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Honey dwarf gourami (Trichogaster chuna) — Osphronemidae

Honey dwarf gourami

Trichogaster chuna
Family: Osphronemidae
LC · Least Concern

The Honey dwarf gourami (Trichogaster chuna) is a freshwater fish of the family Osphronemidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
13.7 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South Asia
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The honey gourami is a small labyrinth fish from fresh water of South Asia, in India and Bangladesh. The species grows to about 7 cm; courting males colour up beautifully honey-yellow to orange-red with a dark throat, while females are an inconspicuous brownish-grey. As a labyrinth fish it can gulp air at the surface with a special breathing organ. The male builds a bubble nest and guards the eggs and young. It feeds on small invertebrates and insect larvae. The fish is popular in the aquarium hobby. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Honey dwarf gourami?

The Honey dwarf gourami has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a plain pattern. Labyrinth breathing and a bubble nest; courting male honey-yellow

Where does the Honey dwarf gourami live?

The Honey dwarf gourami lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South Asia

How big does the Honey dwarf gourami get?

The Honey dwarf gourami grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Honey dwarf gourami dangerous to humans?

No, the Honey dwarf gourami is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Honey dwarf gourami edible?

The Honey dwarf gourami is not usually eaten.

More photos

Honey dwarf gourami (Trichogaster chuna) — Osphronemidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Vijay Anand Ismavel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Honey dwarf gourami (Trichogaster chuna) — Osphronemidae — 3
RAHAMAT ALI Bol (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Honey dwarf gourami (Trichogaster chuna) — Osphronemidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Rahul kumar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Honey dwarf gourami (Trichogaster chuna) — Osphronemidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Zikamoi (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Honey dwarf gourami verified
Scientific name
Trichogaster chuna
Family
Osphronemidae
Other names
Honey gourami; Sunset gourami verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.7 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates and insect larvae inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Bubble-nest-building labyrinth fish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Labyrinth breathing and a bubble nest; courting male honey-yellow sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Trichogaster

More from the family Osphronemidae

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