Buying some gourami fish for your aquarium will be a good idea. These fish are fun to observe swimming around in many different types of tanks.
They make great community tank fish as well. If you’re getting ready to get some gouramis for your aquarium, then you should stop to learn about them first.
For example, you need to know what size fish tank these fish need to thrive. It’s never good to try to put fish in an aquarium that is too small.
Continue reading to learn about the ideal gourami tank size. This will help you to make good choices so that your gourami fish will thrive under your care.
Gourami Minimum Tank Size
The first thing that you should know is that not all gouramis are the same size. There are actually a number of different gourami fish types out there.
Depending on the species of the fish, you’re going to be looking at different fish tank size requirements. Some gourami fish might fit in a 10-gallon tank while others will need a 200-gallon fish tank.
That’s quite a difference in size, and it means that you can’t really get a general answer for the minimum tank size for gouramis. You could try looking at the question in a different way, though.
What is the minimum tank size for the smallest gouramis? Some gouramis will be as small as one and a half to five inches long.
Gouramis of this size might be able to fit in a 5-gallon tank, but most enthusiasts agree that a 10-gallon tank should be the minimum size. If you want the fish to remain as healthy as possible, then keeping them in at least a 10-gallon tank will be recommended.
How Many Gouramis in a 5-Gallon Tank?
It’s not generally recommended to put gouramis in a 5-gallon fish tank. Some of the smaller gouramis, such as sparkling gouramis, might be fine in these tanks.
However, you’re generally supposed to keep them either in pairs or small groups. Often, people buy those fish in groups of five.
It’d be much better to keep them in at least a 10-gallon fish tank. Some people even prefer to go larger than that and keep the fish in a 20-gallon fish tank.
Remember that it’s best to give fish a bit more space than they need. A lack of space will cause fish to experience stress.
Stressed fish can develop compromised immune systems. That will make the fish more likely to get sick.
You should probably avoid putting gourami fish in a 5-gallon fish tank. 10-gallon fish tanks should be fine, though.
If you must try to use a 5-gallon fish tank, then two sparkling gouramis should be the most that you put in the tank. Otherwise, it’d be too small.
How Many Gouramis in a 10-Gallon Tank?
You should be able to fit some of the smallest gouramis in a 10-gallon tank just fine. For example, sparkling gouramis are going to do nicely in 10-gallon fish tanks.
Honey gouramis and dwarf gouramis can also be kept in 10-gallon fish tanks. In some cases, people prefer putting dwarf gouramis in 20-gallon fish tanks.
You should be able to fit two fish in a 10-gallon fish tank. Just understand that it would be best to give them more room if you can.
Also, if you want to put other types of fish in the tank, then you’re going to need to buy something larger. Overcrowding a small fish tank is never going to be a good idea.
How Many Gouramis in a 20-Gallon Tank?
It should be fine to keep two or three small gourami fish in a 20-gallon tank. Most people keep gouramis in pairs, but some fish can also live in small groups.
Smaller fish such as sparkling gourami fish would do very well in a 20-gallon tank. You could easily keep them in a group of five in such an aquarium.
If you’re caring for dwarf gourami fish, then you could care for two or three of them in a 20-gallon fish tank. The same can be said for honey gouramis.
A 20-gallon fish tank should be able to house two paradise gouramis comfortably as well. Just do your research on the fish to ensure that it will fit comfortably in a 20-gallon tank before moving forward.
There are many gouramis that are way too big for a 20-gallon fish tank. Thus, you’ll have to understand the needs of the specific gourami fish that you purchased.
Are Gouramis Schooling Fish?
Gouramis are not considered to be schooling fish. Some gouramis do well when kept in small groups, though.
The best example of this is the sparkling gourami fish. These fish are commonly kept in groups of four to six fish.
Even though they aren’t schooling fish, they do best when you keep them in small groups. This is why many people purchase at least five of them for their community fish tanks.
Most gouramis only need to be kept in pairs, though. You could also keep sparkling gouramis in pairs and everything would be just fine.
They aren’t like fish that absolutely must live in groups of a certain size. Two sparkling gouramis can be perfectly happy in your fish tank.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Dwarf Gouramis?
Dwarf gouramis are going to grow to be between two and three inches at maturity. They’re pretty small overall, and they should be able to do fine in a 10-gallon tank.
Some people prefer to keep them in 20-gallon fish tanks, though. Many enthusiasts say that giving the fish a little extra room is for the best.
Regardless, it’s good to know that they can do well in a 10-gallon fish tank. If you don’t have much space in your home for a larger fish tank, then this should work out nicely for you.
