How Many?

[madgap]

Ok, I've got four Gourami. One male the others are not so male. I've learned from this forum that my females are a colour morph and not natural. That greatly disapoints me! Why people mess with nature when nature is so beautiful is beyond me.

I want to know if it is acceptable to have more than one male in my sized tank?

 

[madgap]

Anybody?
Nobody?

 

[madgap]

I really could do with some advice guys.... Please

 

[SouthernCross]

A lot of ornamental fish are bred to have more beautiful colours than the ones found in the wild. It doesn't make it any less of a fish! Nothing to beat yourself up over, IMO. Except for variations that are bred in to make the fish disfigured and hence life is harder for the fish, e.g. some fancy goldfish, but that's another topic altogether.

What kind of gourami are they?? Check out the species index or the identification thread, we can't really help you until we know more...

 

[madgap]

A lot of ornamental fish are bred to have more beautiful colours than the ones found in the wild. It doesn't make it any less of a fish! Nothing to beat yourself up over, IMO. Except for variations that are bred in to make the fish disfigured and hence life is harder for the fish, e.g. some fancy goldfish, but that's another topic altogether.

What kind of gourami are they?? Check out the species index or the identification thread, we can't really help you until we know more...

I'm not 'beating myself up over it, it's just my opinion. I'm extremely opinionated. I know they are no less of a fish. But they are the result of some breeder's medlings. I'd much prefare the fish to be as God intended them to be.

Mine are dwarf gourami, I had a natural male and three colour morphed females. I went ahead and bought two more males and two females. I must say, the females look far nicer than my other three. Apart from the occational nudge there seems to be no fighting, as yet.
I bought them from Maidenhead Aquatics in Stokesly.

 

[SouthernCross]

Check out germ's ID thread.

I'd say all your 'better looking' ones are males. If they have any bright colours at all (blues, reds) they are males. Females are a drab colour.

There are problems all over with the health of dwarf gouramis too. Not the best choice of gourami these days. Keep a close eye on them. You may have got extremely lucky and got good stock - if you're like the majority of us, you won't, and you may not have any left in 6 months. But fingers crossed for you. It has nothing to do with you, but its just the way they're bred these days for mass exportation to fish shops worldwide.