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wikiHow to Care for a Dwarf Gourami

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Gouramies are one of the smallest of its family. The dwarf gourami is a vibrant fish that forms good communities. Pet stores frequently sell male dwarf gouramis rather than female so females are more uncommon. They also would make delightful beginner fish or as a center piece to the tank.


  1. 1
    Know your fish. The dwarf gourami is one of the smallest of the Belontiidae Family. Which since they are 2 inches (5.1 cm) in size they would make a great center piece for a smaller community aquarium maybe the size of 20 gallons (75 Liters). Like most tropical fish, they appear vibrant. Female dwarf gouramies have faded color and aren't usually as common as males are. Males always come in a very bright variation and will come in:
    • Blue Powder
    • Red Flame
    • Green
  2. 2
    Get a big enough aquarium. Although the dwarf gourami is one of the smallest of it's family it should still be in an appropriate aquarium size. 15 gallons (54 Liters) is would be considered an appropriate tank size for a single gourami and a few other tank mates. Only one gourami per aquarium or a pair but, should come from the SAME aquarium and the SAME store! Gouramis are like betta fish; they will attack fish that resemble the physical appearance of a betta fish.
  3. 3
    Get a Heater! All gouramies are tropical and should be housed in an aquarium with appropriate temperatures. An appropriate Temp would be ranging from 75F*-80F* (23*C).
  4. 4
    Selecting Tank Mates. Dwarf gouramies aren't considered aggressive but, will show aggression to other anatibids like: Betta fish, other gouramies, etc. Otherwise they are capable of living in an aquarium with community fish.
    • Can be housed with: Cory Catfish, Tetra, Angelfish, smaller Loaches, and other smaller fish or fish unlikely to bother it.
    • Fish unlikely to do well with dwarf gourami: Betta fish, Other Gouramis, and other Anatibids or fish with long fins and vibrant colors.
  5. 5
    Decorations. Dwarf gouramies usually are quite shy fish. It would be best to keep a few Artificial/Live plants in the aquarium for it to hide. Driftwood can be used in the aquarium as well.
  6. 6
    Diet. An appropriate diet for the dwarf gourami would be tropical flakes or bloodworms. Other foods like frozen plankton do provide gouramies with appropriate nutrition. Some tropical foods contain color enhancers so the fish look more vibrant.
  7. 7
    Acclimate your Gourami. For other fish as well, a dwarf gourami should acclimate 15-30 minutes to adjust to parameters of the water including temperature. Also be sure to gently take the gourami out of the bag (using a net) and be careful of not getting any water from the bag inside of the aquarium.

Community Q&A

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  • Are these fish good for beginners?
    wikiHow Contributor
    These fish are very easy to care for.
  • Can I put two tiny gourami fish in a betta fish container?
  • Can I keep two gouramis and three tetras in a 10 gallon tank?
    wikiHow Contributor
    You could try, but given the gourami can get a bit territorial and tetras are schooling fish, a single gourami and five or more tetras would be a much better idea.
  • Can two dwarf gouramis live in a 20 gallon tank?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Yes, as long as there are enough hiding places for both of them. They need these to mark their own territory.
  • Can you give me advice for any type of gourami fish?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It is best to keep two or three females with one male, as two will fight and one might get lonely without a female. Try not to keep them with larger fish or bettas.
  • Is it okay to quarantine two dwarf gouramis in a 5 gallon tank?
    wikiHow Contributor
    No. Two dwarf gouramis will fight. If they do not fight, then they will both get very stressed and will be less immune to diseases.
  • Can I keep two males in a 30 gallon tank with other fish?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Two males isn't the best idea. Males can get rather territorial and attack one another. Get one male and one female or just one gourami. Other fish will be fine, such as corys, tetras and the like. Stay away from bettas, fancy guppies, and fish like that because gouramis will attack them. Get plants or other decorations so they can have place a hide as well.
  • How would I know if my dwarf gourami is pregnant?
    wikiHow Contributor
    The dwarf gourami will be bigger around the stomach. You may also start seeing little eggs inside the stomach.
  • How many males should I keep with each female?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Two males for two females, that way the males wont fight over the females but to be even safer, keep it at one male with one female.
  • Can I have three in a 10-gallon tank?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If they are the only fish in the tank, yes. But it would have to be one male and two females. Three males probably would injure one another. The rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water, so six gallons for three 2-inch dwarf gourami.
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  • They are labyrinth fish. Like all other species of gourami or other anatibids they're capable of taking in gulps of oxygen.
  • They're tropical fish, so you"ll need a heater!
  • Very peaceful fish.
  • 15 gallons (56 liters) is an appropriate aquarium size for a single dwarf gourami and a few other tank mates.


  • Although they are peaceful fish, they should not be housed in an aquarium with a betta or other fish that resemble the physical appearance of the betta fish.
  • Other variations of dwarf gourami should NOT be in the same aquarium. Unless, they came from the same aquarium in the same pet store.

Things You'll Need

  • Air Pump (Optional)
  • Ammonia Test Kit
  • Aquarium 15 gallons (56 Liters)
  • Driftwood Or other Ornaments (Optional)
  • Heater
  • Hood with lighting
  • Live/Artificial Plants
  • Nitrate/Nitrite Test kit
  • pH Test kit (Optional)
  • Proper filtration
  • Substrate

Article Info

Categories: Fish

In other languages:

Español: cuidar un gourami enano, Italiano: Prendersi Cura dei Pesci Gourami Nani, Русский: ухаживать за карликовыми гурами, Português: Cuidar de um Gourami Anão

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