Thick-Lipped Gourami

Trichogaster labiosa

Also known as: Sunset gourami, Red robin gourami

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 36–268 ppm (2–15 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A hardy, peaceful gourami that has quietly become the smarter alternative to the dwarf gourami, most often sold in the brilliant orange 'sunset' or 'red robin' form. Slightly larger than the dwarf and, importantly, free of the iridovirus that makes that fish such a gamble from chain stores, it is a calm, undemanding labyrinth fish for a community tank, breathing air at the surface and glowing a warm orange that intensifies in a planted tank under subdued light. It asks only for a covered tank, gentle tankmates, and a varied diet. A genuinely good-natured and reliable centrepiece, and the one to choose when the look of a dwarf gourami is wanted without the disease risk.

Tankmates

A peaceful, hardy gourami well-suited to a calm community, best kept as a single specimen or a male-female pair. Like all labyrinth fish it needs surface access and a warm, covered tank. Avoid keeping it with bettas or other similarly-sized gouramis, which trigger competition, and with fin-nippers. It pairs happily with small peaceful tetras and rasboras, corydoras, kuhli loaches, and otocinclus, and is gentle enough to be trusted with adult shrimp in a planted tank. Males are slightly more colourful and develop a more pointed dorsal fin.

Compatible with

• Honey Gourami
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Neon Tetra
• Bronze Corydoras
• Ember Tetra
• Kuhli Loach
• Otocinclus
• Cherry Shrimp

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Dwarf Gourami
• Three Spot Gourami
• Tiger Barb
• Fin Nippers

Common Problems

• shyness in bright or sparse tanks
• competition if kept with bettas or other gouramis
• ich
• occasional bloat from overfeeding

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20