Thick Lipped Gourami Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Thick Lipped Gourami is a peaceful, laterally compressed labyrinth fish with a rounded body, prominent fleshy lips and long, thread-like pelvic feelers. Wild-type fish are usually brownish or olive with subtle markings, while aquarium strains are often rich orange, red and blue, especially across the flanks and fins.

These gouramis are generally calm and deliberate swimmers, spending much of their time among surface cover and vegetation. They breathe atmospheric air using a labyrinth organ, an adaptation that allows them to survive in warm, slow-moving waters that may contain relatively little dissolved oxygen.

Males are typically the more colourful sex, developing strong red-orange tones and sometimes blue-green patterning. Their peaceful nature makes them appealing community fish, although mature males can become territorial around a bubble nest or when confined with other gouramis in a small aquarium.

In nature, Thick Lipped Gouramis live among dense aquatic plants, roots and overhanging vegetation. Their subdued, unhurried behaviour and ability to explore the upper and middle levels of the aquarium give them a distinctive presence without the constant activity of many schooling species.

Thick Lipped Gouramis originate in South and Southeast Asia, particularly western Myanmar, where they inhabit slow-moving streams, marshes, ponds and heavily vegetated waters. They are associated with the Irrawaddy basin and nearby lowland waterways.

A minimum aquarium of around 75 litres is suitable for one Thick Lipped Gourami or a compatible pair, with a footprint of at least 60 × 30 cm; a larger tank is preferable for multiple fish. Use a gentle filter and avoid strong surface currents, leaving access to humid air above the water. Dense planting, floating plants, driftwood and shaded areas provide security and help divide territories, while open swimming space should remain available. A dark, fine-grained substrate or smooth gravel complements their colours, and the aquarium should have a secure cover to keep the air above the water warm and moist.

Up to approximately 9 cm (3.5 in) in total length. Males are usually slightly larger and more robust than females, although individual size varies.

Thick Lipped Gouramis are omnivores and should receive a varied diet of quality tropical flakes or small floating pellets, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm and mosquito larvae. Small portions of vegetable matter, including spirulina-based foods, can also be offered. Feed modest amounts once or twice daily, ensuring all food is eaten promptly.

Thick Lipped Gouramis can share a peaceful community aquarium with similarly gentle fish such as harlequin rasboras, peaceful tetras, danios, small barbs, kuhli loaches, corydoras and other peaceful bottom-dwellers. Avoid fin-nipping species, boisterous tankmates and large or aggressive fish. Keeping multiple gouramis requires adequate space and visual barriers, as males may quarrel; avoid housing them with notably aggressive gourami species or other territorial anabantoids.

Thick Lipped Gouramis are bubble-nest builders. Condition a compatible pair with plenty of nutritious foods, then provide warm, calm water and floating plants or plant leaves beneath which the male can construct his nest. The male embraces the female to collect the eggs and places them in the nest, after which the female should be removed because the male guards the eggs. The male tends the nest until the fry hatch, and the young need very small first foods such as infusoria before progressing to larger foods.

Males are generally slimmer and more vividly coloured, often showing stronger red, orange and blue patterning with more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Females are usually plumper, less intensely coloured and have shorter, more rounded fins.