Honey Gourami vs Dwarf Gourami...which should you buy?

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]Honey gourami or dwarf gourami, which one should you buy?

[00:00:05]Most people will tell you to go with the honey gourami, and honestly, that's not bad advice.

[00:00:11]But, it's not always the right choice, because depending on your tank and what you want out of your fish, the dwarf gourami might actually be the better choice.

[00:00:22]Today, I'm going to walk you through which one you should buy, and more importantly, why.

[00:00:28]Hello, everyone. This is Charles from The Fish Loft.

[00:00:33]If you have seen any of my tanks, you know I keep both of these gouramis, but they are very different.

[00:00:41]First off, let's start with their size, which is especially important if you have a smaller tank.

[00:00:48]The honey gourami stays pretty small, usually topping out at around 2 in or 5 cm.

[00:00:57]The dwarf gourami gets noticeably bigger, reaching up to 3 in or 7.5 cm.

[00:01:05]So, if you have a smaller nano-size tank, like 10 to 12 gal, or 40 to 45 L, the honey gourami is going to be the more appropriate choice.

[00:01:18]But, if you are stocking a 15 to 20 gal or 57 to 75 L tank, the dwarf gourami's extra size actually becomes a benefit.

[00:01:31]The larger size of the dwarf gourami gives the fish more presence, and makes it feel like a true centerpiece fish.

[00:01:40]So, for smaller tanks, you should buy the honey gourami.

[00:01:44]For larger tanks, the dwarf gourami starts to make more sense.

[00:01:50]Next up is color, and this one is pretty straightforward.

[00:01:54]Honey gouramis have a more subtle look, a golden yellow sometimes with orange hues.

[00:02:02]They're beautiful, but they're not flashy.

[00:02:05]Dwarf gouramis are the complete opposite.

[00:02:08]Bright reds, electric blues, striped patterns, they're built to stand out.

[00:02:15]So, if your goal is a calm, serene-looking aquascape, the honey gourami fits that vibe perfectly.

[00:02:23]But, if you want a fish that pops and immediately grabs attention, you should buy the dwarf gourami.

[00:02:32]Now, let's talk personality because this is a big one.

[00:02:36]Honey gouramis are known for being peaceful, but also a bit shy.

[00:02:41]Especially when you first add them, they can spend a lot of time hiding or staying tucked into the plants.

[00:02:49]Dwarf gouramis tend to be much more outgoing.

[00:02:52]They're usually front and center, exploring the tank, interacting with their surroundings, and just generally being more visible.

[00:03:01]So, if you want a calm, laid-back fish that blends into a peaceful tank, go with the honey gourami.

[00:03:09]But, if you want a fish that's always out and about and generally making itself known, you should buy the dwarf gourami.

[00:03:21]This is where things start to flip a little bit.

[00:03:24]As I mentioned, honey gouramis are extremely peaceful.

[00:03:28]They get along with just about everyone and are one of the safest choices you can make for a community tank.

[00:03:36]Dwarf gouramis can be territorial, especially the males.

[00:03:40]They can be like betta fish, where some are chill and some just want to chase everyone around.

[00:03:46]All of my dwarf gouramis have been extremely chill, but I only one gourami per tank.

[00:03:54]If you're keeping very peaceful, slow-moving fish, the honey gourami is absolutely the better and safer choice here.

[00:04:04]But, if your tank has more bolder fish or fish that are fairly active, the dwarf gourami can actually be the better fit because it won't get pushed around as easily.

[00:04:16]So, for peaceful and calm community tanks, you should buy the honey gourami.

[00:04:22]For slightly more active setups, the dwarf gourami can actually be the smarter choice.

[00:04:31]When it comes to tank setup, honey gouramis prefer calm environments.

[00:04:36]Low flow, lots of plants, and peaceful tank mates.

[00:04:41]They really thrive in that kind of setup.

[00:04:44]Dwarf gouramis are a bit more flexible.

[00:04:47]They can handle more activity in your tank and a wider variety of community fish.

[00:04:53]So, if your tank is heavily planted and very tranquil, you should buy the honey gourami.

[00:05:00]If your tank is more of a general community setup with active fish, the dwarf gourami is often the better fit.

[00:05:10]Dwarf gouramis tend to be more available in fish stores.

[00:05:15]You'll find multiple color types, from striped to red to powder blue, and you can pick the exact look you want.

[00:05:24]Honey gouramis tend to be harder to find in fish stores.

[00:05:28]When they are available, they usually only have one color option, usually the pure yellow variety.

[00:05:36]The red flame honey gourami is harder to find.

[00:05:39]You might need to wait longer to find the honey gourami you want.

[00:05:44]If you like having immediate options available to choose among, the dwarf gourami will probably be the better option for you.

[00:05:55]Now, before you make your final decision, there's one more thing you need to consider.

[00:06:01]Dwarf gouramis come with more health risks.

[00:06:05]A large portion of imported dwarf gouramis carry an incurable disease, a type of a road of virus, that can dramatically shorten their lifespan.

[00:06:17]Fortunately, none of my dwarfs have had that, but I may just be lucky. And I have gotten them from large pet chains.

[00:06:26]So, in general, honey gouramis tend to have less health issues and therefore can have longer lifespans.

[00:06:38]So, which one should you buy?

[00:06:40]Buy a honey gourami if you want a peaceful, low-drama fish for a calm, planted community tank, especially if you have a smaller aquarium.

[00:06:53]Buy a dwarf gourami if you want a colorful, standout centerpiece fish that's more active and can handle a bit more energy in the tank.

[00:07:05]At the end of the day, both are great fish.

[00:07:08]It just depends on the kind of aquarium you enjoy, along with the level of risk you are willing to take.

[00:07:18]When you are ready to buy, spend a few minutes observing the fish in the tank.

[00:07:23]Look for fish that are swimming calmly and steadily and holding their fins open naturally.

[00:07:30]If there is a sick or dead fish in the tank, move on.

[00:07:34]A healthy, alert fish with good body weight is almost always a better choice than just choosing the most colorful fish in the tank.

[00:07:44]Let me know which gourami you think is the best fit for your aquarium.

[00:07:50]If you enjoyed this second video in my comparison series, please give the video a like and consider subscribing so you don't miss the next match-up. Thanks for watching. This is Charles and I'll see you next time here at The Fish Loft.