Buying gouramis for your fish tank can really be a lot of fun. These fish are very pretty and they’re easy enough for beginners to learn how to take care of.
Of course, you’re going to want to learn a bit about the fish before you go through with buying them. It’ll be good to know how much you can expect to spend on these fish to ensure that you have enough money.
Taking care of aquariums can be a bit of an expensive hobby. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to budget and get what you want, though.
Read on to learn how much gouramis cost to own. You’ll learn about the cost of the fish, how much you’ll need to spend to get a fish tank, and much more.
How Much Do Gourami Fish Cost?
The cost of a gourami fish is going to differ depending on the species that you’re talking about. Some gourami fish will be very inexpensive while some others are going to cost a bit more cash.
Below, you’re going to be able to read about the average cost of many of the most popular gourami fish. This might help you to have an easier time deciding which gourami fish will be the best one to purchase.
These fish aren’t considered to be that expensive overall. They’re fairly common fish that can be found in most pet stores.
If you decide that you want to buy any of the fish mentioned below, then you should know that they can be found both locally and online. It’s unlikely that you’ll have a hard time tracking down most types of gourami fish, but the most common ones are the fish that you will see being sold in local pet stores.
Dwarf Gourami Fish
Dwarf gourami fish are among the most common types of gouramis that people buy. These fish are very popular because they’re less aggressive and territorial than many of the other types of gouramis.
Also, they’re smaller than some gourami fish, and this means that you can keep them in a 20-gallon tank. For those who don’t have a lot of space, this gourami fish might be the best option.
You should expect to pay at least five dollars for one dwarf gourami fish. These fish are so common and popular that they’re not going to cost much at all to own.
Since most people want to keep gourami fish in pairs, you’ll be spending ten dollars or slightly more to get what you need. That’s a pretty low cost that will make it very easy to get started with these fish.
Honey Gourami Fish
Honey gourami fish are also on the smaller side. Much the same as the dwarf gourami fish mentioned above, this fish is going to be a perfect addition to a community fish tank.
These are among the most peaceful types of gourami fish that you can find. They’re great in community aquariums and they’re not too hard to take care of either.
Expect to pay between six and eight dollars for this fish. Some fish might be slightly more expensive than others based on various factors such as size.
These gouramis will be some of the best for beginners to buy. They’re cost-effective and they look really amazing overall.
Kissing Gourami Fish
Kissing gourami fish are another popular choice that many people want to own. If you’re interested in getting a pair of kissing gouramis for your fish tank, then you’ll be glad to know that they aren’t too costly.
One fish is going to cost between six and ten dollars. There is a bit of variation in the pricing based on the coloration of the fish.
You can find kissing gouramis that have been bred to look a certain way. Sometimes these variants will cost a bit more than average.
Regardless, it’ll be pretty easy to find a standard kissing gourami fish for under ten dollars. These fish aren’t costly and they’re pretty easy to find.
Pearl Gourami Fish
Pearl gourami fish are well-known and loved because of how gorgeous they look. These are considered to be some of the prettiest gourami fish that you can buy.
Despite being so lauded for their appearance, they aren’t overly expensive to obtain. Gourami fish generally aren’t the most expensive fish out there.
Typically, you’ll wind up paying between eight and twelve dollars for these fish. Since they’re so popular, it’s pretty simple to find these fish at pet stores.
They’re often sold in simple mall pet stores, but you can easily find them online if you don’t have a good local store to turn to. You’ll really love having these fish in your tank if you choose to purchase them.
Three Spot Gourami Fish
Three spot gourami fish are pretty common sights in pet stores as well. These are somewhat large fish that will grow to be somewhere between six and eight inches long.
They also have a bit of a reputation for being bullies in fish tanks. As such, they aren’t always the best community tank fish.
This doesn’t mean that they can’t be put in a community tank, though. You just have to choose the tank mates for these fish carefully to ensure that things work out okay.
You should be able to buy these fish for under three dollars in some stores. It’s worth noting that blue gourami fish are considered to be the same as three spot gourami fish.
Thus, you’ll sometimes find three spot gourami fish being sold as blue gourami fish. They’ll be good fish so long as you care for them properly.
Sparkling Gourami Fish
Sparkling gourami fish are very small and you’re supposed to keep them in groups. They only grow to be between one and a half and two inches long.
It’s going to be necessary to keep several of these fish in the same tank. Enthusiasts say that you’re supposed to keep five or six of them in the same aquarium.
Each sparkling gourami fish is going to cost between three and five dollars depending on where you buy it from. Since you’ll need to buy five fish, you could spend as much as twenty-five dollars if you don’t get the best deal.
These fish are quite peaceful and easy to take care of, though. They’ll be good community tank fish if you pick out appropriate tank mates that won’t harm them.
Giant Gourami Fish
Giant gourami fish are truly quite large as you might expect by the name. You’d need a large fish tank if you plan on buying these fish.
It’s recommended that you purchase a 200-gallon tank or larger when looking to keep these fish at home. This isn’t going to be practical for many people.
You might not have that much room for a fish tank in your house. Also, a 200-gallon tank is going to be fairly costly.
How much you’ll need to pay to get one of these fish will depend as well. If you’re looking to get the fish when it’s only between three and four inches long, then you might be able to find it for twenty-three dollars.
Otherwise, you might wind up paying close to three hundred dollars. The prices can fluctuate greatly for this gourami fish, and it might be worth shopping around to see if you can get a deal from a reputable retailer.
Chocolate Gourami Fish
Chocolate gourami fish are unique types of fish that aren’t as common as many of the others listed here. They’re very peaceful fish overall, but they’re hard to care for.
If you’re a beginner, then it’s recommended to avoid these fish. They can be quite finicky, and you don’t want to accidentally kill the fish by making mistakes.
Those who have their hearts set on this fish should expect to pay between ten and fifteen dollars per fish. You can find them being sold at many online fish stores.
Fish Tank Cost
Generally, you’re going to want to buy a 20-gallon fish tank for gourami fish. Some of the smaller fish might be fine in a 10-gallon tank, but it’s usually better to give them more room.
A 20-gallon fish tank will usually cost around thirty-five dollars at a retail store. Larger fish tanks are going to cost even more money.
Equipment Cost
Buying the necessary equipment for a freshwater fish tank will cost you some cash. You’re going to need to buy a filter, a heater, an air pump, substrate, lighting, water conditioner, and pH testing strips.
Expect to spend a few hundred dollars. It’s possible that you might be able to get some equipment on sale, but it’s better to estimate high so that you can budget properly.
Be sure to get everything that you need. It’s best to buy from a reputable retail store, but you might also be able to get used equipment from friends who have recently upgraded their setups.
Maintenance Costs
Maintenance costs will also be a thing to be concerned with. Freshwater aquariums are fairly inexpensive to maintain, but it will still cost you some money.
It’s likely that your yearly maintenance costs will be somewhere between one hundred and two hundred dollars. This will include the cost of water, buying chemicals, testing strips, and fish food.
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.