Sparkling gourami Tank Mates
Short answer: the best sparkling gourami tank mates are Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. Sparkling gouramis need 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 5–7.5 and at least 10 gallons.
Sparkling gourami care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.6 in (4 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) |
| pH | 5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | All levels |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (44)
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Discus
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (18)
- Cherry shrimp — Sparkling gourami will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Betta fish — Gouramis and bettas often squabble with similar-looking labyrinth fish at the surface.
- Dwarf gourami — Dwarf gourami is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like sparkling gourami; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like sparkling gourami; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Sparkling gourami 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like sparkling gourami; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Rainbow shark — Rainbow shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
- Red tail shark — Red tail shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like sparkling gourami; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Sparkling gourami 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
❌ Not recommended (9)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) vs Sparkling gourami 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sparkling gourami (4 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful sparkling gourami.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Sparkling gourami 22–28 °C (72–82 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for sparkling gourami.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F) vs Sparkling gourami 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful sparkling gourami.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat sparkling gourami (4 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sparkling gourami (4 cm).
How many sparkling gouramis per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with sparkling gouramis?
Good matches include Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. They share a temperature range with sparkling gouramis (72–82 °F (22–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with sparkling gouramis?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, White cloud mountain minnow, Electric yellow cichlid, Paradise fish.
What size tank do sparkling gouramis need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for one sparkling gourami, more if you add tank mates.
Can sparkling gouramis live alone?
Yes. Sparkling gouramis do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.