Taxonomy and identification
The honey gourami is commonly accepted as Trichogaster chuna, in the family Osphronemidae. Colisa chuna is an older or alternative combination still widely used in aquarium commerce. It is a labyrinth fish capable of taking atmospheric air. Adults are laterally compressed, with thread-like pelvic fins and a small upturned mouth. The supplied photographs appear to show a selectively bred gold or orange form; the sex of each fish cannot be confirmed reliably from the images alone.
Natural distribution and habitat
This species is native to parts of the Ganges-Brahmaputra drainage, especially northeastern India and Bangladesh. It occurs in slow-moving or quiet waters such as marshes, ponds, small streams and vegetated margins. These habitats commonly have dense plant growth, subdued lighting, soft to moderately hard water and limited current.
Aquarium and tank size
A mature pair can be maintained in an aquarium of about 40 litres, although 60 litres or more provides better territory and water stability. Use a covered tank because gouramis may jump and because access to warm, humid air above the water helps protect labyrinth-organ function. Include dense plants, floating vegetation, shaded areas and open swimming space. Gentle filtration and low circulation are preferable to strong current.
Water parameters
Maintain stable, clean water at 22-28 °C and pH 6.0-7.5. Soft to moderately hard water is suitable, but stability is more important than pursuing a narrowly exact value. Ammonia and nitrite should remain undetectable, with nitrate kept low through regular maintenance. Avoid abrupt changes in temperature, pH or hardness.
Behavior and temperament
Honey gouramis are generally peaceful and spend much of their time in the upper and middle levels. They may investigate cover and surface vegetation, and males can become territorial when courting or guarding a nest. They are less robust than many active community fish and may become shy in brightly lit, sparsely decorated or turbulent aquariums. A pair can work well, provided the female has cover and the male is not constantly pursuing her.
Diet
Offer a varied diet of small, good-quality flakes or micro-pellets supplemented with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and mosquito larvae from safe, appropriate sources. Feed small portions once or twice daily and remove uneaten food. Fine foods are particularly useful for young fish and breeding adults.
Compatibility
Suitable companions include other peaceful, small community fish such as small rasboras, peaceful tetras, small danionins and non-aggressive bottom-dwelling species. Avoid fin-nippers, very active feeders, large fish and aggressive gouramis or cichlids. Keep water flow moderate and provide plants or other visual barriers. Shrimp may be ignored when adult, but newly hatched shrimplets can be eaten.
Breeding
Breeding occurs through bubble-nest construction at the surface, often among floating plants. Condition the adults with nutritious live or frozen foods, provide calm shallow-to-moderate water and maintain warm, stable conditions. The male typically builds the nest, courts the female and tends the eggs after spawning. Remove the female if she is persistently harassed, and consider moving the male or raising the fry separately once the larvae become free-swimming. Fry require very small first foods, such as infusoria or a suitable commercial liquid fry food, followed by larger foods as they grow.
Health and care notes
Use a fully cycled aquarium, quarantine new fish and perform regular partial water changes. Observe appetite, breathing, coloration and the condition of the delicate thread-like pelvic fins. Poor water quality, excessive current, chronic stress and unsuitable tank mates are common causes of decline. Because the supplied label and photographs do not establish exact sex, strain or provenance, identification confidence is moderate rather than absolute.
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