Dwarf Gourami – Tankmates, Diseases, Size, And Care

The Dwarf gourami is a beautiful small tropical fish that makes the perfect addition to a  peaceful community tank. These brightly colored members of the wider gourami family are relatively easy to care for and make excellent companions for many other small, non-aggressive aquarium fish species. 

But what do Dwarf gouramis eat? What fish make good gourami tank mates? And are Dwarf gouramis good fish for beginners?

Read this comprehensive guide to learn everything you need to know about these gorgeous fish.

Dwarf Gourami – Overview

Origins

The pretty Dwarf gourami was first described in 1822 by Hamilton. 

These fish were originally discovered in South Asia, ranging from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. These days, there are also feral populations of Dwarf gouramis to be found in Colombia, the U.S., and Singapore.

Thanks to their wide distribution, Dwarf gouramis are not currently listed on the IUCN Red List. All the fish that you see for sale in fish stores are commercially bred rather than wild-caught, so overfishing is not likely to have an impact on the gouramis’ wild numbers.

Natural Habitat

In nature, Dwarf gouramis live in paddy fields, slow-moving streams, irrigation channels, and other similar habitats where the current is very slow and the vegetation is thick.

Wild Dwarf gouramis are omnivorous, feeding on algae, insects, and small invertebrates.

Interesting fact: Dwarf gouramis have a neat trick that they use to catch insects above the waterline. The fish lay in wait below the surface under low-hanging plants, watching for prey above. When an insect settles within range, the fish squirt drops of water by making sudden contractions with their mouth cavity. If the fish’s aim is accurate, the insect is knocked off its perch into the water, where it’s grabbed and eaten by the fish.

What Do Dwarf Gouramis Look Like?

The Dwarf gourami’s body is compressed with large, rounded fins. The ventral fins are threadlike, carrying touch-sensitive cells.

The males of the species are a beautiful translucent blue-green color with red-orange vertical stripes that extend to the fish’s fins. During spawning, males develop a deep purple color on the breast and flare their dorsal fins in a fascinating courtship dance.

Female Dwarf gouramis are somewhat less colorful, having a silvery, light gray background and lacking the bright red stripes of the males.

Variations

There are several varieties of the species that have been produced by selective breeding to produce the most attractive specimens.

Particularly beautiful color morphs include the Powder Blue Dwarf gourami, which is completely bright blue in color, and the Flame Dwarf gourami, which has a gorgeous deep flame orange-colored chest and belly. You can also find Neon Blue Dwarf gouramis that have bright blue and dark red stripes.

Size

Dwarf gouramis grow to between two to three inches in length, with males being a little larger than females. That makes these fish perfectly suited to life in a 10-gallon tank. 

What Is The Lifespan Of A Dwarf Gourami?

Dwarf gouramis can live for up to four years when kept in the correct conditions and fed a balanced, nutritious diet. 

Activity Level/Temperament

Dwarf gouramis are peaceful fish that are ideal for a community tank. That said, these gouramis can be shy and a little timid, especially if kept with fish that hassle them. For that reason, your aquarium needs plenty of dense planting to provide hiding places and also for bubble nest building.

Your tank’s location is also important as the fish can become very nervous in heavy traffic areas where there’s lots of activity around the aquarium.

Male Dwarf gouramis can be belligerent toward other males or similar-looking species, and they sometimes bully females, even during spawning. So, I recommend that you keep a group of gouramis in a large tank so that each individual has the space it needs to keep away from the others.

Fish to Avoid

I recommend that you avoid keeping large, semi-aggressive fish that might hassle and stress the Dwarf gouramis. 

Certain species of tetras are not a good choice, as they can be nippy. Brightly colored fish such as guppies should also be avoided as they can trigger aggression in the gouramis. The same is true of other gourami species and bettas unless you have a very large aquarium with plenty of space for everyone.

Can I keep Dwarf Gouramis Together?

Dwarf gouramis are often sold in pairs, but sometimes the male will bully the female. Like betta fish, male Dwarf gouramis will often fight, especially if kept in a small tank. If you want to keep a group of these fish, you’ll need a large tank with plenty of cover and hiding places for the fish.

Diet and Nutrition

When choosing food for your Dwarf gouramis, always buy the best quality food that you can afford. A high-quality, balanced diet will keep your fish healthy and bring out their best colors.

What to Feed Your Dwarf Gouramis

Dwarf gouramis are omnivores. That means they eat a diet of both vegetable matter and meat.

Wild gouramis eat algae, insects, and small crustaceans. In captivity, you can feed your gouramis a mixture of tropical fish flakes, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and the like.

Do Dwarf Gouramis Like Live Foods?

