Can't Make Up My Mind!

[FeroX]

Well, I'm tired of what I've been doing now...I'd like to divulge into owning just 1 species of fish, OR, quite bigger fish where I could only house 1 or 2 or so, and feed them primarily live fish.

Don't ask why, but that's what I REALLY want.

So, either a gourami only tank, I LOVE gouramis, simply adore them. I was thinking a hexagonal tank, but I've never had anything but the usual rectangle shaped tanks and wasn't too sure if:

1) It's suitable enough for gouramis, but I mean...they are top level swimmers for the most part
2) It's big enough for them, which coincides with #1

Not sure how big yet, my work (Big Al's Fish aquarium services, dunno if you've heard of it) has, to my knowledge, 18 and.... 35? gallon hexagon tanks for sale right now, where I can get them for cheaper. But, if a bigger size is needed, that's ok. I'm not looking to get a Giant gourami, more just some Gold, Chocolate, Blue, Platinum/Moonlight, Pearl, Dwarf, Thick-Lipped, maybe Croaking, mainly nothing that exceeds 5 to 6 inches. Obviously the 18g is too small, but would the 35 do it? I havn't looked it it, so I don't know the dimensions but I have a strong feeling the answer is no. Which of course, is no problem, I can find a bigger one somewhere, but I'd like to ask you guys. What size of hexagonal tank is best for a gourami-dominated tank? I'll most likely have some other fish in there to have SOME diversity and new colours, such as perhaps 1 or 2 millennium rainbows, and neon and/or cardinal tetras. No barbs since it'll be a well-planted tank.

So does anyone here have any experience with hexagonal tanks?


THEN, lol, my other choice, is a nice 150 gallon tank with just some sort of badass fish in it. I was thinking probably an Arowana and a Silver Clown Knifefish. Or...maybe just an Oscar, I dunno. A "companion fish" is what I'm aiming at here, and wondering which is, for lack of a better term, "the best" to own. I guess, which ones, if any, have you had the best experience with? In terms of uniqueness, aggressiveness, maintenance is no problem, as I take care of them at work, but obviously don't have much experience in actually owning one. Which is the best experience you've had?

Sorry if these questions are kind of broad...hope you can help.

 

[FeroX]

anybody?

 

[cuticom]

Well I'd go for a 150g with a few large fish, say a pair of Oscars, so I'm biased but I absolutely adore my O, he recognizes me and will beg for food. Have to say it annoys Mum as he won't flare and attack the glass when she's feeding him. He'll always hang at whatever end of the tank is closest to me and is a real character rearrange his tank, and making sure everything is just so, then I'll change it all again and he has to o back to work LOL.

No experience with hexagonal tanks, but not sure a gourami community would work, as they can be pretty aggressive with their own kind...

 

[Luketendo]

Gourami community is risky, maybe put a couple of gouramis with some angels or something.

Don't go for hexagonal tanks fish prefer normal ones.

 

[-germ-]

Was the plan for a mixed gourami community, or species only?
I'd definately go down the species only route to prevent imbalances in behaviours. Saying that i kept colisas labiosa, chuna and lalia in a under-sized but ov-filtered community tank with few aggression issues...
I'd certainly avoid chocolates if your planning a new tank, they can be difficult to keep alive, particularly in fairly new set-ups.
Blue and gold are the same fish, quite aggressive and get the largest out of the gourami you listed.
IMO avoid dwarves, the species has inherent health issues and is particularly problematic.
I'd look at Honeys or Thick lips, simply due to personal bias and the personal belief that they are fairly tough fish and relatively peaceful compared to your other suggestions. Keep 2 females to every male. Go for the larger tank. Can't help on stocking really as i tend to over-stock.
Maybe try posting in the Gourami sub-forum?
Ps; I'm sure i've read of large honey gourami communities being kept but can't remember where.....

 

[Luketendo]

How could you forget pearls?

 

[MHunt]

Many of the gourami's have different requirements, most of the common ones like pearl, lace, three spot, golden are all similar so can exist together in the same conditions. Dwarf gourami's are quite fragile at the moment due to inbreeding, one to miss unfortunately as it is quite a nice fish to look at. Thick lipped are a nice alternative to the dwarf gouramiLicourice, Croaking or sparkling gourami's are small timid fish that do better in a small community tank with other peaceful fish. Chocolate gourami need quite different water conditions to the other species so are best kept in a species only tank. The other thing to remember is these are all anabantoids, and as such can be territorial against fish of a similar species.

I'm not saying a gourami setup like you described couldn't work, just do your research before stocking the tank.

 

[SJ2K]

Personly id consider 150g on a small handfull of fish a bit of a waist (again biased, not into big ungly lumps of fish). IMHO a massive, well planted and 'bustling' community aquarium looks fantastic, even to those not interested in fish keeping Good luck making your choice!

 

[dwarfgourami]

I would go for a school of pearl gouramis, 1 male with a whole harem around him. I just think pearls are so beautiful.

Or else, an oscar tank, going for the pet factor.

Or maybe a snakehead. Or one of the bigger puffers. I don't know how much space you need for a fahaka. I'd definitely have a trawl around the oddballs forum.