Considering A Pair Of Choccies...

[minnnt]

I finally found a lfs that stock chocolate gourami and am considering a pair of them. What would be the best size tank for them and what kind of setting? I have read a well planted tank with natural bogwood etc.

Any help very much appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[james_fish]

I finally found a lfs that stock chocolate gourami and am considering a pair of them. What would be the best size tank for them and what kind of setting? I have read a well planted tank with natural bogwood etc.

Any help very much appreciated.

Cheers.

They don't reach 3" I believe so they stay pretty small, but they are a Gourami so could be aggresive. I reckon 30usGal should be a minimum for a small group. Soft water with a low pH, so bogwood will help, yes. Nicely planted including floating plants. If you want tank mates get something very peaceful e.g. Cardinal Tetra's or Harlequin Rasbora's. I'd start feeding them on live foods first and then try weening them onto frozen bloodworm.

A difficult species to keep I believe but rewarding, If I had a spare setup, i'd seriously consider them. They are hard to find though aren't they! I presume L_V has kept them, and I know for definite Carl has kept them so they might pop up at some point with some first hand experiance.

All the best, and be sure to start a journal up here in the Gourami section

James.

 

[BigTom]

If you're serious about these guys I would go for a species only setup with a small group in a ~120l setup, with very soft, acidic water (ideally rain or RO), lots and lots of tannins, lots of bogwood, sand and leaf-litter substrate, low lighting and floating plants. Very difficult to keep long term, by all accounts. You may also need to keep them predominantly on live food. Haven't kept them myself but did quite a lot of reading on them a little while ago. A fish I would very much love to keep myself. Good luck!

 

[minnnt]

Thanks for the info. I have read very much the same. Would a group be ok? I was thinking of a pair tbh, but if 3 or 4 would be better for them that would be fine. RO water would be no problem, but I would need to look into that too, is there any special requirements for using this?

 

[BigTom]

I would probably buy half a dozen I think, they aren't particulalry large and unusually for gouramis seem to do well in groups, plus you may well get some mortality straight after shipping.

 

[minnnt]

Thanks tom. Will sort a tank out for some then and have a bash with them.

 

[Carlovel1]

Cool!
Basically what you need is a 'Blackwater' scape, nice soft acidic water, and plenty of long twigs and dim lights. Always try to keep them in largish groups (5+) if possible. And choose any tankmates very carefully. I still have my group of Chocolate Gouramis and they are still only eating live Daphnia and Tubifex so will be interesting to see what yours are like.

EDIT: I'd get some Indian Almond leaves instead of live plants, as it is in their natural habitat, if that helps mate

 

[minnnt]

Brilliant, thanks! I was hoping you would reply

I need to source a tank of this size then as i didn't realise they had to be in groups and didn't think they would need this much space.

Thanks for all this help, really appreciate it.

 

[Carlovel1]

I'd recommend going for a long tank rather than a 'big' tank. Although they are peaceful fish, I always see the dominant one (the big male) chasing the others, forcing them to rather clumsily bash into the sides of the tank They are fast lil fish when they need to be

 

[minnnt]

What kind of length tank would you recommend?

 

[Carlovel1]

Their current tank is around 70cm long so I'd say something just longer than that should give them ample space to swim

 

[minnnt]

Thanks for the help mate, appreciate it!