Moonlight Gourami Tank Mates

Moonlight Gourami is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 173 freshwater species that pair well with a moonlight gourami — plus the 40 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Moonlight Gourami care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a moonlight gourami

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Flame Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Yellow Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Black Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
With caution

Moonlight Gourami tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Moonlight Gourami 6–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Moonlight Gourami, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 115 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Angelicus Synodontis clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 115 L tank is below the ~132 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.

+ 119 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a moonlight gourami

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Moonlight Gourami is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Moonlight Gourami is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (100 vs 15 cm): Fire Eel will treat Moonlight Gourami as food.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.

+ 32 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a moonlight gourami

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a moonlight gourami, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Moonlight Gourami?

We compare each fish against your moonlight gourami on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Banjo Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bristlenose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Clown Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Convict Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Cupid Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Giant Betta✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Giant Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–30 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Golden Wonder Killifish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Keyhole Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Kribensis✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Medusa Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Molly✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pearl Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Porthole Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Striped Eel Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Swordtail✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Blue Flash Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Blue Flash Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Bumblebee Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect Bumblebee Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Clown Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~132 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Clown Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Denison Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Dolphin Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Expect Dolphin Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~208 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Electric Blue Acara⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 16 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Electric Blue Acara to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Emperor Peacock Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.6–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect Emperor Peacock Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Moonlight Gourami 6–7.5 vs Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Expect Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Firemouth Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–29 °C (72–84 °F)
    • Expect Firemouth Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Gold Zebra Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 25–29 °C (77–84 °F)
    • Gold Zebra Loach is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~130 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Green Phantom Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Green Phantom Pleco is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Jewel Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Jewel Cichlid and Moonlight Gourami are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add moonlight gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Panama Convict Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Panama Convict Cichlid and Moonlight Gourami are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add moonlight gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yoyo Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Yoyo Loach and Moonlight Gourami are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add moonlight gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
    • Alligator Gar clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
    • Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 15 cm): Fire Eel will treat Moonlight Gourami as food.
    • Expect Fire Eel to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Moonlight Gourami is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
    • Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Moonlight Gourami is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Moonlight Gourami whole.
    • Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 115 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up a moonlight gourami community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 115 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a moonlight gourami

As a peaceful species, moonlight gourami is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the middle of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Moonlight Gourami grows to about 15 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 8 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 25–30 °C (77–86 °F), pH 6–7.5 and 2–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Moonlight Gourami doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a moonlight gourami live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 173 compatible freshwater species for moonlight gourami. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a moonlight gourami?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a moonlight gourami?

Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do moonlight gourami tank mates need?

Start from Moonlight Gourami's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 115 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Moonlight Gourami care guide