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Dwarf gourami are colorful, personable, and peaceful when kept in the right company. Pair them with the wrong fish and the result is stress, nipped fins, or silent bullying. This guide gives you clear, beginner-friendly rules and a strong list of proven tank mates, plus setup tips and stocking plans that actually work.
Introduction
Dwarf gourami thrive in calm, planted aquariums with gentle companions. The goal is simple. Choose fish that match their pace, their water needs, and their space. Once you get those three aligned, your gourami show more color, explore boldly, and live longer. Keep reading to learn exactly what to pair with them and what to avoid.
Know Your Dwarf Gourami First
Temperament and Social Behavior
Dwarf gourami are generally peaceful but territorial around their personal patch, especially males. One male can guard a favorite plant or cave and may chase intruders briefly. Female dwarf gourami are calmer but are not always easy to find in the trade.
They are labyrinth fish. They breathe surface air. They like a calm surface and shaded zones. Fast currents and constant commotion cause stress.
Tank Size and Layout
For a community setup, aim for at least 20 gallons with a tank length of 24 inches or more. A single dwarf gourami can live in a 10 gallon tank, but community life is smoother in 20 gallons and up. Provide dense planting, floating cover, and broken lines of sight using wood and tall stems. These elements let fish move without constant confrontation.
Water Parameters
Target temperature 75 to 82 F. pH between 6.0 and 7.5. General hardness 4 to 10 dGH. Keep the surface gentle, with minimal agitation. Use a reliable heater and a quiet filter. Stable conditions matter more than perfection.
Feeding Style
Dwarf gourami are micro predators. They prefer small floating or slow-sinking foods. They do well on quality pellets, crushed flakes, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and frozen bloodworms fed sparingly. Avoid tank mates that outcompete them at the surface or that create a feeding frenzy.
Core Compatibility Rules
Match Energy Levels
Pick calm to moderately active fish. Avoid hyperactive dashes across the tank. Excess motion keeps gourami on alert and suppresses their color and appetite.
Respect the Top Zone
Dwarf gourami often cruise the mid to top area. Give them floating plants and air access. Avoid crowds at the surface. Heavy top dwellers can stress them.
Skip Fin Nippers and Bullies
Do not add barbs known for nipping, aggressive cichlids, or fish that target long fins. Even intermittent nipping creates long-term stress.
Mind Water Chemistry Overlap
Choose species that enjoy soft to neutral water and tropical temperatures. Some hardy livebearers can adapt, but many prefer hard, alkaline water. Mismatch leads to chronic stress for one side.
One Male Rule
Keep one male dwarf gourami per tank unless the aquarium is large and heavily planted. Male to male conflicts are common in small spaces. If you keep a harem, use one male with two or three females in a 29 gallon or larger tank with abundant cover.
Best Tank Mate Categories and Top Picks
Gentle Schooling Fish for the Middle Layer
Harlequin rasbora and lambchop rasbora are ideal. They are peaceful, colorful, and love the same calm, planted environment. A group of 8 to 12 creates a confident school that ignores the gourami and keeps the tank lively without chaos.
Ember tetra works well too. Small, brilliant, and mild. Keep 10 to 15 for best effect in a 20 to 29 gallon tank. They prefer warm, planted tanks with gentle flow.
Neon tetra and cardinal tetra are classic matches. Cardinals like the warmer end of the range and stable, soft water. Neon tetra are slightly cooler tolerant but do fine at 76 to 78 F. Keep at least 10 to reduce any nipping among themselves and to spread attention.
Rummynose tetra are excellent in larger tanks. They show tight schooling and indicate water quality with their nose color. Keep them in groups of 10 plus and maintain stable temperatures and clean water. Best in 29 gallons or more.
Chili rasbora and other Boraras species suit very gentle, small-community tanks. They stay tiny and do not compete for food aggressively. Use a large group and ensure micro foods reach them.
Cherry barb can fit in many setups. They are more reserved than other barbs and rarely nip when kept in a proper group with cover. Choose a balanced group and avoid mixing with long-finned fish in cramped tanks.
Peaceful Bottom Dwellers
Corydoras catfish are a top choice. They are friendly, busy, and keep to the bottom. For smaller tanks, choose pygmy species such as Corydoras pygmaeus, habrosus, or hastatus. For 29 gallons and up, any common Corydoras species in groups of 6 to 10 will be comfortable. Use soft sand or smooth fine gravel to protect their barbels.
Kuhli loach are also safe and shy. Keep 6 to 10 with plenty of caves and leaf litter. They emerge more at dusk and do not bother gourami. Make sure the tank is covered; they can explore tight gaps.
