Top 5 Gouramis of All Time

In this blog post, I will bring you the top five gouramis of all time! There are so many to choose from, and I’d love to hear from you —what is your favorite gourami?

There are many gouramis that didn’t make my top five. I’m going to ruin some of the surprise—the Giant Gourami, the Chocolate Gourami, the Moonlight Gourami, and the Samurai Gourami—these are all awesome fish. But what I tried to do here was pick gouramis that most people could keep in most water parameters and not have many problems in terms of stocking options and longevity. So this list is made up of gouramis that are usually pretty hardy and look awesome.

#5 – Dwarf Gourami

Arguably the gourami with the best color on this entire list. The varieties of dwarf gourami help tremendously—powder blues, flame dwarfs, and more. These fish don't get huge, maxing out around 3 inches (ca. 8 cm), so a 20-gallon aquarium is usually sufficient.

Pros:

• Stunning colors

• Great for community tanks

• Lots of variety

Cons:

• Can be a bit aggressive

• Dwarf Gourami Disease is a real concern.

• Not the hardiest on the list

Tip: If you’ve got too many guppies and want something for a 20-gallon tank to help control fry, this fish is often a good fit.

#4 – Gold, Blue, and Opaline Gouramis

The Opaline Gourami is the main feature here, but I’ve also had the blue and the gold varieties—and I greatly enjoy this fish.

Why they made the list:

• Super hardy—I’ve seen them live 6–8 years.

• Great color options

• Very affordable—around $4–5

Cautions:

• Largest and most aggressive gourami on this list (4–5 inches)

• Needs at least a 40-gallon breeder

• Not suitable for peaceful community tanks or with other gouramis

Perfect for semi-aggressive tanks or with medium-sized Central/South American cichlids.

#3 – Sparkling Gourami

The smallest gourami on the list, maxing out around 1.25–1.5 inches. Perfect for nano tanks—10 gallons is enough.

Pros:

• Peaceful, great in groups

• Beautiful shimmer and vibrant eyes

• Loves to explore and interact

Things to note:

• Shy—prone to hiding

• Can be pricier than expected ($4–6 each)

Great choice for tanks with rasboras, small tetras, and Cory cats. Bonus: they love live baby brine shrimp—a real treat to watch them feed!

#2 – Honey Gourami

An absolutely wonderful centerpiece fish for small, peaceful community tanks. There are two main varieties: red and yellow/gold honey gouramis.

Highlights:

• Perfectly peaceful

• Do great in groups (10-gallon tank minimum)

• Solid color and exploration behavior

Considerations:

• May be shy at first

• Don’t mix with more aggressive gouramis like dwarfs, blues, or opalines.

Could potentially cohabitate with sparkling gouramis. Once comfortable, honey gouramis add a lot of personality to a tank.

#1 – Pearl Gourami

This is my all-time favorite. One of the largest, but also most peaceful, gouramis. You can keep them in large groups, and they thrive in a community tank.

There are two types: the standard pearl gourami and the gold pearl gourami.

Why it's #1:

• Males show extra color (red under the mouth and in the fins).

• Great personality, long lifespan

• Beautiful in groups

• Not overly active, but graceful and elegant

Tank size recommendation: At least a 40-gallon breeder. You could do a 29-gallon with a single fish as a centerpiece.

Stocking compatibility:

• Works well with peaceful community fish

• Be careful with really small species (e.g., tiny rasboras).

These are magnificent fish, well worth the investment (typically $6–10 depending on size).