Tank mates for moonlight gouramis
We checked moonlight gouramis against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for moonlight gouramis include nerite snail, guppy, angelfish, assassin snail, ramshorn snail and honey gourami. Avoid betta fish, cherry shrimp and common goldfish: betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like moonlight gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
Moonlight gouramis: 25–29°C (77–84°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 14 cm (5.5 in), minimum tank 29 gallons (110 L). Full moonlight gourami care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (51)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 29+ gal
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Bala shark
30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+
Blood parrot cichlid
20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal
Boesemani rainbowfish
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Electric blue acara
15 cm (5.9 in) · 40+ gal
Firemouth cichlid
13 cm (5.1 in) · 29+ gal
German blue ram
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Molly
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal
Black ghost knifefish
45 cm (17.7 in) · 125+ gal
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Bolivian ram
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Cockatoo cichlid
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kissing gourami
20 cm (7.9 in) · 75+ gal
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Rabbit snail
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Ropefish
35 cm (13.8 in) · 75+ gal
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Severum
20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Zebra pleco
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Caution Possible, with care (60)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Dwarf gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase moonlight gouramis, which use the same area.
- Neon tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Oscar · 75+ gal
- Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller moonlight gouramis.
- Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Zebra danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Zebra danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- African dwarf frog · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
- Moonlight gourami hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Black skirt tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Clown loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Denison barb · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Denison barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Discus · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–29°C).
- Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
- Moonlight gourami hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Mystery snail · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Otocinclus · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Platy · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
- Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller moonlight gouramis.
- Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Three spot gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase moonlight gouramis, which use the same area.
- Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- African butterfly fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase moonlight gouramis, which use the same area.
- Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
- Moonlight gourami hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
- Black phantom tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
- Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Clown killifish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Dwarf chain loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
- Moonlight gourami may eat Endler's livebearers, especially young or small ones.
- Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Giant danio · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Giant danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Glass catfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Odessa barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Odessa barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Panda garra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
- Penguin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Swordtail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
- Moonlight gourami may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
- Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Moonlight gourami hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Zebra loach · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Black ruby barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Flame tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Moonlight gourami may eat flame tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Keyhole cichlid · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Pearl danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Pearl danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
- Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Variatus platy · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Avoid Bad tank mates (38)
- Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like moonlight gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
- Cherry shrimp: Moonlight gourami eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of moonlight gouramis.
- Celestial pearl danio: Moonlight gourami can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chili rasbora: Moonlight gourami can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
- Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Moonlight gouramis don't belong in that setup.
- Ember tetra: Moonlight gourami can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Hillstream loach: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), hillstream loach 20–24°C (68–75°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
- Pea puffer: Moonlight gourami can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of moonlight gouramis. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Moonlight gouramis don't belong in that setup.
- Pygmy corydoras: Moonlight gourami can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Moonlight gouramis don't belong in that setup.
- Rosy barb: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), rosy barb 18–24°C (64–75°F).
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Buenos Aires tetra: Buenos Aires tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of moonlight gouramis.
- Crystal red shrimp: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), crystal red shrimp 20–24°C (68–75°F). Moonlight gourami eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Moonlight gouramis don't belong in that setup.
- Dwarf orange crayfish: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), dwarf orange crayfish 18–24°C (64–75°F).
- Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Moonlight gouramis don't belong in that setup.
- Gold barb: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), gold barb 18–24°C (64–75°F).
- Green terror: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), green terror 20–24°C (68–75°F). Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
- Kubotai rasbora: Moonlight gourami can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Paradise fish: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), paradise fish 16–24°C (61–75°F). Paradise fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like moonlight gouramis, mistaking them for rivals.
- Rosy loach: Moonlight gourami can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Scarlet badis: Moonlight gourami can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Serpae tetra: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of moonlight gouramis.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Moonlight gouramis don't belong in that setup.
- Dwarf rasbora: Moonlight gourami can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Glowlight danio: They need different temperatures: Moonlight gourami 25–29°C (77–84°F), glowlight danio 20–24°C (68–75°F).
- Green neon tetra: Moonlight gourami can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Least killifish: Moonlight gourami can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with moonlight gouramis?
Good tank mates for moonlight gouramis include nerite snail, guppy, angelfish, assassin snail, ramshorn snail and honey gourami. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat moonlight gouramis.
Can moonlight gouramis live with angelfish?
Yes. They share similar water needs (25–29°C (77–84°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can moonlight gouramis live with bettas?
No. Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like moonlight gouramis, mistaking them for rivals. Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase moonlight gouramis, which use the same area.
Can moonlight gouramis live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Can moonlight gouramis live with bronze corydoras?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.