Confused

[tetraqueen]

Size: 5-6 inches
Tank Size: 30-40 gallons
Temper: Semi-Aggresive
Other Tankmates: Livebearers, Danios, Rainbowfish, Barbs, some more passive Cichlids, Loaches, Plecos, and Scavenger Catfish
Remark: This fish is the albino morph, of the opaline gourami. This fish is a peaceful, fish. It may be aggresive and harrass other fish. This is a bubblenest builder.


Sorry this only lfs say it's peaceful. will it upset all tank mates and at what stage?

Two dwarf reds ? They are always male ? and do they fight also told peaceful when bought.

So guys swap my tank for me ...
I want a peaceful community all getting on and yet I do want a living picture in my living room and Dining room. At the moment all fish have been happy so I am confused ..
I keep getting told differnt things so help those who can !!!!

Then I will go away and enjoy my fish and leave you all in peace.

 

[dwarfgourami]

It is confusing, isn't it?

I think part of the problem is fish have individual personalities. I have heard that there are even bettas that are all sweetness and light. But you can't know until afterwards. And things may change.

Then again the people who say the fish is peaceful and the ones that say aggressive may be thinking about different aspects of its behaviour. Peaceful- as in not a predator, aggressive- as in males can become territorial. Just a thought.

All my books seem to hint at this with the opaline: can coexist peacefully in a community, but can clash with other male gouramis (or fish it mistakes for other male gouramis). No experinence of my own, I'm afraid.

Dwarf gourami females certainly always used to be a pale silvery colour; I don't know if they've managed to breed any redder ones now. Honeygourami females do seem to have more colour.

If your dwarfs are both male, then there is a risk that they will clash sooner or later. How big a risk depends on things like the size of the tank and how much cover there is for them to keep out of each other's sightline. In the wild, the arrangement is usually that the stronger male keeps up the fight until weaker male is chased off. In small fishtanks this can lead to tragedy because there is nowhere for him to go. But whether that will happen, or how soon it will happen, does depend on a lot of factors to do with tank arrangement, temperament of the fish etc.

 

[tetraqueen]

You know the more you find out you realise that even the same species of fish, well I know never to put two male betta's together but.... Then if you keep individually they end up schooling.
All I ever wanted was a lovely peaceful community.
What are the most peaceful fish?

 

[karlp]

For a tank of that size, I'd keep one pair of Gouramis (1 male and 1 female). Male Gouramis can be territorial with other male Gouramis but are normally peaceful with the other fish. Keeping the male with the female normally makes the male colour up nicely and you may even get them creating a bubble nest sometime (which is the only time the male Gourami will normally get aggressive with the other inhabitants of the tank).

Of the Gouramis the dwarf Gourami or honey Gourami would probably be best sized for your tank. 'Natural' Honey Gouramis are really difficult to find for some reason though, probably because the male doesn't show much colour normally at the aquatic shop, but is beautiful when it colours up if kept with a female at home in a peaceful planted tank. Most of the ones at the aquatic shops are some sort of hybrid See:

http/articles.gpasi.org/colisa_chuna.html

 

[dwarfgourami]

I'd say the same as Fishymad, a pair or better still a trio of dwarves or honeys: 1 male, 2 females. This takes the pressure off the female if he wants to mate all the time.

As for your other question- which are the most peaceful fish I know, I'd have to say corydoras catfish (schoolers). They even indulge in fun cuddly sex. I've just been watching one of my males gently nuzzling the head of his females murmuring 'how about a quick one?' or words to that effect, and then when she wasn't interested, settling down to feed companionably beside her, like the little gentleman he is.

Khuulie loaches (schoolers) also seem pretty incapable of aggression.

And people speak well of harlequin rasboras (schoolers) in this respect.

 

[tetraqueen]

Now my lfs says rasboras are aggressive. So.............

 

[karlp]

As for your other question- which are the most peaceful fish I know, I'd have to say corydoras catfish (schoolers). They even indulge in fun cuddly sex. I've just been watching one of my males gently nuzzling the head of his females murmuring 'how about a quick one?' or words to that effect, and then when she wasn't interested, settling down to feed companionably beside her, like the little gentleman he is.

It sounds like you're doing everything right in researching species before choosing fish Tetra queen, research etc... just worry a little less and enjoy a little more... the fishes don't read the books and as DwarfGourami says, you can't predict their presonallities. You could get the mother Theresa of the Piranhas and the Vinny Jones of the Platty world.

What fish have you got in your tank now Tetra queen ? and has it been cycled ?

If you want an example of how animals don't read the books about themselves, did you see this news article (bit off-thread but made me laugh)...

http/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4627950.stm

 

[Inchworm]

Hi tetraqueen

Full sized gouramis should be considered semi-aggressive fish. While the females might get along together, the males, at least when they reach adult size, are rarely peaceful. Not only will they chase their own kind (male or female), but they will chase the other fish too.

I have an adult male pearl gourami that I had originally bought with thoughts to breed him to two female pearls I had. Unfortunately they were too old when he was mature, and it never happened. This gourami is the only one of his kind in a 55 gallon tank that is stocked with cory cats. He frequently swoops down on them and chases them around the tank. It's reached the point where I am concerned about their well being.

There are many species of fish that are totally suited to keeping in a peaceful community tank. Platys are bright and colorful and are so attractive that you won't need a big "centerpiece" fish. Corydoras catfish come in many interesting colors and patterns and actually play and interact with each other. You can keep several kinds together. Kuhli loaches are interesting and have a long narrow shape that will contrast nicely with other fish. A single weather loach would serve the same purpose and, while being a little bigger, is nevertheless peaceful.

There are lovely tetras which also come in many colors. Neons, cardinals and glowlights come to mind, but there are many others. Another interesting fish is the glass catfish which is long and flat, and you can see right through them. Can you find blind cave tetras? These small fish have evolved with no eyes, yet get along perfectly well in a community aquarium. Certain apple snails are also suited to community tank living and would add variety. Otos are sucking catfish that eat algae and remain quite small.

With so many great fish to choose from, I'm sure that if you take your time and explore the possibilities, you will be able to put together a beautiful and happy community tank.