Gourami - Pairs Or Groups?

[mrlewis1978]

Hi guys

I have 2 pairs of gourami, a male/female pearl pair, and a male/female dwarf pair. After I purchased these, I really liked them so read up further. A lot of info I read said that I should really keep them with 1 male and say 3 females. I went back to my LFS to buy extra females and they told me I should only keep them in pairs.

Anyone know what works best? Tanks is 4 X 1 X 1.5 so plenty of space at the moment.


Cheers

 

[Liquid skills]

Hi guys

I have 2 pairs of gourami, a male/female pearl pair, and a male/female dwarf pair. After I purchased these, I really liked them so read up further. A lot of info I read said that I should really keep them with 1 male and say 3 females. I went back to my LFS to buy extra females and they told me I should only keep them in pairs.

Anyone know what works best? Tanks is 4 X 1 X 1.5 so plenty of space at the moment.


Cheers

well ive had better luck in groups they prefer it dont listen entirly to pet shop people mine hav been in groups with one male and the rest females more then on male with dwarfs will fight one male only imo not sure on pearls but i would assume its the same ?

1 male - 3 females should work great did for me

 

[Ruskull]

Like LiquidSkills said, Gouramis are always better off with a ratio of more feamles than males. You have a nice size tank that could easily house a single male and 3 or 4 females no problem.

Tell the fish store this: The idea of putting in many females for one male spreads the male's aggression out. He might literally drive a single female crazy with all his chasing. This could lead to stress and stress leads to Ich and other unwanted probably because the stressed fish's immune system is lowered.

As you can skills in my signature, I have a pair of Pearls and a single Opaline female in a 36 gallon. This spreads the aggression out okay, but if I could do it all again, I'd have put in another female Pearl. I still might. The female Opaline rules right now because the male is much smaller, but this balance of power could change as he grows.

 

[mrlewis1978]

Thanks for your help both. I think I will go and buy an extra female (maybe 2) of each soon, so they will keep up in size/growth with the originals.

 

[Ruskull]

Thanks for your help both. I think I will go and buy an extra female (maybe 2) of each soon, so they will keep up in size/growth with the originals.

Good plan!