Honey Gouramies Compatible In My Tank?

[CroNiC]

I curretnly have:
- 2x Black Skirt Tetras
- 6x Cardinal Tetras
- 4 x Lemon Tetras
- 1x Guppy

I was planning to bring color to my tank. I know gouramies are good center-pieces. I like the honey gouramie because of its yellowish-orange color. Are there any other gouramies that may have a bright color like the honye gouramie? Also if I get 2 honey gouramies, 1 male and 1 female would they do fine with each other, and more importantly with the fish in the tank. I am mainly worried about my guppy. Its tail is yellow.
I am most liely going to go to the lfs today or tommorow, so fast replies would be appreciated.

-Thx

 

[sylvia]

Black skirt tetras are known for being nippers (they are also schooling fish so should be in a group). These are a greater danger to your guppy than a trio (pairs aren't a good idea - 1 male, 2 females is far better) of honeys would be. There are other gouramies that perhaps would work better as 'centerpiece' fish though - the banded gourami (colisa fasciata) springs to mind. These get to 4" and a single male would make a lovely addition to your tank. I wouldn't add any more gouramies having put in one of these - concentrate instead on adding more lemon and black skirt tetras as they need to be in groups of 6 minnimum and, perhaps, a couple of female guppies for your male. I'd be a little worried about the long-finned black skirt being nibbled on by any normal black-skirts and I'm also worried about the guppy you have. The gourami isn't the problem here though - it's the nippy black skirts.

 

[CroNiC]

I am planning to get 2 more black skirt tetras. Dont worry bout the nipping and agrresion. They do absouletly fine. Ive had them for 6 years and i havent seen them attack a single fish. Infact, my guppy swims along with the black skirt tetras. My long-finned is doing fine, and the weird part is that my long-finned bullies the regular. In my tank the fish with the most power would be the long-finned black skirt tetra and its mostly peaceful. It only play around with the other regular black skirt. If there is any agreesion in my tank, then its from my guppy towards the cardinal tetras. But thats very minimum.
I would definately prefer one gouramie over a trio. I looked it up on google and it seems to have a redish-orangish color if im right. I like the colors and its a very nice suggestion. Would the gouramie do fine with my cardinals and guppy?
And im planning to add 1 more male guppy and 3 females, 2 males: 3 females
Does this seem alright?

 

[sylvia]

Yep, that seems ok for the guppy additions and the gourami would do fine with your fish. Here are a few pics of the banded gourami (colisa fasciata):
http/www.aquanovel.com/fasciatus.htm
http/www.akvariumas.lt/zuvys/belontiidae...asciata_big.jpg
http/membres.lycos.fr/aqua5/aquariophili...sa_fasciata.php?
http/www.elacuarista.com/secciones/image...sa_fasciata.jpg
http/animalia.nexenservices.com/V2/index...=poissons&id=30
Color varies quite a bit actualy. Some have mroe red, some more blue and some have green or yellow coloration as well.
Note that, if you choose to go for this fish, it has several common names. these include 'banded', 'striped', 'giant' and 'indian'. The one that causes most confusion is 'giant'. Do NOT under any circumstances confuse colisa fasciata with an osphronemus species. Osphronemus are the 'true' giant gouramies and grow to 30". Young ones are rather aggressive and could cause a lot of problems for your tank even if they're only in there briefly.
Make note of the scientific name - colisa fasciata - and look specificaly to buy that.