Pearl Gourami

[Lilt Man]

Hi All

I was hoping someone could help me here. I have a Jewel 400 community tank. The inhabitants are 15 neon tetras, 2 blue rainbow fish, 1 bosmani rainbow, 2 plecs (L75 & polka dot), 2 guppies, 7 rummy noses, 1 oto, 2 clowns & one female Pearl Gourami (shes been in the tank for 16 months now).

It is heavily planted with low light species hygrophilia(sp) etc... lights are two standard bulbs (Triton & Grolux) with reflectors.

The internal filtration has been completely removed and has been replaced by (external) 1 x ehiem 2213, 1 x ehiem 2215 and an 8 watt UV. Heating is supplied by 2 x 300W visitherm heaters. The tank has been running for over 18 months now and is completely trouble free with both plants and fish inhabitants thriving.

Water is 'treated' at the mains with an electronic water 'conditioner' (i live in a hard water area) along with standard treatments for chlorine, heavy metals etc from aquatic products.

My question is, i would like to add a male with the female that is in there already. Can anyone see any issues with this? Can you also point me in the direction of any potential agression to other tank mates as a result of this addition.

Many thanks - i rather get some advice now than go and buy the fish and find out later maybe it was not such a good idea.

 

[diademhill]

Shouldn't be a problem as the tank is a decent size so other fish can get out of the way and pearls IME are much less aggressive than 3 spot gouramis.
Have you tried growing water lettuce - great plant for gouramis and a nitrate sucker. They grow brilliantly in Juwel tanks.

 

[Fizban]

im mot shore if this is 100% true and it may be diffrent for Pearl Gourami cuz there less aggressive than 3 spot gouramis i saw on anuther post where you should keep 2 female for ever male gourami cuz other wise the male can keep chaseing her and until she stresser her self to death other then that i dont no if theres any other problems but i would get 2 female at least to be safe if your looking to get more Gourami

 

[Lilt Man]

Thanks for the repies so far

My intention was to add only one fish as i do not want anymore.

 

[barbiedoll]

I think I saw that you have just the one oto? It would be so much happier with a couple more. I have 4 and they interact so much.
Just a non gourami related thought.....

 

[Lilt Man]

I think I saw that you have just the one oto? It would be so much happier with a couple more. I have 4 and they interact so much.
Just a non gourami related thought.....

Thanks for your input - i have been looking for a few for a while now but they seem to be difficult to get at the moment, he's been with me for over two yrs now and is in very good condition - i do agree with you though he does need some company....

 

[sylvia]

A male pearl should make a fine addition but try to get one that's a similar size to your female. Though pearls are peaceful gouramies and normaly get along, adding any new fish to a tank containing a larger counterpart may be problematic. In your case, it shouldn't realy pose any problems as the tank's large enough and the particular gouramie species is not so territorial - but better safe than sorry

Other than the gouramies and the oto comment (which I agree with fully), your various rainbowfish would be better off in a bigger group. Rainbows tend to be shy and/or skittish if not kept in a good-sized school. Whether they are with the same species is not so important (though I personaly think it looks better) - they just need similar-sized rainbow companions to form a shoal with