13 Honey Gourami Facts: History, Information and Fun

There are a lot of Honey Gourami facts that make it special.

The Honey Gourami Trichogaster chuna is a very colorful especially when it gets settled. They are a great addition to a smaller aquarium.

They have soft hues of silvery gray to light yellow. Oftentimes you might see one with a very light horizontal brown stripe along the center.

Honey Gourami males usually develop a vibrant honey color when in breeding mode. This contrasts strongly with the blue-black marking that adorns its underside running across the face, throat, and abdomen.

There are so many things that make it unique and special in comparison to the other Gourami species in the world.

Interested to find out which they are? Then read below to find out the 10 Honey Gourami facts.

The male and female Honey Gourami were first identified as two different species

One of the historical Honey Gourami facts indicates that in 1882, Francis Hamilton misidentified the male and female Honey Gourami as two different species.

Because of the differences in color between the sexes, he incorrectly described the male and female as two different species.

He named the male Trichopodus chuna and the female Trichopodus sota.

For a long time, literature was published with both species names. However, they are recognized as only one species today.

Honey Gourami are always confused with the Dwarf Gourami

Honey Gourami and Dwarf Gourami (Species: Trichogaster lalius ) are very closely related. The Dwarf Gourami is far more popular and well-known.

The confusion comes about because the coloring of either gender is pretty bland in retail stores. They can even be confused with female Dwarf Gouramis.

---

Male Honey Gourami has a different color compared to the female Honey Gourami

Males have beautiful bright orange-yellow color. The females are plain, have slightly shaded brownish orange body with a silvery fluorescent glow.

---

Among the weird Honey Gourami facts is the origin of the word

The color of the Gourami fish was the inspiration for the name “Honey”

The Honey Gourami gets the name because of its Light brown to yellow color that looks like honey.

This was primarily observed on the color of the male Honey Gourami.

---

The Honey Gourami is called different names

The Honey Gourami is also known as the Honey Dwarf Gourami, Sunset Gourami, Red Flame Honey Gourami, Dwarf Fire Gourami etc.

Honey Gourami can live up to 4 to 6 years in proper care.

Honey Gourami can live up to 4 to 6 years when they are properly looked after. Two of the factors that will definitely extend the life expectancy are:

• Good temperature regulation. An aquarium that is not too warm (24-26 ° • Proper and controlled feeding

Some Honey Gourami sold on pet stores are “fake”: Another one of those weird Honey Gourami facts

Some of the “Honey Gourami” sold in pet stores is not actually “Trichogaster chuna” but a color variety of probably Trichogaster labiosa.

---

Informational Honey Gourami facts: Honey Gourami do not use plants in their nests

This fish doesn’t use any plants in its nest, like dwarf gourami does, but gourami likes to have its nest under leaves of floating plants.

The males are more tolerant and calm towards females and respect if they are temporally not ready for spawning.

---

During mating, the male Honey Gourami guards the nest until the female Honey Gourami joins the mating ritual

The male stands vertically in front of the female, slowly gets to the nest and makes her get there. This will last till the female gets inside the nest and they start spawning.

To make sure the eggs are laid in the right place, the fish warp their bodies together in a “spawning embrace” below the bubble nest. Their eggs are placed amongst the bubbles to make sure they receive plenty of oxygen.

---

The male Honey Gourami is responsible for looking after the nest.

One of the weird Honey Gourami facts that points to the fact that sometimes fish also display equality!

After spawning is over, the male Honey Gourami will carefully collect the eggs that missed the nest and put them into it.

The male guards the nest and the juveniles. Male Honey Gouramis are excellent fathers and build a nest of bubbles and vegetation in which to rear the young

To survive low oxygen levels, they can breathe air from the surface of water.

Honey Gouramis evolved to live in swamps where the conditions are not always good. Swampy waters sometimes have low.

That is why Honey Gouramis have evolved to breathe air from the surface of water. This is now so vital that they can drown if trapped underwater

---

Honey Gouramis can detect the presence of food from a distance

To cope with living in murky water, Honey Gouramis have specially adapted hair-like fins with taste buds on the end.

This enables them to investigate objects at a safe distance

---

The color of wild Honey Gouramis and aquarium Honey Gouramis is different

Wild Honey Gouramis only come in one color – females are brownish with a stripe and males are orange with a black throat when they are in the mood to mate

Thanks to years of breeding in captivity, there’s also the yellow form to brighten up your aquarium

---