Can Honey gourami Live With Pearl gourami?

The pearl gourami is one of the most peaceful of the gouramis and an excellent community fish, so temperament is not the issue here. Size and pace are. A pearl reaches 12 cm against the honey's 5.5, and the honey is slow moving and easily outcompeted for food by larger or more vigorous company.

Water is no obstacle, with 24 to 27 °C and pH 6 to 7.5 suiting both. Both are labyrinth fish, so keep the surface calm and the lid tight over the humid layer they breathe from.

Space is what makes it workable. Pearls are measured for at least 100 litres, and males are territorial with one another and persistent with females when breeding, so a single male with plenty of cover is the safer stocking. Keep four to six honeys so they can spread their own hierarchy among themselves, feed in several spots, and give both species floating plants and shaded corners to retreat into.