Pearl Gourami - Just 1 Girlie Or More?

[Doryfan]

Hi all!

Looking for some advice - do you think a group (pair or trio) of just female pearls get along ok?

I have one girlie at the moment (was sold her as a male! about a year ago) and, though she seems happy , thought maybe she'd like a couple of friends of her own kind. She's my favourite fish so don't want to do the wrong thing - also don't want any aggression problems in the tank that might happen if I got a male and they started breeding!

She's in a 240L tank with 6 harlequins, 6 3-line cories, 10 cardinals and 6 lemon tetras. (Filter = juwel internal + eheim ecco 2236 external). Tank has been running for about 2 years.

Hope you can advise...

All the best
jen

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Doryfan

Another female would be a good choice. While males tend toward becoming aggressive, females seem to like each other's company. They often swim near each other and a group of them seems almost like a school.

 

[Doryfan]

Thnx for getting back Inchworm - have been wondering for a while now but....!!

Do you think I have room for a couple more girls or should just go for the one more?

Any tips on how to introduce a new one (or them?) would be much appreciated...! Just do the usual acclimatising or would I need a rearrange or...?

Thnx again

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Hi Doryfan

Another female would be a good choice. While males tend toward becoming aggressive, females seem to like each other's company. They often swim near each other and a group of them seems almost like a school.

With Inchworm on this one... Just to confirm.

 

[Doryfan]

Thnx to you too Ludwig

Now a couple more Qs...!!!!

Do I have room for a couple more girls in the tank or should just go for the one more?

(inch per gallon says ok but never sure on how close to go)

Also - how to introduce a new one (or them?)...! Just do the usual acclimatising or would I need a rearrange or...?

Thnx again

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Doryfan

You have a good sized tank there and I think you could add two if you wanted to. Unless you are adding some very young or small gouramis, I don't think you would have to do anything special to introduce them. Just watch them for a time to be sure.

In a well established tank like you have, you can exceed the inch per gallon rule unless your fish are bigger bodied or unusually messy like plecos tend to be.

Here's a picture of my blue gouramis swimming together, but I've lost one of them since that time.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

With Inchworm on this one... Just to confirm

 

[Doryfan]

Thank you both for all your help!

My nearest LFS have some pearls but all have whitespot & look very poorly - not sure they will last much longer, very sad to see

Will have a trip to a not-so-local LFS in the next couple of weeks to see what they have - will let you know how we go. Hopefully can get our girl a friend or two soon.

PS Gorgeous fish Inchworm!

 

[Doryfan]

Well I got 2 extra pearls about a month ago - they're quite tiddly next to the older one! After a bit of chasing from the big one at first, all well now except at feeding time when one of the tiddlers thinks it's all hers! Otherwise they're getting on really well & hanging out together Thanks for the advice, really glad we got pearl some friends