Dwarf gouramis love live foods. However, you need to be very careful that any live foods you offer your fish come from a reliable source. Live food is one way that dangerous bacteria and parasites can get into the tank.

The safest way to provide your gouramis with some live food in their diet is by setting up a home brine shrimp hatchery.

Although it might be tempting, never harvest worms and other living foods from the wild environment. Again, you might inadvertently introduce parasites or other pathogens into your aquarium.

How Much and How Often Should You Feed Your Fish?

If possible, you should feed your Dwarf gouramis two or three times each day, offering just what the fish will clear in a few minutes.

Don’t overfeed your fish! Overfeeding can cause health problems, and uneaten food will decompose in the substrate and pollute your aquarium water.

Tank Setup

Aquarium Setup

Substrate

Although Dwarf gouramis will be happy with any kind of substrate, dark-colored aquarium gravel is best to show off their colors.

Decoration

Dwarf gouramis enjoy a well-lit tank, but you need to provide plenty of places where the fish can hide if they want to.

Dense planting is excellent for providing cover and hiding places for the gouramis. Floating plants also work very well for this fish species, providing dappled shade and offering the male Dwarf gouramis somewhere to build bubble nests. However, remember that these fish need to get to the surface to breathe air, so you need to make sure that some areas of the water surface are open and free from clutter.

Driftwood, rocks, and twisted roots can all be used to create an attractive underwater scene, but be sure to leave some swimming space for these active fishes.

Habitat Requirements

Dwarf gouramis are pretty hardy fish. However, even though the labyrinth organ enables the fish to survive in poorly oxygenated water, a build-up of toxins in the water will cause the same health problems and damage as in any other species. 

That means you’ll need to carry out weekly water changes of 25% to 30%.

Filtration

The aquarium should have an efficient mechanical and biological filter system. That said, gouramis don’t appreciate too much water movement, so you’ll need to buffer the flow from an internal filter or choose a canister or HOB system.

Dwarf gouramis prefer well-oxygenated water, so I recommend that you provide an air stone.

Water Parameters

Water Temperature

Dwarf gouramis are tropical fish that prefer a water temperature of between 72° and 82° F, ideally 77°. 

NB: It’s important that you keep the room temperature consistent with that of the aquarium water to avoid damage to the fish’s labyrinth organ.

Water Hardness and pH Range

The water pH needs to be between 6.0 and 8.0, with a water hardness of 5 to 18 dGH.

Lighting

The species’ natural environment is generally well-lit but shaded by dense vegetation. Generally, a standard LED lighting unit is fine for the aquarium as that will provide enough light for your plants and your gouramis.

Tank Maintenance

As with any aquarium, you need to perform 25% to 30% water changes every week and keep the filter media properly maintained so that it doesn’t clog.

Be sure to vacuum the gravel, especially between the bottom of plants, underneath decorations, and in the corners of the aquarium. That’s an important task, as it removes fish waste, decomposing plant debris, and leftover fish food, which would otherwise rot and pollute your water.

Keep the glass clean by using some form of algae cleaner. 

Setting Up Your Fish Tank

Gather what you’ll need to set up your new tank, including: 

• Dark-colored substrate
• LED lighting unit
• HOB or canister filtration system
• Water conditioner
• Heater
• Aquarium thermometer
• Tank decorations
• Floating plants
• Aquarium water testing kit

Health and Disease

Dwarf gouramis are generally pretty hardy fish when given the correct conditions as described above. 

Signs of Good Health

Healthy gouramis are active fish that visit the water surface periodically to breathe.

Red Flags

These red flags might indicate that all is not well with your Dwarf gouramis:

• No appetite
• Inactivity
• Not taking breaths at the water surface
• Sore, red patches on the body
• Flicking against the substrate or decorations
• Hanging at the water surface

Common Health Issues and Treatment

Breeding

Dwarf gouramis can be bred in captivity relatively easily, but the male can be very aggressive toward the female, especially after spawning.

The male builds a bubble nest, transferring the eggs to the nest and guarding them until they hatch. The fry remains in the nest for several days until the egg sac has been exhausted and they become free-swimming.

At this time, it’s best to remove the male as he may eat the fry.

Availability

All the color morphs of Dwarf gourami are widely available in fish stores and online typically for a few dollars each.

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed our guide to the beautiful Dwarf gourami.

These gorgeous fish add a pop of color to any peaceful community setup, and you can also breed them in captivity. However, be wary of keeping Dwarf gouramis in pairs and groups of males, as these fish can be intolerant of each other unless kept in a large tank with plenty of cover. 

What types of Dwarf gouramis do you have? Tell us in the comments box below.

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