One of the best gouramis to keep in a community tank, and is actually much more suitable than the popular dwarf gourami, C. lalia. If you buy a group of these as youngsters they will usually live together quite peacefully for life. Other suitable tankmates include danios, rasboras, smaller barbs and loaches. It will also do well with other peaceful anabantoids. Don’t keep it with the closely-related banded or giant gourami, C. fasciata, though. While they are considered distinct species, these two can hybridise freely.