Honey Dwarf Gourami

The Honey Dwarf Gourami is sometimes called the Honey Gourami, the Sunburst Gourami or the Dwarf Gourami, and is closely related to the Colisa lalia Dwarf Gourami.

Both the male and female are pale yellow-brown in colour, except during spawning. When spawning the male becomes honey to ochre in colour with a blue throat and black on the front of the anal fin. The Honey Dwarf Gourami is a Labyrinth Fish and must have access to the surface of the tank so it can breathe.

The Honey Dwarf Gourami requires a tank of at least 30 litres that is heavily planted and has a good cover of floating plants. Their ideal tank mates should be smaller, peaceful, and gentle. The Honey Dwarf Gourami does become territorial during spawning.

A pair of Honey Dwarf Gouramis will defend their territory during spawning. The male will build a bubblenest, but the pair may spawn before the nest is built. After spawning the female should be moved to a different tank.

The larvae hatch in 24-36 hours and are free-swimming after approximately one day. The male will tend to the eggs and fry, and when the fry are 2-3 days old the male should also be removed. When first hatched, the fry should be fed infusoria, and later, brine shrimp and finely ground flakes.

Freeze-dried tablets may also be fed to older fry. The Honey Dwarf Gourami is an omnivore and prefers both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with proper nutrition.