Dwarf Flame Gourami Now A Solo...

[electric yellow]

I have a range of fishies at home. I love them all. But my pride and joy are my gourami's and cichlids.

About two weeks ago I noticed that one of my dwarf flame (the red and blue) gourami's had died.

I have NO CLUE how to tell the difference between the sexes...

I was wondering whether I need to buy my solo one a new mate? It will be so hard introducing a new fish to such a diverse tank...It is in a tank with two gold and one blue gourami. Plus a range of other fish. I had two blue gourami's but one died ages ago and the other is as happy as larry just being the only blue.

I heard that when one dies the buddy soon follows and they are best kept in pairs?

It took sooo long for them to come out from behind the plants and filter. TWO WEEKS to even say hi to me!! they were so shy and cute.

Could he be ok with because the other gouramis are swimming around merrily? He is eating ok and swimming around but he looks sad

He hides a lil bit. But nothing out of the ordinary. When I feed them he is always up the front of the glass saying hi.

Is there a way someone can help me tell the sex of my gourami's?

Im assuming that the old fable that they die quickly when the buddy dies is an old wives tale? Cause my blue one is fine and his buddy died around 6mths ago...

 

[stang1]

Sorry for your loss.
Males are more colourful and a lot bigger than females. The female for this variation tends to be quite small and plain blue.
I've not heard the old wives tale before and have never heard anyone suggest it may be true. The chances are you existing one will be fine on its own.
You could try adding more but Gouramies can be territorial so your existing fish may not take to new fish. Saying that, They may end up chasing for a while but it usually settles after a while.
Unfortunately, it's sometimes a case of trial and error as fish are so unpredictable, very much like us humans!

 

[electric yellow]

Yeah it was the terrortorial part that was worrying me. They all seem fine and have their own lil spots they call home. There doesnt seem to be anything wrong with him. I just thought he may be better off having another one like him in the tank. But also being a communal tank with a large range of fishies may prove difficult in introducing just one fish

All my gourami's look the same. RE: size wise and behaviour wise. They are a bit chasey chasey but nothing out of the ordinary. I thought if they were all boys they would be agressive to each other.

 

[Biulu]

If you want to avoid having to move the decor around because of introducing another gourami (not always necessary, but it helps establishing territories faster en with less fuss), then I would leave him alone.

They are perfectly fine on their own.