Bristlenose pleco is a steady algae grazer for 29 gallons and larger. It is peaceful and ignores upper layers. It produces more waste than Otocinclus, so plan filtration and maintenance accordingly.
Small Algae Crew for Gentle Tanks
Otocinclus catfish are excellent partners in mature, algae-rich tanks. Keep 6 or more. They need biofilm and stable water. Do not add them to new tanks without adequate food. Keep the flow gentle.
Nerite snails and mystery snails are safe. Gourami ignore them, and they help control algae and leftover food. Nerites do not breed in freshwater, so they do not overrun the tank.
Shrimp With Realistic Expectations
Amano shrimp are the best shrimp match. They are large enough to avoid predation and excellent at algae control. Provide moss and dense plants for refuge.
Neocaridina shrimp like cherry shrimp can coexist in heavily planted tanks, but expect some losses. Dwarf gourami may snack on shrimplets. If shrimp are a priority, build dense cover and consider a shrimp-first tank with the gourami added last.
Surface and Upper-Mid Specialists
Pencilfish such as Nannostomus marginatus or beckfordi are calm surface dwellers that do not bombard the gourami. Keep them in groups and maintain a tight lid, as they can jump when startled.
Hatchetfish are peaceful top dwellers for 29 gallons and up. They require a secure lid and prefer to be in groups. Their calm hovering behavior fits well with gourami that like quiet surface zones.
Small Rainbowfish and Similar Species
Dwarf neon rainbowfish are lively but generally polite. They do best in 29 gallons or larger. Provide plants and space for both species to avoid crowding the upper layers. Feed enough so the gourami are not outcompeted.
Livebearers With Notes
Platies are often fine. They are peaceful and active. They prefer slightly harder, more alkaline water but adapt to neutral conditions. Keep the temperature in the upper 70s.
Endler livebearers are small and busy. They can live with dwarf gourami in neutral water. Male guppies sometimes trigger attention due to long fins and bright colors. In some tanks this causes persistent chasing. If you try guppies, watch behavior closely and provide heavy cover.
Tank Mates to Avoid
Other Gourami and Similar Labyrinth Fish
Avoid mixing male dwarf gourami with other male gourami. Three spot, gold, opaline, and paradise fish are too assertive. Betta splendens is also a poor match due to similar territory claims at the surface and potential fin disputes.
Known Nippers and Bullies
Avoid tiger barbs, serpae tetras, and similar nippers. Skip large or territorial cichlids. Red tail sharks and rainbow sharks can harass calmer fish in smaller spaces.
Coldwater or High-Flow Species
White cloud mountain minnows prefer cooler water. Danios are fast and can be too boisterous. Siamese algae eaters grow large and get pushy at feeding time.
Predators and Grabbers
Avoid crayfish and large Macrobrachium shrimp. They will grab fins at night. Also avoid fish that can fit the gourami in their mouth.
Stocking Blueprints That Work
20 Gallon Community
One male dwarf gourami. Ten ember tetra. Eight pygmy Corydoras. Four Amano shrimp. A handful of nerite snails. Dense plants, floating Salvinia or frogbit, gentle sponge prefilter. This setup is calm, colorful, and low-stress.
29 Gallon Community
One male dwarf gourami with two females if available, or one male alone. Twelve harlequin rasbora. Eight to ten Corydoras sterbai or panda. Six Otocinclus introduced after the tank matures. A few nerite or a single mystery snail. Strong planting with wood, caves, and floating cover.
40 Breeder With Mixed Layers
One male dwarf gourami. Twelve rummynose tetra. Ten cherry barb. Ten kuhli loach. Six Amano shrimp. This tank has movement in every layer while staying peaceful.
Setup and Habitat Tips That Improve Compatibility
Use Floating Plants
Floating plants reduce surface glare and provide security. Keep an open lane for breathing. Trim as needed to prevent total coverage.
Break Line of Sight
Use tall stems, wood, and caves to divide the tank into zones. This reduces chasing. Fish feel safer when they can retreat behind cover.
Calm the Flow
Gourami dislike strong currents. Angle the filter output toward glass, use spray bars, or add prefilter sponges to soften flow. Keep surface agitation light.
Feed Smart
Feed small amounts twice a day. Offer floating micro pellets first so the gourami eat calmly. Then add sinking foods for bottom fish. Rotate quality frozen and live foods once or twice a week for condition and color.
Quarantine and Health Considerations
Why Quarantine Matters
Dwarf gourami are vulnerable to stress-related illnesses. Always quarantine new fish for 2 to 4 weeks. Observe for signs of disease such as clamped fins, lesions, lethargy, or white feces. Treat issues before mixing.
