Honey Gourami

Temperature: 77-83
Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons

These are excellent starter fish, and theyre really interesting, too. They are long-lived (up to 8 years), hardy, and grow to about 3 each. You can keep one in a tank of just 10 gallons, which is great for most people looking for a desktop companion. Honey gourami are pretty shy at first, but they become quite friendly once theyve gotten used to their surroundings.

So, why do we think this is such an interesting fish? So many reasons! First, like most gourami, they have whisker-like ventral fins, which they use to poke around in front of them. Its really interesting to watch them explore their environments. Also, like archerfish, they will sometimes squirt water out of the tank! This is a hunting method, and they use it to bring down small insects out of the air. Its not very common behaviour, but if youre lucky, you might see them do it.

Also, much like bettas, the honey gourami has a labyrinth organ, allowing it to breathe air from the surface. Also like bettas, it builds bubble nests when breeding. They love having plenty of places to rest and hide in their tanks.