gouramis and angelfish don't mix

[Kopix Nation]

I have seen so many tanks these days with angelfish and gouramis in them and I don't get it I thought they were mortal enemies! I thought that gourmis were far to nippy for angelfish. Why are there so many angelfish in with gourmis???


claire

 

[Mr Miagi]

Not all gouramis are agressive. Some more thasn others. Even individual gouramis can vary in temperament.

Dwarf gouramis are quite docile.

 

[sylvia]

Who said gouramies are too nippy for angels?

It's true that some gouramies don't do all that well with angels but it's usualy the other way round - breeding angels get too nippy for their gourami tankmates. Also, both angels and gouramies occupy the same level in the tank so they compete for space. As both are territorial and usualy quite aggressive, this can lead to problems. Not to mention that both can be quite messy fish and the larger gouramies, like angels, produce a fair amount of waste. You already need a pretty big tank to not over-crowd gouramies and an equaly big tank to not over-crowd angels (if not larger) - if you mix them you obviously need even more room than that.

Anyway, everything depends on the angels and gouramies. A breeding pair of angels in a 20 tall is best left alone. A group of 6 juvenile angels in a 55 gallon can live quite happily with some thick-lipped or banded gouramies. Similarly, a large group of adult angels, in a large enough tank, will do fine with some of the trichogaster gourami species such as the three-spot (only one male to a tank prefferably though) or moonlight but may be too nippy for pearls.

If you allow for 10 gallons per gourami and enough room for the number of angels and if you decorate appropriately and mix the right species and sex ratios, it's perfectly possible to keep angels with gouramies (and they make quite a lovely combination aestheticaly as well ).

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Not heard that before. Wonder if someone should tell that to my golden gouramies currently living very peacefully with a white angel. If anything gets moved it would be two of the 4 gouramies since the male has started bubble nesting and can be a bit aggressive to one of the other girls. Never gone near the angel aggressively.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Kopix Nation]

Strange I have heard countless times never to put paradice fish or gouramis in with angelfish.

claire

 

[Clairel]

I have a powder blue male gourami, and 2 angel fish, and theres no nipping or fighting at all

Maybe its just certain breeds that do this??

Claire x

 

[Lil]

I have 2 male dwarf gouramis and two angelfish in a tank together. They get along great occassionaly the angelfish will chase them away if they get too close to them. HTH

 

[Ethos]

When I had my Peal, Gold, and Opline gourami together, I never saw any nippieness....

 

[Kopix Nation]

Well I would so love to have some pearl gouramis in with my angelfish!!!That would be like freaking awsome!

claire

 

[afireinside]

Where'd you hear that? I have a Blue Paradise and a Dwarf Flame in my tank and they don't bother my angels.

 

[Lisecw]

I have 2 Angels with 2 Three Spot Gouramis, 2 Platinum gouramis, 2 gold gouramis, 2 Blue gouramis, 1 Dwarf flame gourami and 1 Kissing gourami. None of them bother the Angels although the biggest Three-spot chases the other gouramis around. My tank is 230 litres so there is probably enough room for them all.

Regards,

Lisecw

 

[Gill]

I had a Doozy,

7 Sparkling Gouramies about 1cm in Length - Gang up on the Angels 10 Times there size and Literally Drag them around by the fins.

It was Hilarious to watch these little Bleeders chase the angels - I moved the sparklers into a Fighters tank to clam them down for a while.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Beasts!! They can be aggressive, but also vary greatly in temperament. Despite their size. I have aggressive one who lives with the tetras now and the other who got mercilessly beaten on by him living with my female bettas. And he's treated as one of them.
Hugs,
P.

 

[bugsy66]

I have two Pearl Gouramis with my Half Black Angel. There is no sign of aggression at all. In fact, I was having some trouble with my angel hiding all the time as most of my white clouds have died off due to old age ( want hardy fish, my white clouds I bought 6 of them 5 years ago and now I have 2 left, great fish). Since the gouramis were put in the three of them all swim together and it is quite a beautiful site. The colors and all are really nice.

I must say I was a bit nervous as I thought the angel would be aggressive with them but I am pleasantly surprised......

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Typically ought to add, the angel does occassionally get caught in the middle of one the gouramies little tiffs simply because it doesn't get out of the way fast enough. It isn't directed at the angel at all, more a case of just happening to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and gouramies can really move fast.
Hugs,
P.