What kind of honey gourami is this?

[Tonyfo]

I bought this gourami at one of my local fish stores last week. The store had it listed as a red honey gourami. 
 

I want to make sure it is a honey gourami and not a dwarf gourami or thick lipped because then it would be too big for my tank. When I was at the store too they had trouble sexing the fish so is it a male or female?

 

Last question I have is that there is a slight dark spot in front of the dorsal fin and wasn’t sure if that was something I need to be concerned about. Does the fish look healthy? 

[DallasCowboys16]

27 minutes ago, Tonyfo said:

I bought this gourami at one of my local fish stores last week. The store had it listed as a red honey gourami. 
 

I want to make sure it is a honey gourami and not a dwarf gourami or thick lipped because then it would be too big for my tank. When I was at the store too they had trouble sexing the fish so is it a male or female?

 

Last question I have is that there is a slight dark spot in front of the dorsal fin and wasn’t sure if that was something I need to be concerned about. Does the fish look healthy? 

Looks like a red honey gourami to me. They tend to get that deeper orange than some of the more standard yellow morphs.

 

I don’t see any glaring signs of poor health either.

[Tonyfo]

3 hours ago, DallasCowboys16 said:

Looks like a red honey gourami to me. They tend to get that deeper orange than some of the more standard yellow morphs.

 

I don’t see any glaring signs of poor health either.

Thanks that’s good to hear. Any idea on if it’s male or female? Or will it be easier to tell as it grows older

[knee]

Looks like a female red thick lipped gourami (Trichogaster Labiosa)

 

The male red honey gourami (Trichogaster Chuna) looks more like this 

[Lynaea]

The “Honey Gourami?” Link in my siggy may help.

[DallasCowboys16]

On 11/24/2024 at 11:22 PM, knee said:

Looks like a female red thick lipped gourami (Trichogaster Labiosa)

 

The male red honey gourami (Trichogaster Chuna) looks more like this 

 

Upon closer inspection, I believe you are correct. The lips do appear to be larger than your average honey gourami and the lack of color in the caudal fin is a bit of a smoking gun.

Thanks for catching my mistake here and clearing it up for the OP.

 

On 11/25/2024 at 12:33 AM, Lynaea said:

The “Honey Gourami?” Link in my siggy may help.

That post in your signature link is great. Thanks for sharing.

Edited Tuesday at 10:52 PM by DallasCowboys16

[Cinnebuns]

Agree with thick-lipped 

[PonyPlantedTanks]

Definitely a thick lipped. It has a clear tail fin which is an indicator of a non honey. Very pretty one you have though! How big is your tank? 

[MWilk]

Do the males ever display the black coloration when in store? I have never once seen this. 

[Tonyfo]

17 hours ago, PonyPlantedTanks said:

Definitely a thick lipped. It has a clear tail fin which is an indicator of a non honey. Very pretty one you have though! How big is your tank? 

Its just a 10 gallon so probably too small for a thick lipped

[Tonyfo]

On 11/25/2024 at 12:33 AM, Lynaea said:

The “Honey Gourami?” Link in my siggy may help.

Yeah that helped. How do you find just “normal” honey gouramis? I’ve looked a bunch online but can only find the variations

[knee]

21 minutes ago, Tonyfo said:

Yeah that helped. How do you find just “normal” honey gouramis? I’ve looked a bunch online but can only find the variations

By normal do you mean the red coloration like the one I posted? You can try searching for “wild type honey gourami” for that coloration. 

[Tonyfo]

4 minutes ago, knee said:

By normal do you mean the red coloration like the one I posted? You can try searching for “wild type honey gourami” for that coloration. 

Sorry should have been more specific. A gourami that is honey/gold and gets to 2” maximum 

[knee]

4 minutes ago, Tonyfo said:

Sorry should have been more specific. A gourami that is honey/gold and gets to 2” maximum 

You can use the scientific name (Trichogaster Chuna) to get more accurate results online.

 

You can also do what I did and just stared at different pictures until it clicked in my head what the differences are. Once it clicks they're easier to identify even if kept in the same tank.

 

[Tonyfo]

2 minutes ago, knee said:

You can use the scientific name (Trichogaster Chuna) to get more accurate results online.

 

You can also do what I did and just stared at different pictures until it clicked in my head what the differences are. Once it clicks they're easier to identify even if kept in the same tank.

 

Ah okay thanks

[PonyPlantedTanks]

18 hours ago, MWilk said:

Do the males ever display the black coloration when in store?

Not usually since it's breeding dress and they're usually not in the mood to breed while in the store, lol.

 

1 hour ago, Tonyfo said:

How do you find just “normal” honey gouramis?

I have a few tips I've gathered when looking in person at the store - I'm not much help for the online situation.

TRUE HONEYS: Pointier 'snout', colored tail fin, orange across dorsal fin

THICK LIPPED: Clear tail fin, thick lips (ironic, ik), less 'ovally' shaped body

 

From the pictures you gave you tank looks lovely. You could always keep the gourami and when it gets too large you can rehome to someone in your area if that helps? It's a really nice looking fish but I totally get the worry of it being too big for the tank.

[Tonyfo]

33 minutes ago, PonyPlantedTanks said:

Not usually since it's breeding dress and they're usually not in the mood to breed while in the store, lol.

 

I have a few tips I've gathered when looking in person at the store - I'm not much help for the online situation.

TRUE HONEYS: Pointier 'snout', colored tail fin, orange across dorsal fin

THICK LIPPED: Clear tail fin, thick lips (ironic, ik), less 'ovally' shaped body

 

From the pictures you gave you tank looks lovely. You could always keep the gourami and when it gets too large you can rehome to someone in your area if that helps? It's a really nice looking fish but I totally get the worry of it being too big for the tank.

Thanks for the tips I’ll keep them in mind when looking!

[Tonyfo]

On 11/27/2024 at 11:52 AM, knee said:

You can use the scientific name (Trichogaster Chuna) to get more accurate results online.

 

You can also do what I did and just stared at different pictures until it clicked in my head what the differences are. Once it clicks they're easier to identify even if kept in the same tank.

 

What do you think about this picture? Everything looks good except for the clear tail fin.

[PonyPlantedTanks]

I think I’d have to see them in person to tell, but they look more honey than thick lipped?

And hey - you must be in Utah too! Waterfront is my favorite fish store - they sell super healthy fish and I love going in to see all the exotic things they’ve got! Plus they are Co Op retail partners ;)🎉

[PonyPlantedTanks]

The honeys pictured could also be juveniles bc they often don’t get all of their color until they’re older.

[Tonyfo]

2 minutes ago, PonyPlantedTanks said:

I think I’d have to see them in person to tell, but they look more honey than thick lipped?

And hey - you must be in Utah too! Waterfront is my favorite fish store - they sell super healthy fish and I love going in to see all the exotic things they’ve got! Plus they are Co Op retail partners 😉🎉

No way that’s awesome! That’s good to hear. They actually just sent me some pictures of them. 

[knee]

18 minutes ago, Tonyfo said:

No way that’s awesome! That’s good to hear. They actually just sent me some pictures of them. 

Definitely honey gouramis. Very young tho