do gouramis pair up?

[wrs]

Like the cichlids do? I have a male opaline, and a female blue, and they seem to be like a pair, only a bit of chasing at times, but married couples fight as well. The swim together, and when there was a floating plant in the tank, no idea where it is now, they always stayed under it, it is a fake one and sticks to the glass, but floats above the water.

Would it be possible for them to breed, they are only color morphs of the same species, correct?

 

[sylvia]

They don't pair up in the 'conventional' way - that is they are not monogamous like some cichlids. But they do enjoy each other's company (provided they have room for establishing their own territories). What you are seeing with your fish though is probably more of a 'companionship' type behaviour rather than a breeding behaviour. Yes, though, they could breed as they are both three-spot gourami varieties (trichogaster trichopterus). Now I should mention that the character of these fish can vary greatly but usualy three-spots, once mature, become quite anti-social and males especialy can stress or even cause serious physical damage to females while chasing them. That's why it's usualy best to keep them as trios or one male to several females. In your case, maybe you are lucky and have found a pair that will be compatible and live in harmony - just be prepaired if this isn't the case.

 

[wrs]

well sadely I found the male, Navy, dead today, stuck in a rock cave.

thankfully it wasnt Blueberry, she is one of the first ones I had. Though my favorite was CJ, who died of a red bavteria infection. I miss her to this day, she was a nice big gold gourami. I am thinking of getting a new one, maybe Pearl for the 29, and maybe a diffrent type for the 55 with Blueberry.

 

[LoachLover]

Sorry to hear that

 

[Ethos]

I have found that my gouramis are the hardest to let go for me......I guess thats why My gourami is the cleanest tank in my line.......Anyways, I found the only way to forget is to replace it, with a gourami of a different kind, dont get the same kind though!

 

[wrs]

I have never got a gold gourami after CJ dies, probably because

a. they are all males, CJ was a girl, and I dislike the male temperment though CJ was mean at times,

b. They were to small, CJ was at least 4 inches when I got her

c. they price is now $35, and they are sold as mating pairs at the lfs.

I will hopefully be getting a pearl in place of navy, as my brother will be going restocking shoping this weekend! The kid has barley any fish in his tank thatr are noticable, all nocturnal.