Pearls- prefer company?

[Bling]

We just got a 50-gal tank (yay!) for just one pair of sweet pearls. They seem a bit overwhelmed by the space and are still shy. I'm reserving the "bottom" space for some future gobies I hope to raise; but would the gouramis actually PREFER more company? Or would they just as soon have the whole thing to themselves? Fine with me, for now.) There are quite a few plants and roots on one side, and a bare section on the other.

Edit: Future FRESHWATER gobies; not bumblebees.

 

[sylvia]

Well they would be fine just as they are but, females especialy, do seem to like having other pearls around provided there is enough room (and there is in this case obviously). Males are fine with other pearls as well but, because of their territoriality, having more than one male in a small tank is stressful (though pearls are not usualy aggressive and even males get along - there's just more 'competition' if you like when there's more than one male). Your tank isn't small though. If you want more pearls, by all means get some. At least 2 more females would make a good addition. You don't have to though.

what kind of gobies are you looking to get? (just curious)

 

[Bling]

Now that I think of it, the female does seem to seek out the male and want to play "feelies"; the male is much more reclusive and meditative... (Yes, I seem to see---or give--my fish characters.) Anyway, the biggest thing I have against getting another female is that I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to tell them apart! Sylvia, is there one particular characteristic that is more "individual" than another? I thought maybe the back spot, but in the LFS, the fish really all looked exactly alike. The gobies I'm rearing are some local "amphidromous" (just learned that word) fry that just came in from the ocean, so I'm not sure really what they are yet. Once I can identify them, I still have to confirm they're freshwater (I'm pretty sure they are) and I want to treat them for parasites. Still trying to find out how---so much to learn! I think they'll go well with the gourami. I THINK they'll grow to about 4-5 inches. And I've seen them munch on hair algae! What a plus!

 

[sylvia]

I tell my female pearls apart by looking at their body shape, the shape of their fins and the placement of their markings. You may notice that the slope of the head, especialy - the slight dip on the forehead, and the deepness of the body in females varies from one to the next. Combined with the fact that the length of fins and extended rays (though females don't usualy have many, if any - the extended rays are realy a male characteristic) varies considerably and with the round pearly spots being unique in each fish (both the shape and position), with practice, you can get to know each fish as an individual quite easily - especialy if you have had the privelage of raising them up to maturity from a younger age (you 'get to know' them). With males, the amount of red/orange is usualy what I notice first as a major difference between individuals, as well as the lengths of fins and extensions in the anal fin. With younger ones, tmost of he same as with females applies. Try comparing a few more carefuly at your LFS. If you are realy worried about this, try to pick out a couple of very different females. I guarantee that, though the new additions might be a little difficult to tell apart at first, you WILL be able to distinguish them from your own current female pearl.

 

[Bling]

I'm glad to hear that! I'll be getting up a quarantine tank, then on to the search! Thanks so much!