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Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Pearl Gourami live with Tiger Barb?

Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gourami

Trichopodus leerii

peaceful~12cm
Tiger Barb

Tiger Barb

Puntigrus tetrazona

semi-aggressive~7cm
VerdictRISKY

Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.

Pearl Gourami + Tiger Barb: Known incompatible pairing. Tiger barbs nip flowing fins habitually. Pearl gouramis carry exactly the trailing fins a barb school targets. Even in a proper group of eight barbs, the gourami's fins are gone within weeks. Real tanks add variables Fishori cannot model; treat this as a high-risk read, not certainty.

Compatibility score

30/100

Profile confidence: medium

Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.

Min tank

100L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 100L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C24–27°C shared
Pearl GouramiTiger BarbShared window
pH
Range6–7.5 shared
Pearl GouramiTiger BarbShared window
Temperament / behaviour

Tiger Barb is a fin nipper and Pearl Gourami is vulnerable to nipping — long fins are a common target even when water parameters match.

Assessment details

  1. Known incompatible pairing

    Top issue

    Tiger barbs nip flowing fins habitually. Pearl gouramis carry exactly the trailing fins a barb school targets. Even in a proper group of eight barbs, the gourami's fins are gone within weeks.

  2. Temperament difference

    Tiger Barb is semi-aggressive, while Pearl Gourami is peaceful. Expect chasing or stress unless the tank is large and heavily structured — monitor closely.

  3. Fin nipping risk

    Tiger Barb is a known fin nipper and Pearl Gourami has long, flowing fins. Tiger Barb will likely harass Pearl Gourami.

  4. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

“Tiger barbs nip flowing fins habitually”

Known incompatible pairing

Next steps

Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.

  • •Provide plenty of hiding spots and visual breaks so Pearl Gourami can escape if harassed.
  • •Avoid keeping Tiger Barb with long-finned fish like Pearl Gourami.
  • •Tiger Barb should be kept in a group of at least 8 for best health and behaviour.

Try instead

  • →Swap tiger barbs for cherry barbs or harlequin rasboras if you want active colour without relentless nipping.
Sources from both profiles
Only URLs that exist on the species records are shown. We do not fabricate citations.
  • Seriously Fish. Trichopodus leerii

    Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).

  • FishBase. Trichopodus leerii

    Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.

  • Wikipedia. Trichopodus leerii

    Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.

  • Seriously Fish. Puntigrus tetrazona

    Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).

  • FishBase. Puntigrus tetrazona

    Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.

  • Wikipedia. Puntigrus tetrazona

    Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.

Try this next

Build the full stocking list with Pearl Gourami + Tiger Barb

Compare another pairOpen tank builder

Plan further

Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.

Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.

Profile data confidence: high. Checked against several solid care sources that mostly agree.

Full tank-mate guides

Related pair checks

Other tank mates for Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gourami + Tiger Barb — common questions

Can Pearl Gourami live with Tiger Barb?
For most keepers, no. The verdict is RISKY: at least one check fails hard for a typical home tank. Choose a different pairing, or read the assessment details on this page to see exactly what fails before deciding.
What tank size do you need for Pearl Gourami and Tiger Barb together?
Plan around 100 litres as the working minimum. That figure comes from each species' published minimum and their group needs, and it assumes adult sizes, not shop sizes.
What's the main risk?
Known incompatible pairing. That is the check that fails outright for this pair. The matching entry under assessment details on this page explains the reasoning and the numbers behind it.
What should you check before buying?
Provide plenty of hiding spots and visual breaks so Pearl Gourami can escape if harassed. Avoid keeping Tiger Barb with long-finned fish like Pearl Gourami.