Source Carefully
Buy from reputable stores with healthy, active fish. Avoid tanks with visible disease or dead fish. If the store offers female dwarf gourami, that is often a good sign of diverse sourcing and better care.
How to Add New Tank Mates
Step by Step
First, confirm your tank is cycled and stable. Second, rearrange decor slightly to reset territories. Third, release new fish into dimmed lights. Fourth, feed lightly after an hour to reduce exploration anxiety. Fifth, monitor for three days for chasing, hiding, or refusal to eat.
What Healthy Integration Looks Like
Short curiosity, then normal swimming. Schooling fish resume group motion. The gourami patrols its zone, flares rarely, and eats with confidence. No torn fins. No fish pinned to a corner.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Gourami Chasing Small Fish
Add more cover and floating plants. Increase the school size of the target species so attention spreads. Evaluate whether the tank is too small or overcrowded at the surface. If chasing persists and causes damage, rehome the aggressor or the most vulnerable species.
Fin Nipping
Identify the culprit. Look closely at barbs, some tetras, or stressed fish. Increase school size for nippers, improve feeding schedule, and add plants. If nipping continues, rehome the problematic species.
Feeding Pressure
If fast fish grab all food, feed the gourami first with floating micro pellets, then distract active fish on one side while you target-feed the gourami on the other. Use tongs for precise delivery if needed. Offer after-lights-out wafers for bottom dwellers.
Water Care That Keeps Peace
Maintenance Routine
Change 25 to 35 percent of water weekly. Vacuum lightly to avoid disturbing plant roots. Rinse filter media in tank water monthly. Keep temperature and pH stable. Test ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate regularly. Aim for nitrate under 20 ppm.
Lighting and Algae Control
Run lights 6 to 8 hours daily at first, then adjust. Encourage plant growth to outcompete algae. Use Otocinclus and nerites as a maintenance crew, not a fix for imbalance. Balance feeding, light, and nutrients.
Quick Reference: Strong Candidate List
Mid and Upper Layer
Harlequin rasbora, lambchop rasbora, ember tetra, neon tetra, cardinal tetra, rummynose tetra, chili rasbora, pencilfish, hatchetfish for larger tanks, dwarf neon rainbowfish in roomy setups.
Bottom Layer and Clean Up
Pygmy Corydoras, small Corydoras species, kuhli loach, Otocinclus, bristlenose pleco for larger tanks, nerite snails, mystery snails, Amano shrimp.
Conditional Livebearers
Platies and Endlers in neutral, stable water. Guppies with caution in well-planted tanks and with observation for chasing.
Realistic Do Not Keep List
Aggressive or Conflict-Prone Species
Bettas, paradise fish, three spot and related gourami, tiger barbs, serpae tetras, red tail and rainbow sharks, large cichlids.
Mismatch by Environment
White cloud mountain minnows, most danios, large algae eaters that dominate feeding time, crayfish, large predatory shrimp.
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Overstocking the Surface
Too many top dwellers cause stress. Leave calm space for the gourami to breathe and rest.
Ignoring School Sizes
Keep schooling fish in proper numbers. Small groups can become nippy or anxious. Larger groups spread out attention and relax the tank.
Adding Otocinclus Too Early
Wait until the tank has biofilm and is stable. Underfed Otocinclus decline quickly.
Skipping Quarantine
One sick addition can destabilize the whole tank. Quarantine protects your community and your gourami.
Example Upgrade Paths
From 10 to 20 Gallons
Start with a single dwarf gourami, snails, and plants in a 10 gallon. Upgrade to 20 gallons, add a school of 10 ember tetra and 8 pygmy Corydoras. This path is safe and teaches maintenance skills.
From 20 to 29 Gallons
Keep your core group, expand rasboras to 12, add 6 Otocinclus after maturation, and consider adding pencilfish. Maintain structure with plants and wood to separate zones.
Conclusion
The best tank mates for dwarf gourami are peaceful, plant-loving fish that respect calm surface zones and share similar water needs. Start with gentle schooling fish like rasboras and small tetras, add friendly bottom dwellers like Corydoras or kuhli loach, and use Otocinclus and snails for algae control. Avoid fin nippers, hyperactive species, and other surface-claiming labyrinth fish. Keep one male, provide floating plants, and maintain stable water parameters.
Follow these rules and your dwarf gourami will become bolder, brighter, and healthier. Your community will look balanced, your maintenance will simplify, and your aquarium will feel calm. Build with intention, add fish patiently, and enjoy a tank where every species fits.