Red Lily Gourami

Red Lily Gourami is a beautiful colour form of the dwarf gourami group, admired for its rich red to orange glow and graceful swimming style. This freshwater fish works especially well in peaceful community aquariums where its colour can stand out against green plants and dark substrate. It is a good choice for aquarists who want a small centerpiece fish with personality, colour and relatively manageable care needs.

Because this fish is a labyrinth fish, it can breathe atmospheric air from the surface in addition to using its gills. A calm aquarium with gentle flow, stable water quality and a few planted hiding spots helps it settle quickly. Red Lily Gourami usually does best when kept with non-aggressive tank mates that will not nip fins or constantly chase it around the tank.

Key Features

• Appearance: Slim-bodied gourami with a bright red-orange sheen, soft iridescence and elegant finnage that gives it a premium display look in nano to medium community tanks.
• Size: Commonly sold at a small aquarium-ready size and can grow to around 6-7 cm as an adult with proper feeding and stable water conditions.
• Colors: Dominant fiery red to orange tones, sometimes with subtle patterning or shading depending on age, gender and stress level during transport.
• Lifespan: With clean water, a balanced diet and low-stress tank conditions, it may live around 3-5 years in home aquariums.
• Temperament: Generally peaceful but can be mildly territorial toward similar-shaped fish or other male gouramis in smaller tanks.
• Water Type: Freshwater species suited to established aquariums with stable filtration and low to moderate current.

Care Requirements

• Tank Size: A tank of at least 45 litres is recommended for a single specimen, while larger planted community setups offer better territory, stability and compatibility.
• Water Parameters: Ideal temperature is around 24-28°C with pH roughly 6.5-7.5. Soft to moderately hard water is usually well accepted when changes are gradual.
• Diet: Omnivorous and easy to feed on quality micro pellets, fine flakes, crushed granules and occasional protein-rich treats such as bloodworms or brine shrimp.
• Tank Mates: Best with peaceful tetras, rasboras, corydoras and other calm community fish. Avoid large aggressive cichlids, fin nippers and overcrowded setups.
• Care Tips: Provide floating plants or shaded areas, avoid harsh water movement, maintain a covered tank to keep warm humid air above the surface, and quarantine new arrivals when possible.
• Aquascape Preference: Dense planting, driftwood accents and open mid-water swimming space help this fish show natural colour and relaxed behaviour.

For best results, introduce Red Lily Gourami into a mature aquarium rather than a newly set up tank. Stable water quality, peaceful stocking and varied feeding are the main factors that help this fish display its best colour and confident behaviour.