Description
Golden Honey Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster chuna)
Overview
Trichogaster chuna, commonly known as the golden honey dwarf gourami or honey gourami, is a small, vibrant freshwater labyrinth fish from the Osphronemidae family, native to slow-moving, vegetated waters of northern India, Bangladesh, and possibly Nepal. Renowned for its striking golden-orange colouration in males, with black throat markings during breeding, and paler yellowish tones in females, it grows to about 5 cm for males and 6 cm for females. Its peaceful, shy demeanor and air-breathing labyrinth organ make it a popular choice for nano and community aquariums, though it requires careful tankmate selection and stable conditions.
Care Requirements
Tank Size:
Minimum 38L for a pair; 75L or larger recommended for trios (1 male, 2 females) or community setups to reduce stress.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 22–28°C; optimal 25–27°C for breeding.
- pH: 6.0–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).
- Hardness: 4–15 dGH (soft to moderately hard, TDS <150 ppm).
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm.
- Nitrate: <30 ppm (ideally <15 ppm for optimal health).
- Substrate: Fine gravel or sand; add leaf litter (e.g., Indian almond leaves) for tannins and natural aesthetics.
- Décor: Heavily planted with Java moss, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, or floating plants for cover and nest sites. Include driftwood or caves for hiding. Ensure surface access for air breathing.
- Filtration: Gentle flow using sponge or air-driven filters to mimic still waters; avoid strong currents that disrupt bubble nests.
- Lighting: Low, diffused with floating plants to reduce shyness and stress.
- Other: Tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap essential to maintain warm, humid air, especially for fry.
Maintenance
- Water Changes: 20–30% weekly with dechlorinated water to maintain stable parameters and low nitrates; match main tank conditions.
- Tank Cleaning: Siphon uneaten food and debris; lightly clean substrate to preserve beneficial bacteria.
- Testing: Weekly monitoring of pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate with a reliable test kit.
- Equipment Check: Ensure filters provide gentle flow, heaters maintain stable temperatures, and surface is accessible for air breathing.
Diet
- Type: Omnivorous with a carnivorous preference; feeds on small invertebrates and plant matter in the wild.
- Foods:
- Live/Frozen: Daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms, mosquito larvae (2–3 times weekly for vibrant colours).
- Dry: High-quality micro-pellets or flakes (e.g., Fluval Bug Bites, Hikari Micro Pellets).
- Occasional: Blanched spinach, zucchini, or spirulina flakes for variety.
- Feeding: Small portions 2–3 times daily, consumed within 2 minutes to prevent overfeeding.
- Notes: Varied diet enhances golden colouration. They feed at surface and mid-water; ensure food is appropriately sized.
Behaviour and Compatibility
- Temperament: Peaceful but shy; males may be territorial during breeding but less aggressive than other gouramis.
- Social Behaviour: Best kept as a pair (1 male, 1 female) or trio (1 male, 2 females) in larger tanks. Multiple males require >30 gallons with dense cover to minimize conflicts.
- Compatible Tankmates:
- Small, peaceful fish: Neon tetras, ember tetras, harlequin rasboras, celestial pearl danios.
- Bottom-dwellers: Kuhli loaches, Corydoras catfish, Otocinclus.
- Incompatible: Aggressive or fin-nipping fish (e.g., tiger barbs, serpae tetras), large cichlids, or other gourami species (e.g., Trichopodus spp.) to prevent hybridization or territorial disputes.
- Notes: Dense plants and hiding spots reduce shyness. Monitor male aggression in smaller tanks.
Breeding Behaviour
Breeding Type: Bubble nest builders; males construct floating nests among plants or debris.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
