55

[metfan581]

ok so idecided that i would be going witha less agressive community tank and i decided to make kissing gouramis the focus point
it this good?
can 2 kissing gouramis live in a 55?
is there anything else I can add?

the fish index says they will be fine in a 30
so..




is there anything else I can add?

what do you sugget?

 

[metfan581]

BUMP

 

[TammyLiz]

I would think 2 should be fine but I don't keep kissing gouramis, so don't take that statement as if its from someone with experience! I have 5 three-spot gouramis in a 55 gallon tank, one male and four females, and they get along pretty well. Four might be better. But kissing gouramis are harder to sex so that many would possibly give you too many males.

I have barbs and loaches with mine. I would reccommend that combination. My barbs are odessas and the loaches are mostly yoyos, but you could go with rosy barbs or another barb with a similar disposition. Tiger barbs can be pretty nippy but -I think- are better in large groups (8-10). Other substitutes for the bottom if you don't want or can't get yoyos or other smaller loaches (not clowns, unless you plan on getting a larger tank for them later), is a school of cories.

 

[metfan581]

I would think 2 should be fine but I don't keep kissing gouramis, so don't take that statement as if its from someone with experience! I have 5 three-spot gouramis in a 55 gallon tank, one male and four females, and they get along pretty well. Four might be better. But kissing gouramis are harder to sex so that many would possibly give you too many males.

I have barbs and loaches with mine. I would reccommend that combination. My barbs are odessas and the loaches are mostly yoyos, but you could go with rosy barbs or another barb with a similar disposition. Tiger barbs can be pretty nippy but -I think- are better in large groups (8-10). Other substitutes for the bottom if you don't want or can't get yoyos or other smaller loaches (not clowns, unless you plan on getting a larger tank for them later), is a school of cories.

thanks

 

[sylvia]

Kissing gouramies are actualy impossible to sex visualy.

2 in a 55 gallon should be fine.
I know the fish index says 30 gallons - but that's actualy an absolute minnimum as some kissers grow to an excess of 8" - up to 10" is quite usual.

Having said that, kissers can be aggressive towards each other so they do need to have space to themselves and avoid keeping them with anything small enough to swallow as they will eat anything they can fit in their mouths.
Actualy, that brings me on to another point - if you've never kept kissers before, you should be aware that they can and will destroy plants. Sometimes this is simply the result of trying to graze algae off fragile elaves but often they simply like to eat your plants. Soft ones are particularly in danger so things like amazon sword are generaly left alone.

You can keep most relatively peaceful, medium-sized fish with kissers but I'd suggest going for a few bottom-dwellers and one large-ish schooling species. Try to avoid crowding them by ensuring that none of their tankmates are top-dwelling fish. Things like boesmani or melanotaenia lacustris rainbowfish make ideal mid-dwelling schooling tankmates. these two particular species reach about 4" and would do great in a 55 gallon in a group of at least 6. For lower level fish, loaches were already suggested. Pretty much any non-nippy medium-sized loach would do. Things like zebra loaches or yo-yos are great. You can also keep most catfish, including smaller plecs such as bristlenoses, with kissers. Basicaly, anything non-aggressive and non-intrusive works fine. Even larger livebearers such as swordtails work. As do things like cories, rams, kribs/pulcher, larger tetras and most medium-sized barbs and rasboras. Avoid danios because they occupy the upper regions of the tank and the smaller ones can become lunch.

If you want a personal suggestion, I'd go for a single green (that is the wild-type) kissing gourami and then include a school of 7 m. lacustris, 4 zebra loaches and a trio of swordtails. That would make for a nice, colorful set-up with minimal aggression and plenty of activity.

 

[metfan581]

waht about nwc

 

[sylvia]

With kissers? Depends on exactly which species you're considering. It's best to avoid that combination, generaly speaking, though.