How to Breed Honey Sunset Gourami

Honey sunset gouramis are sought-after aquarium fish, due to their small size and ease of care. Honey gouramis only grow to about 1 ½ inches in length. Although their coloring may first appear dull, they become a gold color once they are comfortable in their surroundings. This sunset coloration gives the honey gourami its name. These fish are also more peaceful and shy than other larger, more aggressive gouramis. Honey sunset gouramis build nests out of bubbles and breed readily in the home aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Freshwater breeding aquarium
  • Tall, leafy aquarium plants
  • Thermometer
  • Submersible aquarium heater
  • Water additives
  • Water testing kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a freshwater breeding aquarium. The aquarium should be about 20 gallons in size and should only house the breeding gourami pair.

    • 2

      Place several tall, leafy aquarium plants in the breeding aquarium. Honey sunset gouramis are timid and require many hiding places in order to feel secure. The water plants provide these hiding locations. Male honey sunset gouramis also tend to build their nests under large leaves at the surface of the water.

    • 3

      Adjust the temperature of the water in the breeding aquarium so it stays at a steady 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Although honey sunset gouramis can usually tolerate a wider temperature range, 80 degrees is best for breeding. The water temperature can be monitored using a thermometer, and raised to 80 degrees using a submersible heater.

    • 4

      Use water additives and a water testing kit to ensure that the pH level of the water in the breeding aquarium stays at 7.0. This is the best pH level for breeding honey sunset gouramis.

    • 5

      Place a male and female honey sunset gourami in the breeding aquarium. Male fish are about ½ inch smaller than the females. Male honey gouramis are also usually more colorful.

    • 6

      Watch the honey sunset gourami pair. After they are placed in the aquarium together, the male should begin building the bubble nest within a few days. The male will then entice the female under the nest to spawn. The male places the eggs in the bubble nest and continues to care for the eggs until they hatch. He also cares for the young until they are free swimming.

    • 7

      Remove the female honey sunset gourami from the breeding aquarium as soon as the spawning is finished. Although honey sunset gourami males are usually not aggressive towards the females, male fish can sometimes become overzealous when guarding the eggs, and may injure the females.