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Dwarf gourami, Trichogaster lalius

Gouramis & bettas · Trichogaster

Dwarf gourami

Trichogaster lalius · Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh

Photo: Kennyannydenny, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Dwarf gourami (Trichogaster lalius) is a freshwater fish from Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh, where it lives in swamp or paddy habitat. Adults reach about 7 cm (2.8 in). Keep it at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) and pH 6–7.5, in calm water. It is peaceful. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

24–28 °C 75–82 °F

pH

6–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

7 cm 2.8 in

Swims

Top and mid-water mostly at the surface

Keep together

Fine alone

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh

Lives in swamp or paddy habitat.

Shaded: the countries it comes from. Map: Natural Earth.

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

In the hobby

In stock now

Not in stock at any store we track.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Dwarf gourami get?

About 7 cm (2.8 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Dwarf gourami need?

24–28 °C (75–82 °F).

What pH does a Dwarf gourami need?

pH 6–7.5.

Does a Dwarf gourami need to be kept in a group?

No. It can be kept on its own.

Is the Dwarf gourami aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

What does a Dwarf gourami eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Dwarf gourami come from?

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh.

What fish can live with a Dwarf gourami?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)24 Estimate
Temperature max (°C)28 Estimate
pH min6 Estimate
pH max7.5 Estimate
Adult size (cm)7 Estimate
FlowLow Estimate
Habitatswamp Estimate
Smallest happy group1 Estimate
TemperamentPeaceful Estimate
DietOmnivore Estimate
Behaviour tagslone_male Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)6 Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)12 Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.

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