Gourami tank

[trisha1972]

et up our new 55 gallon tank and used bio-spira. All numbers are great. I used tall, medium, and small plants (fake) to "plant" it nicely. Have added petrified wood too with slate for caves. This is to be my hubby's tank. (I'm setting up another 55 gallon at the end of the month)

Took him to the pet store today to pick out fish. He really liked the cichlids, but knew that I want them for my tank so he went to the gouramis instead. The lfs is not too knowledgable, unfortunately. They go by the "color coding" in advising tankmates (red, yellow, green).

They advised us that ONLY gouramis can be kept together. From what I am reading on here, that is not correct. I have some LARGE dalmations that are bigger than my other livebears, from what I am reading they can go in with the new gouramis? BTW, we got 1 gold gouramis, 1 blue gouramis, and 1 pearl. We also got a catfish (that was in the tank with them at the lfs) that was recommended for "scavenging" in their tank. I am ashamed to say that I don't know what type, but he "pretty" and active.


My questions are these:
1) How do you sex gouramis because the two local pet stores haven't a clue?

2) What other types or colors should I add to these three in a 55 gallon?

3) Can my large livebears and danios (like listed on this site) go in with them? (I love "schooling" fish!!!)

4) Any special tips that I need to be aware of when caring for these beauties?

5) Also was told that dwarf gouramis can not be kept with regular ones. Can they be? They have a whole tank of beautiful powder blue ones at the lfs!

6) One last question.............can ghost shrimp be kept with them or would they get eaten? Hubby loves to watch them crawl around too.

 

[emma12321]

Hi Trisha,

Take a look at this site http/www.aquahobby.com/e_gallery.php look at the comments people have made. Google the individual names. I have only kept sparkling gourami but from what i have read and been told by others males usually have a longer more pointed dorsal fin when adult, they may all look the same when young though. Gourami are best kept in groups of 1 male to a couple of females. Now that you have got 3 you may find they are territorial towards any others you add to the tank.

Try to find out what the catfish is and hope you haven't bought a tank buster like a common plec which could grow 2 feet long. If its small and cute theres a good chance it could be a corydora. If it is they like to live in groups of 3+ so get it some friends. Take a look at http/www.planetcatfish.com/ and see if you can id it.

Also take a look in the fish index at the top of the main page look under labrynth fish.

sorry i can't be more help but thats all i know.

Emma

 

[trisha1972]

Hi Trisha,

Take a look at this site http/www.aquahobby.com/e_gallery.php look at the comments people have made. Google the individual names. I have only kept sparkling gourami but from what i have read and been told by others males usually have a longer more pointed dorsal fin when adult, they may all look the same when young though. Gourami are best kept in groups of 1 male to a couple of females. Now that you have got 3 you may find they are territorial towards any others you add to the tank.

Try to find out what the catfish is and hope you haven't bought a tank buster like a common plec which could grow 2 feet long. If its small and cute theres a good chance it could be a corydora. If it is they like to live in groups of 3+ so get it some friends. Take a look at http/www.planetcatfish.com/ and see if you can id it.

Also take a look in the fish index at the top of the main page look under labrynth fish.

sorry i can't be more help but thats all i know.

Emma

[snapback]850947[/snapback]​

The catfish is a spotted pictus.

 

[emma12321]

Hi Trisha,

The pictus you have like to live in groups in a 55 gallon you could easily have 3. They are nocturnal predators and can potentially grow 8 inches long so ghost shrimp and fish under 3 inches will be tasty snacks.

Depending what cichlids you get for the other tank the pictus may be better suited to the cichlid tank, then you would be able to get some schooling fish such as tetras and corys for the gourami tank with no fear of them being eaten.

Emma

 

[trisha1972]

Emma (and any one else that wants to answer), after I found out it is a spotted pictus I read up on it on the net. One place said only one should be kept while the other two said it would like company. I'm wondering if getting another would calm him down? He swims ALL day. He certainly isn't shy. Anyone know how quickly they grow? He's only about 3-4" inches right now, kinda slender and small. He's a beauty though.


I still have to get my piece of wood cleaned up (it is awfully dusty from sitting out in the pet store) and attached to pieces of slate to keep it anchored down. It is actually wood for reptiles, but have been assured it will be ok, just very light hence needing to add the slate to both ends.