Looking @ Adding Gouramis

[Benauld]

Hi,

I currently have a 130L aquaone 620T, stocked with:

7 x Cardinal Tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
7 x Gold Tetras (Hemigrammus rodwayi)
1 x Peacock Goby (Tateurndina ocellicauda)

I'm looking at getting a pair of Dwarf Gourami (Colisa lalia), and was wondering whether they would get on with these tankmates?
My main concerns; having read the pinned topic, are:

1] The tank is tall, although there is plenty of plant cover, and some nice open areas at the top of the tank, the tetras & goby usually occupy the lower half of the tank. Would the gouramis compete for this same space, but more importantly what is the likelyhood of them becoming territorial over it?

2] As I have said, I have plenty of plant cover, but no caves as is suggested in the pinned topic. Would this be a major problem?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[SouthernCross]

I'm pretty sure just about everyone on this forum will agree with me when I say don't get dwarf gouramis unless you can get them from someone reputable who breeds them themselves.
From a regular store, its highly likely they are carrying a virus which will eventually kill them. Search this forum for 'dwarf gourami' and you'll come across at least a half dozen (if not more) threads detailing what some members (including myself) have been through with them, and why most of us will never go there again!

Another thing to consider is your sex ratios. Males will fight with each other unless you have a large number to spread agression. In most species, but not all, the males are more beautiful too, which is why it is tempting to get just males, but doesn't always work out. I've been recommended that the best way to keep them is one male to two females, and multiples of this ratio. Trios are better than pairs - your male will chase the females, so its good to have two so each gets a break occasionally. Otherwise they can get worn out and sick.

After my dwarf died, I got a pearl gourami, who is very peaceful and gets on well with all my other fish (see my profile, but I also have cardinal tetras as well and they don't bother my gouramis in the slightest). I've expanded to a trio - I got two females to go with my male, he's showing brilliant colours and watching them interact is great. With pearls the females are still quite pretty too. Dwarfs, not so much.

I don't know anything about gold tetras or gobies, so I can't say for sure how they'd go. Some tetras are nippy species and that can be a problem for gouramis with their long feelers and in some cases, long fins. I would find out more about your tetras first, make sure they aren't nippers.

Good luck.

 

[Benauld]

Hmmm...

Thanks for that. It looks as if I'm going to have to have a re-think then. Anything larger than a Dwarf and I'll be pushing my stocking limits. Shame that they have developed into such a pansy weak breed, they are gorgeous fish!

Nevermind.

Can anybody recommend a sort of "show" species to bring some interest to my tank, and round it off nicely?

I think I'll head over to the New World Cichlids Forum and have a look at Blue Rams...

Thanks again!

 

[nmonks]

As SouthernCross said, avoid dwarf gouramis like the plague. Until people stop buying them, the fish farms in Southeast Asia will carry on producing incredibly poor quality fish. Aquarium shops will carry on stocking them because people still buy them. It's a vicious circle.

There are plenty of good alternatives. My particular favourites are the banded gourami (Colisa fasciatus) and the thick-lipped gourami (Colisa labiosus). Both look like slightly larger "wild-type" dwarf gouramis. Their colours are slightly less vivid, more steel blue/orange than neon blue/red, but still highly attractive fish.

Paradise fish are always an option. Males are quite aggressive, but females less so, and in a tank with tetras they should be fine. Males have longer fins, and most of their aggression is aimed at other male paradise fish, unresponsive females, and pretty much anything that looks like a paradise fish (bettas, small gouramis, dwarf cichlids, etc.).

Cheers, Neale

Can anybody recommend a sort of "show" species to bring some interest to my tank, and round it off nicely?

 

[Biulu]

There are plenty of good alternatives. My particular favourites are the banded gourami (Colisa fasciatus) and the thick-lipped gourami (Colisa labiosus). Both look like slightly larger "wild-type" dwarf gouramis. Their colours are slightly less vivid, more steel blue/orange than neon blue/red, but still highly attractive fish.

Paradise fish are always an option. Males are quite aggressive, but females less so, and in a tank with tetras they should be fine. Males have longer fins, and most of their aggression is aimed at other male paradise fish, unresponsive females, and pretty much anything that looks like a paradise fish (bettas, small gouramis, dwarf cichlids, etc.).

Cheers, Neale

If you are looking for a similar size as the dwarf gourami, try honey gouramis (Colisa chuna). They also come in different colours, and are nice. I have been advised against paradise fish if I don't want a species only tank, since they are very agressive. They are also likely to be too big for your tank, if I understand well from your previous posts.

Your ram cichlids idea is not bad either though! They are lovely fish, and I am thinking of including a pair in my next tank.

 

[fishwatcher]

How about a pearl gourami? Beautiful fish, usually mild tempered. I don't know about the goby, but I'm sure the tetras you have would work fine with one. Pearls only get about 4", too, so it isn't much larger the the dwarf. Honey gouramis are a bit smaller than the dwarfs, but a trio of them would be nice. They are small, though, so they really wouldn't be a "stand out" fish.
The banded and thick-lipped g's are nice looking, too.

 

[Seza]

How about a pearl gourami? Beautiful fish, usually mild tempered. I don't know about the goby, but I'm sure the tetras you have would work fine with one. Pearls only get about 4", too, so it isn't much larger the the dwarf. Honey gouramis are a bit smaller than the dwarfs, but a trio of them would be nice. They are small, though, so they really wouldn't be a "stand out" fish.
The banded and thick-lipped g's are nice looking, too.

Hey!
I just wondered how big do pearl gouramis generally get? ive heard they can get up to 15 cm but are often smaller. Im thinking of gettind a couple for my 115L.

 

[Biulu]

My adult pearls are 10 (male) and 9 (female) cm long. I don't expect them to grow anymore, unless I put them in a larger tank.

 

[-germ-]

Colisa Labiosa, Thick Lipped Gourami