You’ll be able to keep two dwarf gourami fish in a 10-gallon fish tank. Just do your best to keep the water parameters in the right range by monitoring things and doing regular water changes.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Honey Gouramis?
Honey gouramis are only going to grow to be approximately two and a half inches long. This means that they’re pretty tiny and they don’t need a big fish tank.
You’ll be able to put honey gourami fish in a 10-gallon tank without any problems. It should be very easy to fit two of them in a tank of that size.
These are great fish to own because they’re very peaceful. It’s also worth mentioning that these are popular community tank fish.
If you want to keep fish in a community tank, then you’ll need to buy a larger tank. Remember that adding more fish will take up more space, and that will require you to get a bigger tank to keep all of the fish comfortable.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Sparkling Gouramis?
Sparkling gouramis are some of the smallest fish that you will find in the gourami family. They only grow to be between one and a half and two inches long.
Some people say that it’s okay to keep a few of them in a 5-gallon tank. However, many enthusiasts disagree with that assessment.
To be safe, it’s recommended to keep these fish in a 10-gallon aquarium. That will ensure that they have enough room.
You should be able to easily fit two sparkling gouramis in a 10-gallon tank. If you want to keep five or six of these gouramis in the same tank, then perhaps a 20-gallon tank will be better.
Going larger simply ensures that all of the fish have more than enough room. Also, it’s easier to keep larger fish tanks clean when they aren’t overcrowded.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Giant Gouramis?
Giant gouramis are absolutely huge compared to the other gourami fish that have been discussed. The monsters can reach twenty to twenty-eight inches in length.
They’re semi-aggressive fish that need to be kept in very large tanks. If you don’t have room for a 200-gallon fish tank or something larger than that, then you should forget about buying one of these fish.
It will take this fish time to reach its full size. Even so, it’s recommended to have a large fish tank to start out.
Be careful when picking tank mates for this fish, too. Since it can be kind of aggressive, you’ll need to pick fish such as oscars that can hang in there with the giant gourami fish.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Kissing Gouramis?
Kissing gouramis are also large fish, but they aren’t quite as large as the giant gouramis mentioned above. A kissing gourami will reach lengths of eight to twelve inches.
It’s more common for these fish to stick closer to eight inches when in an aquarium. Regardless, you can easily see that these are quite big fish.
They’re going to need larger fish tanks than many other types of gourami fish. You’ll want to purchase a 55-gallon fish tank at a minimum when you plan to care for kissing gouramis.
If you want these fish to be in a community tank setting, then you should certainly go larger than that. Some say that a 75-gallon aquarium is a safe bet, but you could also go with a 100-gallon aquarium if you have the space.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Blue Gouramis?
Blue gouramis are actually very aggressive fish. They have a reputation for not being the best tank mates in a community tank setting.
You can find good tank mates for them, but you do have to watch out to ensure that they don’t bully the other fish. It’s important to give them enough space.
When keeping blue gouramis by themselves, they’ll require at least thirty gallons of space. They can grow to be between six and eight inches long, so it makes sense that they would need a somewhat big tank.
If you want to keep them in a community aquarium, then you should go way bigger than that. It’s likely that a 55-gallon tank should be the minimum size when putting them with other fish.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Pearl Gouramis?
Pearl gouramis are definitely some of the prettiest that you can find. These fish have a distinct look that has helped to make them incredibly popular over the years.
This is why you can find pearl gouramis so readily in many pet stores. If you want to buy some pearl gourami fish of your own, then you’ll need at least a 30-gallon fish tank.
Pearl gouramis grow to be between four and five inches long. They need enough space to be able to feel comfortable in captivity.
These are very peaceful fish that should work out nicely in a community aquarium. Finding good tank mates won’t be hard at all so long as you do a bit of research.
What Tank Size Is Needed for Paradise Gouramis?
Paradise gouramis have some commonalities with the blue gouramis mentioned earlier. They aren’t the best tank mates and often bully other fish.
They only grow to be between three and four inches, but they’re quite aggressive. Despite this, they’re very popular due to being very pretty.
These fish have very showy fins that are sort of like the fins that betta fish have. You’ll need a 20-gallon tank for these fish if you want them to thrive.
Remember to go larger if you’re keeping them in a community fish tank. Also, take the time to pick out tank mates that can put up with them or things won’t go well at all.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned everything that you need to know about gourami fish and the appropriate tank sizes for them. This should help you to pick fish that will fit in the fish tanks that you own.
If you don’t have enough space for a fish that you’re interested in, then it’s best to put things on hold for now. You might wind up having room for a bigger fish tank at a later time.
Enjoy the gourami fish that you do have enough room for. These are great fish that are going to bring a lot of joy to your life.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.