2 Male Dwarfs

[Derango]

I'm fairly certain I know the answer to this, but I figured I'd ask anyway. But my local fish store only stocks male dwarf gourami's. I have a 20 (US) gallon (tall) tank that's fairly well "planted" (silk artificial plants). I know the males are territorial but is a to 20 gallon large enough for them to stake out their own territories? I've read conflicting reports.

If not, that's cool, I'll just go with one. I'm just trying to avoid setting up a situation headed for disaster.

 

[kizno1]

i think 1 would be best just to be on the safe side.

 

[kelly528]

To my knowledge they only get territorial when there are females for them to squabble over.

 

[-Nemo-]

To my knowledge they only get territorial when there are females for them to squabble over.

I disagree, it's very common for them to go after each other in smaller tanks to the point of stressing the less aggressive one so much, it usually dies.

20G isn't horrible, I'd say it'd be worth a try. No guarantees, of course.

 

[Curiosity101]

I don't think it's worth it.

I have found males to be agressive with ALL other dwarfs both males and females. And they have shown this with or without females/other males present.

In a 20gal TALL tank (the important part being that it is tall), I would really really advise against it. More than one male will almost certainly fight.

 

[Reesy1989]

All depends on the personality of the gourami istelf?

If there is alot of plants and hiding places then it could be possible?

You can have just the one happy gourami or try having two but keep and eye on them to see if they are fighting. If they are take the aggressor back.

 

[kelly528]

The thing abot DGs too is that they (especially the males with their bubblenests) are almost strictly top-dwellers, so it is hard to break up the line of sight with plants, not to mention they don't seem to take to caves too well. I have a male and a female in a 20 and they are working...

Perhaps if you want another centerpiece fish, you could consider something like a krib? They dwell on the bottm of the tank and therefore never cross paths with Gouramis.

 

[aly_starh]

My LFS (who has decided to close without informing anyone) only sold male gouramis too.
In my 65l community tank i have 1 male Dwarf gourami, and aggression wise he gets on fine with my male betta. Its a hit or a miss chance.

But i personally wouldn't risk it. As others have said, there will most probarly be aggression due to territory.

 

[Joe97]

I have two males in a ten gallon but I still wouldn't risk it, you could get him a couple of wives though
Joe

 

[the duck]

To my knowledge they only get territorial when there are females for them to squabble over.

I disagree, it's very common for them to go after each other in smaller tanks to the point of stressing the less aggressive one so much, it usually dies.

20G isn't horrible, I'd say it'd be worth a try. No guarantees, of course.

I just had this very thing happen in my 20 gallon tank like an hour ago, ended up having to take one gourami out back and smash his head in with a piece of firewood to put him/her out of its misery and had to return another one. I wouldn't risk it.