is known for its shimmery snakeskin appearance. They can grow up to 10 inches long and can live up to six years. They prefer warm water but can tolerate changing water parameters. They like to swim in a large, planted tank with floating plants.

They are large but peaceful fish that can be kept with Loaches and Barbs. These fish are peaceful but will eat live prey so they should not be kept with other fish. If the Snakeskin Gourami feels the need to compete for space or food, overstocking the tank could also lead to aggressive tendencies.

10. Sparkling Gourami/Pygmy Gourami

Sparkling Gourami is possibly the smallest type of Gourami. They are usually less than two inches long. They can live up to five years, and they are quite peaceful. They make a great addition to tanks because they are bright and shiny and have speckles and stripes. Their bodies resemble a Betta and are slimmer than other Gourami. Sparkling Gourami doesn’t require large schools but prefers to live with five to six other Sparkling Gourami.

This Gourami is not like most and prefers to swim all around the tank. Sparkling Gourami is similar to Pearl Gourami and can vocalize, grunt, and chirp when they’re happy. Sparkling Gourami can tolerate temperatures of 71 to 80°F. They prefer large, well-lit tanks that have plenty of space for swimming at all levels. They prefer to be housed with slow, smaller tankmates, such as Tetras and Tetras that aren’t prone to nipping fins.

11. Betta

Betta fish is a popular freshwater fish, but many people don’t know they are a Gourami species. They can live up to five years and are only three inches long when fully grown. They can withstand low oxygen levels and are very resilient. There are many color options and the males come in beautiful, long fins. Females have smaller, less colorful fins.

Male Bettas are aggressive and should be kept alone. However, they can sometimes be kept in community tanks with calm fish that don’t look like other Bettas. Although female Bettas can be kept together with male Bettas it is best to make sure there are plenty of hiding spots and plants in case of aggression from male Bettas. Separate aggressive male Bettas from other fish. Bettas can eat almost all vegetables, but they are also omnivores.

12. Sunset Gourami/Honey Gourami

Sunset Gouramis can grow to three inches long and can live up to eight years if they are well cared for. Females tend to be silvery or grayish in color, while males are honey-gold with black markings. They look similar to Dwarf Gourami. They are an excellent choice for beginners as they are hardy and peaceful. They like water temperatures between 71 and 80°F, lots of plants, and space for swimming.

Sunset Gourami uses a unique hunting method where they float at a diagonal angle to the surface of the water. They will splash water on prey to knock it into the water, then eat it. They can be slow and they love being with Sunset Gourami. They can be kept with Corydoras or Danios, which are peaceful fish.

13. Samurai Gourami

Samurai Gourami requires similar care to Chocolate Gourami. They prefer acidic water with low mineral content and nutrient. However, they are slightly more resilient than Chocolate Gourami. To create an acidic environment, peat might be required. Almond leaves can be added to the water to help them create the blackwater environment that they like. Samurai Gourami’s females are distinctive in that they are more colorful than their male counterparts. The body color of males is usually grey or brownish, while the females have vertical red or yellow bars. Although this is a peaceful Gourami species, the females are more dominant than the males. Samurai can grow up to 2 inches long and can live up to 8 years. Samurai are shy and will only tolerate a well-tended tank that has lots of hiding spots. You can hide them in caves or driftwood.

Samurai Gourami, one of the few types of Gourami, are mouthbrooders. This means that after the female has laid eggs, the male takes the eggs and holds them in the mouth until they hatch. It can take anywhere from one to three days. During this time, he will not eat. This Gourami variety prefers frozen or live food but can eat freeze-dried food. They are often resistant to eating flakes and pellets.

14. Powder Blue Gourami

Powder Blue Gourami is a shy type of Dwarf Gourami. They can grow to as long as 7 years and reach a length of 3 inches. They are beautiful shades of powder blue, and they have no markings, unlike other Gourami. They are a good choice for beginners as they are very hardy. They like tropical plants with floating plants. They should be kept in a quiet place as they can get stressed easily by sudden or loud noises. You can house them with slow-moving, peaceful fish such as Rasboras and Corydoras or some Loaches, small Rainbowfish, Tetras, and some Loaches.

15. Licorice Gourami

Licorice Gouramis have similar body shapes to female Bettas. They can reach two inches in length. The fins of males are usually striped in black or silver along the length of the body. The fins of females are typically solid brown and have black markings. This Gourami variety, unlike most, spawns in caves. Therefore, tanks should include plenty of rocks caves and plants. They are comfortable with water temperatures between 71 and 78@F. They can also tolerate moderate to slow currents. They are calm and happy in a tank that is only their species. They should not be kept with any other tankmates.

16. Gold Gourami

The Gold Gourami is a color morph from the Blue Gourami. Also known as the Three-Spot Gourami, the Gold Gourami is a color variation of the Blue Gourami. They are a golden color with few markings. They require the same care as Blue Gourami. They can live up to five years and grow up to five inches long. Their colors can fade if they are stressed, so it is important to ensure that your environment is stress-free. They can be quite aggressive so they should only be kept with calm fish like Mollies and Loaches.

17. Opaline Gourami

Opaline Gourami is another color variation of Blue Gourami. Both males and females have a light shade of blue, with darker marbling around the body. Their backs are often dark. They can grow up to six inches long and can live up to seven years. They are similar to Blue Gourami or Gold Gourami in terms of care. Opaline Gourami, like both, are moderately aggressive, particularly the males. As they age, their aggression can increase.

18. Thick-Lipped Gourami

Thick-Lipped Gourami is a less-known type of Gourami. However, they are tough and peaceful making them an excellent choice for beginners. They can grow up to four inches long and can live for eight years. They are often brown- or gold-colored Gourami with turquoise or blue fins. This makes them one of the most beautiful and colorful Gourami varieties. They are closely related to Sunset Gourami. They are happy in tropical plants with floating plants.

Last Thoughts on Gourami

Gourami fish are fascinating and fun to interact with. These fish are not for the weak of the heart. They can be difficult to care for and aggressive behavior can cause problems with all Gourami varieties. If they get aggressive, they may need to be removed from their tank mates.

Gourami fish are very unique, and it can be challenging to find the right Gourami fish for your home aquarium. Gourami, just like all fish, should be kept in quarantine after being brought home. They also need to be monitored for signs and symptoms of the disease. With proper care, their vibrant colors will come out once they have settled in their new homes. You might get a chirp from some of them or a chance to pat them on the head.