Can Opaline Gourami live with Thick-lipped Gourami?
Caution — with care
Why
- Opaline Gourami and Thick-lipped Gourami are both labyrinth fish — they claim the same surface territory and will fight, especially between males.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 6–7.5 dGH.
- Opaline Gourami is semi-aggressive — give the peaceful Thick-lipped Gourami plenty of space, cover and broken sight lines.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–82°F and pH 6.5–7.6 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Opaline Gourami | Thick-lipped Gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6–8.5 | 6.5–7.6 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH | 6–7.5 dGH |
| Adult size | 6" | 3.5" |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 30 gal | 30 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 gallons.
How to make it work
- Use a larger, well-decorated tank with sightline breaks, keep everyone well-fed, and add the calmer fish first.
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Opaline Gourami, Thick-lipped Gourami →Everything compatible with Opaline Gourami · …with Thick-lipped Gourami