Troubleshooting community setups: see the compatibility result using temperature, pH, GH/KH, adult size, behavior, schooling needs, and predator/prey rules.
Short answer: No, this pairing should usually be avoided. Plan for at least 30 gallons before adjusting for group size, filtration, and aquascape layout.
Data confidence: high
Verified sources: Three spot gourami overview
Yes, this is a major risk. Adult Gold Gourami reach about 5", while Pea Puffer stay near 1". That size gap can turn Pea Puffer into prey, especially at night, during feeding, or once the larger fish is fully grown.
A compatibility score checks adult size, temperature, pH, hardness, temperament, and tank volume. Real tanks add variables the score cannot see directly: feeding aggression, cave ownership, plant cover, and whether fish can constantly see each other.
Gold Gourami and Pea Puffer use different swim zones, but feeding time and open sightlines can still change behavior. Start with at least 30 gallons, then use hardscape, tall plants, and separated feeding zones to reduce chasing before it becomes a pattern.
Confidence: high. Aggression, predator/prey, shrimp risk, schooling, and tank size rules are evaluated from curated freshwater attributes.
Problems can happen even when the gallon number is technically adequate. Check feeding order, repeated access to the same cave or plant mass, school size, and whether the aquascape gives either fish a direct line of sight across the whole tank.
If either species uses the lower half of the tank, add more broken sightlines and avoid placing all food in one corner. Bottom pressure is more about usable floor space than total water volume.
Use tall plants, rock piles, driftwood, and separate feeding stations so a dominant fish cannot patrol one open lane from end to end.