Can Blue Gourami live with Licorice Gourami?
Caution — with care
Why
- Blue Gourami may eat Licorice Gourami; add only full-grown adults, because juveniles and fry will be picked off.
- No overlapping water hardness: Blue Gourami wants 5–20 dGH but Licorice Gourami wants 0–4 dGH.
- Blue Gourami and Licorice Gourami are both labyrinth fish — they claim the same surface territory and will fight, especially between males.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 6–6.
- Blue Gourami is semi-aggressive — give the peaceful Licorice Gourami plenty of space, cover and broken sight lines.
Sweet spot: both do well at 73–82°F and pH 6–6 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Blue Gourami | Licorice Gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 73–82°F |
| pH | 6–8.5 | 4–6 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH | 0–4 dGH |
| Adult size | 5" | 1.4" |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 30 gal | 5 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 gallons.
How to make it work
- Add only full-grown adults — never juveniles, which will be eaten.
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
- Use a larger, well-decorated tank with sightline breaks, keep everyone well-fed, and add the calmer fish first.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
Skapelab plans a complete, buildable planted aquarium around your fish — a hand-illustrated layout, the exact plants and hardscape, a placement map, and a full equipment and shopping list. Free.
Design a tank with Blue Gourami, Licorice Gourami →Everything compatible with Blue Gourami · …with Licorice Gourami