colors of honey gourami

[amcoffeegirl]

at my lfs today they had a tank with 3 different kind of honey gourami. i did not know that there were different color variations available. i got one they called a blue honey. its very orange with dark blue running along the dorsal its tail is clear. i will try to get a pic 2moro. the other color they had looked light orange like a sunset platy. and the regular version with just orange on its tail. the new varieties were very brightly colored and made they standard look plain in comparison.

[Diana]

Well, I know there are some hybrids available.
Common names may or may not mean the fish are actually color variations of the original fish. (I have even seen the gold variety of the 3-spot Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) called Honey Gourami) I know there is one that is similar in size and shape to the Honey, but more of a red-orange, pale or clear tail, and not really any other markings. I have seen pictures of some that do indeed look more like the Sunset Platy (yellow and orange blend) and of the blue variation you are describing.

The male Honey Gourami that I am familiar with sounds somewhat like what you are seeing: Richer orange than the female, dark (almost black, but not blue) face and going into the belly, and yellow dorsal fin, orange tail, though not as bright as the body. The female is pale, more tan-grey, and may show a sort of horizontal band. This is the original species. Trichogaster chuna is the currently accepted name, though this has changed more than once over the years.

[amcoffeegirl]

here is a pic

[Diana]

Interesting color. I think I like the more subtle shade of orange of the original, though. Not that red-orange.