My first ever tank!

[ambrosia0456]

When I had the yellow variety, females were all yellow with perhaps the hint of a darker stripe from nose to tail (more obvious when stressed, ie newly bought). The males I had were mainly yellow but turning orange at the rear of the body and tail. So the males I had looked like the first photo in post #103 and the females looked like the second photo.

The honey gouramis I saw at my LFS were suuuper pale no hint of yellow at all, we concluded it was bc of stress and because its tank had like 30 other fish and was cramped but they were young, do you think only 1 gourami won't feel lonely? I don't mind the quantity as long as they're happy. What I don't want is getting 3 random sexes and them being 2 males and a female so they stress her to death

 

[gwand62 178]

You may want to hold off until you can determine the sex of your intended fish. My four honey gourami play with each other, so I think a single honey may be lonely.

 

[ambrosia0456]

You may want to hold off until you can determine the sex of your intended fish. My four honey gourami play with each other, so I think a single honey may be lonely.

My main problem is they won't sell adults only juveniles I told them 2 months ago and nothing

 

[anewbie]

, do you think only 1 gourami won't feel lonely?

A few comments:

First frequently a 'pale' honey gourami is a trichogaster (a most undesirable fish) though it could also be a female or in poor health if the other fishes are not pale. 2nd fishes don't 'feel lonely' in the human sense BUT some fishes feel more secure in a group (after all if they are the only one left it means there is a predator snacking on them) and while a single honey can be kept they tend to do better in a group esp in a larger aquarium like a 30.

 

[ambrosia0456]

A few comments:

First frequently a 'pale' honey gourami is a trichogaster (a most undesirable fish) though it could also be a female or in poor health if the other fishes are not pale. 2nd fishes don't 'feel lonely' in the human sense BUT some fishes feel more secure in a group (after all if they are the only one left it means there is a predator snacking on them) and while a single honey can be kept they tend to do better in a group esp in a larger aquarium like a 30.

what do you mean by "a 'pale' honey gourami is a trichogaster (a most undesirable fish)", the species name is trichogaster chuna right?

I do have a 105L (27.7G aprox) and I just got a male gourami (that's what they think at least, tomorrow I'll ask around to see what it truly is) and I plan on getting 2 females on my LFS that I see myself the following weeks!

 

[anewbie]

Some places confuse young trichogaster labisoa (thick lip gourami) with honey gourami and sell them as honey. They are of course a different species and will eventually grow big and mean (though only 4 inches compare to really big gourami like Osphronemus laticlavius that can reach 20 inches )

 

[ambrosia0456]

Just put him(?) in 15 minutes ago and he looks pretty comfy! He is pecking at snails and trying to eat some shrimps, not shy at all! His name is Sol!I'll take better pics when the lights tuen on in 2-3 hours so he can feel safer!
Also added 7 more rasboras, now I have 14 (I found last Sunday another dead one in the filter, mind you, the bottom part has sponges flued shut, it has a nylon bag over the top AND a stocking over the whole thing...
And a rotala rotundifolia blood red was added to the back! ^^
Edit: 6 hours later:

 

[ambrosia0456]

My gourami ate for the first time! He was super skittish and I had to wait a bit but he ate on the back some fluval bug bites!

 

[ambrosia0456]

Best photo Ive taken of Sol atm!

 

[JCinPA]

I wish I could get photos of that quality. Gorgeous fish!

 

[ambrosia0456]

Just looking through my planning phase... I wanted to put 8 male honeys LMAO I wanted a fighting pit or something

More photos of Sol! I love (her?)!

Tank update, one of my male blue velvet neos has clado AGAIN for the 3rd time (the same one...), I will try again to cure him with daily salt dips but I may put him into an outside water bucket with plants I have been trimming and putting there and test his luck if he falls ill a 4th time lol
Also algae is growing on the glass so I thought oto time is coming, but the 28ºC temps are making me rethink this... Maybe Otocinclus hoppei? The first idea was otocinclus affinis but I was told and I read that they don't handle temps over 26 very well... So I hope Otocinclus hoppei is a good contender, still pondering and will get the other 2 gouramis first!

 

[ambrosia0456]

So after going away a weekend, the water reached 29.9
I reduced the lights to 4 hours, let the lid half open, kept the airstone running and the room dark.
I came home and immediatly turned off the lights and removed the lid completely and I put a fan over the water. Currently after 45 min is at 29.0, so I'll keep cooling it down
All fishies seems to be doing fine, params are fine too so I fed them and all ate with gusto

Next weekend I have to go out too, so I'm thinking I¡ll buy a clip-on aquarium fan to keep it on all weekend, as my parents don't want the AC on all weekend in case it burns down (lol)

 

[FattyFish]

I have 4 honey gouramis, two gold and two red. I don't know what the sex is yet, as they are still young, but they are great. Nice and peaceful. I also have one Pearl gourami, loads of tetras and guppies, corys, and shrimp, all getting along great.

 

[ambrosia0456]

I just bought liquid tests for ph, kh, gh and a tds meter (no batteries, I'll use it tomorrow)
I LOVE THEM, it' so fun I feel like in chemistry class.
My current params:
7.5 PH
GH 11 dGH
KH 7 dKH

 

[anewbie]

I just bought liquid tests for ph, kh, gh and a tds meter (no batteries, I'll use it tomorrow)
I LOVE THEM, it' so fun I feel like in chemistry class.
My current params:
7.5 PH
GH 11 dGH
KH 7 dKH

It is but the liquids can be imprecise still i must say your water is hard and i would consider hard water fishes going forward and avoid those that thrive in soft water. Same for plants - most commonly available crypts should do well.