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Encyclopedia / Gouramis & Bettas / Thick-lipped gourami
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Variations

2 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Thick-lipped gourami

Trichogaster labiosa · Thicklip gourami, Thick-lipped, Red thicklip, Sunset gourami

Peaceful and shy; males may squabble.

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10 cmBody length, without tail ✓
22–27 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
67 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Thick-lipped gourami is tropical.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Thick-lipped gourami only grows to 10 cm.
Not recommended
  • Oscar eats animals up to about 12 cm. Thick-lipped gourami only grows to 10 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.5.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

391 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–15 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Top
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful and shy; males may squabble. Best with other calm fish in a planted tank.

Food

Flakes, micro-pellets, frozen brine shrimp and daphnia.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are larger and more colourful, and mature males develop slightly pointed dorsal and anal fins. In the gold/sunset strain females are almost as colourful as males.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Bubble-nester · Moderate

Bubblenester. The male builds a large nest among floating plants, spits the sinking eggs into it and guards the brood; remove the female after spawning. Keep the tank tightly covered so the fry have warm, humid air for the labyrinth organ.

Pairing

Put a conditioned pair into a 40-60 L tank with floating plants.

Setup

40-60 L planted tank with floating cover, low flow, 28 C and level lowered to 15 cm.

What starts it

Warm water, live and frozen food, a small water change.

Eggs

500-1,000 eggs; they hatch in about 24-36 hours and the fry swim freely 2-3 days later.

Raising the fry

Infusoria for 3 days, then newly hatched brine shrimp; remove the female after spawning.

Common mistakes
  • Overly strong filter
  • Cold air above the water
  • Aggressive male harassing the female
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionMyanmar
HabitatSlow, vegetated rivers, ponds and ditches
Native rangeAbout 500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the thick-lipped gourami

A close relative of the dwarf and banded gouramis from southern Myanmar. It is peaceful and easy, and Seriously Fish rates it much more suitable for a community tank than the dwarf gourami. The orange sunset form is a selectively bred strain, and it should not be kept with the banded gourami because the two hybridise freely.

British ichthyologist Francis Day described this gourami in 1877. It has long been kept by aquarists and is known for its hardy, peaceful nature.

First described by Francis Day in 1877. Named for 'Labiosa' refers to its thick lips.

  • Males turn deep orange-brown with a blue throat when breeding.
  • It is closely related to the banded and dwarf gouramis.
  • Males build large bubble nests at the surface.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources