looking to get a couple of gouramis

[yvez9]

Right now I have 1 couple of bolivian rams
I will be getting a second couple within a few weeks and take out the guppies and give them to my girlfriend

I would like to have activity on the top of my tank and I like gouramis. However, I have a planted tank with already low lighting and I know gouramis like shade on the top parts of water.

I'm afraid a floating plant will block too much light to my other plants...

Would it be possible to keep a couple of gouramis (I like pearls a lot) without adding floating plants. Is there an alternative to this?

I don't plan on mass breeding gouramis but I would like to get a couple to see them build a bubblenest and maybe get some offspring and save a few if I can...

 

[Gourami Lover88]

I dont have experience with rams, but if they spawn wouldnt they go on the cichild killing spre? But if they are peaceful types a pair of perals should be ok, if you keep up on the WCs.

 

[sylvia]

You don't need floating plants with pearls. They'll be shy at first and they do preffer some floating cover but any plants you have and the low-level lighting should be enough. Most gouramies will not go on a 'killing spree'. Three-spots will, sometimes dwarfs will go mad with other gouramies, but pearls are usualy fine and the male isn't all that violent with the female either. However, without something floating (not necessarily plants) the male pearl will probably not build a bubblenest in the first place as he will want something to build it under or 'anchor' it to. He may still use the glass though.