Licorice Gourami Identification Guide
How to recognize the Licorice Gourami by its tiny slender dark body and thin pale longitudinal stripe.
Read the full Licorice Gourami encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Very small, slender, torpedo-shaped body under about 1.5 inches
- Dark brown to near-black base coloration
- A thin pale longitudinal stripe (cream, blue, or reddish depending on the species) running along the flanks
- Males show intensified color and often a dark-edged, colorfully bordered dorsal, anal, or caudal fin during breeding display
- Overall much more slender and diminutive than most other gourami species
- The genus includes several similar species that differ mainly in the exact color and width of the flank stripe and fin trim
Common look-alikes
- Chocolate gourami: larger and deeper-bodied, with broad pale vertical bands rather than a single thin longitudinal stripe
- Sparkling gourami: shows dense spangled spotting over a reddish-brown body rather than a plain dark body with one thin stripe
Where you'll see one
Licorice gouramis live in extremely soft, acidic blackwater peat swamps and shaded forest streams of Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula, sheltering among leaf litter and roots, and are highly sensitive to water chemistry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Licorice Gourami from a Chocolate Gourami?
The Licorice Gourami is much smaller and slimmer with a single thin pale stripe on a near-black body, while the Chocolate Gourami is larger and deeper-bodied with broad pale bands.
How can I recognize a breeding male Licorice Gourami?
Look for intensified body color and a dark-edged, often colorfully bordered dorsal, anal, or caudal fin, which becomes more pronounced during courtship display.