How Many Gouramis To Keep In A Group

[Jen]

I have a 90gallon planted tank that I am looking to add some gouramis to. I'm not sure what kind yet, I'll be going to the store to look at them today.

I'm wondering what is a good number to keep them in. Should I do 1 male and 1 female, or do they like larger groups?

 

[sylvia]

This is realy difficult to answer without knowing which species you're talking about.

With most of the common ones, avoid a male/female pair. trios work well suualy though - 1 male, 2 females.

There are a few that do ok as pairs - such as pearls - but things like dwarfs and honeys, despite being sold as such, don't work well as a pair.

With most, all-female groups work very well also.

All-male groups should generaly be avoided. There are some exceptions provided you offer plenty of space per male; or you can add several females per male for a similar effect. In your size tank, most species would work alright even if they were 2 males.

For a 90 gallon, it's difficult to reccomend a species without knowing what else is in the tank. Having said that, I'd expect you to be after something medium-sized so that it's not lost in the volume. Moonlights, pearls, banded gouramies and thick-lipped gouramies are a handful to look at. Just a ntoe here - do NOT judge them on what they look like at the LFS. instead, look up photos of matrue fish on google.com to get an idea of what they'll look like ocne settled in.

You are likely to also come across three-spots while you're looking around (trichoagster trichopterus). Unless a group of 4 females is what you are planning (or a single male), avoid these. If you mix males they fight, if you keep too few females they fight, if you keep males and females they breed and attack tankmates. There are several color morphs of this species - gold, blue, cosby, opaline, platinum and lavender being a few. Don't assume them to be different species (a common misconception).

As for whether gouramies like being in groups... Again, that depends. Most female gouramies enjoy other (female) company. Males are territorial and do absolutely fine kept singly. There are a few gouramies that border on 'schooling' when kept in a large group in a large volume (eg: pearls) but there are also a few that, even with the females, socialising is not their strong point (eg: paradisefish and, generaly, three-spots and bettas).

I think, realy, you need to decide which fish you're interested in before you can get a real answer to your question(s). Perhaps a list of what you already ahve int eh tank could help people make a few suggestions

 

[Jen]

Thanks for the indepth reply.

I ended up getting 2 'emerald' gourami... I think they are dwarf. The store doesn't label things to well. There they are

 

[severina]

That is a powder blue dwarf...and something else...I think thats a female powder blue dwarf. Lucky you if I'm right those are hard to find!

Oh..as for your question...I would wait for someone to confirm that the bottom one is a female..and then go back and get a few more of those.

 

[Jen]

I'm fairly positive that the bottom is female. From what I have read about sexing them, the frmale has a more rounded dorsal fin and the male a pointed one.

This fish store has a whole tank full of these fish... Easily 20 - 30, and a good mix of males and female. They sold them in m/f pair for 9 bucks.

 

[sylvia]

Yep, the bottom fish is female. I'd reccomend getting a couple more females as they do best when kept at a ratio of 2 or more female per male to reduce chasing and give the females some 'peaceful' company (as opposed to the male's company ).

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Jen

Lucky you!

I don't think you can go wrong getting as many females as you want. Female gouramis seem to like hanging out together. Even 3 spot females almost look like they are schooling.

Do you plan to breed them some day?

 

[Matt_Didg]

Yea at least there not opaline males together, but i like having 2 male opalines and a female, because i have a sick sense of humour and find it amusing when the 2 males start fighting. haha.

 

[Jen]

My female has unfortunately died... I have no idea why. I am going to go back to the store and pick up 2 females (they sell them in a pair for 9 bucks)

I don't know if I will try to breed them. If they do it on their on then thats cool. I don't have a second tank I can set up for a breeding tank, and since plants are my new love in the tank, I won't be altering what I currently have in there. Maybe one day in the future when I have more money and room for tanks.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Jen,

I just asked that because if you wanted to breed them you would (obviously) need a male. If you just want pretty gouramis, with nice dispositons, getting females is a good choice.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Yea at least there not opaline males together, but i like having 2 male opalines and a female, because i have a sick sense of humour and find it amusing when the 2 males start fighting. haha.

That's really not nice.
Sorry to hear that you lost her.
Are you planning on getting another to replace her?
Hugs,
P.

 

[Jen]

I just picked up two new ladies tonight, and seeing them, I think the first girl I got was sick. These are just as colourful as the male. Since I knew nothing about gourami, I assumed that the male was more vibrant like many other fish I have kept. Live and learn.

I caught my boy trying to cup around one of the girls, so I think that's a good sign. I'll post some pick of them once they are venturing out a bit more.