New Dwarf Gouramis

[bshockstubb]

i just got back from the LFS...they were having a buy one get one free sale. I got 2 swordtails and my dad got 2 Red Dwarf gouramis. They are in my 55 right now, they are both males. They seem to be getting along fine9(very beutiful nd solitary)
i ahve not seen any sign of aggresion to or from them. they are really cool fish. My dad says he would love to have more... Could i get more? And does it matter what color/ number/ gender?

 

[bshockstubb]

I have also seen these dwarf groumis:

http/www.azgardens.com/misc_fish.php

Are they dyed? And are they the same species as Cortas lalia or whatever?

 

[sylvia]

The honey dwarf gourami is the same species (colisa lalia). However, the fish there is called the honey-red dwarf gourami... I'm not sure whether this is the same or some other variant. I would not think they are died though.
There is also a honey gourami that is not a dwarf gourami (colisa chunae/colisa sota I think).

As for getting more fish, a 55 gallon should be large enough for some more dwarfs but I would get up to 6 females and no more males. Some people disagree but IME these fish are better kept with lots of females to even out any aggression. They are one of the least aggressive gouramies though and will usualy tolerate each other in a large tank and wont bother each other much even in a smaller one. Color doesn't matter as long as it's the same species. Number-wise, aim for 3 females to every male so that they don't fight over them. You would probably also be able to add just one more male and no others. Their territories would probably be spaced out enough to keep aggression to a minnimum.