Can Finger Fish and Licorice Gourami Live Together?

Finger Fish is a moderately assertive species (5/10), while Licorice Gourami is peaceful (2/10). This modest difference means Finger Fish may occasionally assert dominance over Licorice Gourami.

Finger Fish and Licorice Gourami both frequent the Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Additional behavioural considerations to keep in mind: Hyperactive swimmers can stress shy, slow-moving species through constant motion.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 26.0°C) for optimal comfort.

The pH requirements of Finger Fish (7.5–8.5) and Licorice Gourami (3–6) do not overlap, making it impossible to satisfy both species simultaneously.

Hardness requirements are incompatible: Finger Fish needs 12–30 dGH while Licorice Gourami requires 0–4 dGH.

Crucially, these species require different water types — one needs freshwater while the other requires brackish conditions. This is a hard barrier to keeping them together.

To house Finger Fish and Licorice Gourami together, plan for an aquarium of at least 470 litres with a minimum length of 150 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Finger Fish is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Licorice Gourami's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.

Finger Fish and Licorice Gourami are the kind of pair that can look acceptable in a shop but become a maintenance problem at home. The main risk is not a single number in the chart; it is the way incompatible behavior, water needs, or pressure on space compounds over time once both fish are established in the same tank.