Pink kissing gorumis, with others?

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Ethos

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I have a question. For every tank I have used the gallon per inch rule.
This augest, I am stocking a 55g freshwater tank. I want a goruami tank, with a pair of pink kisssing gouramis. But I am also planning on using the other 31 inches left. I was woundering if that worked. Also, I want a ton of other goramis, maybe havin a pair of, maybe 4 other kinds of gouramis.
 
The inch per gallon guideline only realy can be applied to fish under 2". In the case of gouramies, especialy, temperament is a more important consideration - as well as physical space.

Kissing gouramies get to 8". They are also territorial and can be quite aggressive towards other gouramies. As you cannot visualy sex this species, it is impossible to get an actual pair or select females to try to reduce aggression. As such, mixing them and over-crowding them is risky.

The two kissers alone with various schooling fish and bottom dwellers would be absolutely fine in a 55 gallon. However, whether you can keep other gouramies with them depends entirely onw hat other species you had in mind.

You would need to go for species that, though they also occupy the upper water layers, can handle themselves or are large - such as moonlights or three-spots. Possibly banded or thick-lipped. Or you can choose lower-dwelling species such as croakers or, possibly, a paradise fish trio.

The other fish you get must also be in suitable ratios and compatible with each other. Gouramies can vary greatly in temperament from one individual to the next but you can do some educated guesswork beforehand to try to minimize stress on the new additions and attempt to get a compatible mix the first time round.

Please do tell us what the other species you were considering were - not just the gouramies you'd like to add, but any other tankmates as well. I know I will try my best to help you get a compatible selection and I'm sure others would be able to help you more if you did so as well.
 
For sure I need to add - 1 pearl, 1 opaline, and 1 Gold. These guys were my firsts, so I'd feel bad giving them away, and getting new ones. So I need some compatable goruamis. I also want a colorful tank, exciting tank, so I also need to know another group fish that goes well with gouramis...I was thinking neons?
 
I think, it might be a little tight to have all those Gouramis in a 55, but maybe not. And it also brings up the thing, that since you want a pair and it's impossible to get one for sure, that if you get 2 males, they might start fighting. :/


Since you want to keep the Gouramis you have now, I think those would all be fine in a 55 gallon. And then not get the Kissers. They'll have room to stake out their own territories. The only thing I'd watch is that the Gold and Opaline Gourami don't start fighting. Because males of that species can sometimes be aggressive with each other, but in a tank that big, I can't see much of a problem.

Most fish go well with Gouramis...except Bettas. Some Tetras, Rainbowfish, Cories, Some Barbs...it really comes down to what you like. Just avoid nippy species of fish, because sometimes they can pick on the gourami's "Feelers".

Another option I just thought of, is perhaps just getting one Kisser. I could see that working with your fish. Maybe think over that? When I had a Gold Gourami, and Pearl with my Kisser, they got along beautifully. BUT...I also have a VERY mellow Kisser. S/he doesn't even bother Juvenile Platies. It would depend on the temperment of your Gouramis.


I'm sure Sylvia will come along and be able to help you much better then me...but here's my shot at being helpful. :p
 
Oh yeah, I'd be fine with only one pink kissing...I just like veriety....I would like atleast opne pink kissing one....but to do with my older fish....
 
Actualy Annastasia I don't think I realy NEED to add to your reply. You answered that pretty fully. I will add a few extra things though...

Even just one kisser may be a problem because of their size but, otherwise, it COULD work out. That doesn't mean it will (especialy not with a fish that cannot be sexed accurately) but it might. Gouramies (like Annastasia mentioned) tend to vary in temperament. You can never be completely sue of how the individual fish will react to certain circumstances.

If you do go with the kisser, add the pearl gourami to the tank first, then get yourself a young kisser that is no bigger than the pearl but prefferably not any smaller either. Last, add the two three-spots at the same time about 2-3 days after. This way you'll give all the fish a chance to settle in according to their temperaments.

With the kisser, if there's only one, I would not be so concerned about aggression from it but from the aggression it may cause in the three-spots. Basicaly, because of its size, it will be taking up a considerable area for territory. Now while its territory probably wont be in much dispute because it will be the largest, it will be the 2 three-spots and the pearl that will suffer territory-wise. The result will probably be (if the three-spots are both male), that they compete for the remaining territory and force the pearl to retreat to some corner. If you plant the tank heavily, you can avoid this though. I suggest you do though you should be careful of what plants you include as kissers tend to nibble on a lot of them. Also, as you cannot sex the kisser, you will just have to rely on luck. If it's a male, it will be more territorial and may cause problems like what I mentioned above. If it is female, it will hopefuly be more mellow and will not bother anyone or take up as much space.

Are you set on getting kissing gourami(es)? There are many others you could try instead. A couple of banded (colisa fasciata) or thick-lipped (colisa labiosa) or moonlight (trichogaster microlepis) or any combination of 2 of those would work with your current gouramies (provided you give them ample space by not over-crowding with other fish, add them first to the tank so they can establish a territory before the other fish are included and prefferably have quite a few tall and floating plants in the tank as well). As I mentioned, adding them first is a good diea. If your pearl gourami is not fully grown or female, add it at the same time as the new gouramies as well.

Like Annastasia said, most fish that aren't nippy, don't get too big or are similar to gouramies themselves would make good tankmates. Consider filling the bottom layers first, catfish such as cories, small to medium-sized plecs, otos and so on or non-nippy loaches (but not clowns - they get too big) make good options. SAEs or a flying fox are options. Even a single RTBS or rainbow shark (but not with any simialr looking fish and that includes SAEs/flying foxes and other 'sharks'). You said you like variety, there are cichlids you could go with as a pair/trio (depending on species requirements) - keyholes are one of my favourites, rams (I preffer bolivians), some apistos and other neotropical dwarf cichlids, kribs and so on. Get only one pair/trio of cichlids for this tank though. Then you want to look at fish to fill out the middle layers such as barbs (non-nippy), colorful livebearers (watch the sex ratios), rainbowfish (stick to smaller growing ones like thread-fins or neon dwarfs as you'll want a good sized group so they aren't too shy), rasboras (harlequins are the very best schooling fish IMO - they swim so tightly packed), many of the tetras (black phantoms are my favourites) and pretty much anything else that won't nip and doesn't dwell in the top layers. Avoid danios, hatchetfish or similarly top-dwelling species. They will just take from the gouramies' space and cause problems (especialy if you do get lots of gouramies). Obviously, don't over-crowd or over-stock. One thing i can warn you against - do NOT get a CAE (chinese/golden algae eater/sucking loach). Besides the fact that they get big and don't clean up algae very well once adult, they get aggressive as they mature and are very likely to 'suck' on flat-bodied fish like gouramies and even take out their eyes and cause simialrly serious damage. Though they are a risk to all community fish, I felt it was worth a mention as gouramies are one of the groups of fish most vulnerable to attacks from them.

edit: For my terrible spelling.
 
sylvia said:
I suggest you do though you should be careful of what plants you include as kissers tend to nibble on a lot of them.
Yep, I can attest to this! My plants in my Kisser tanks ALWAYS got broken. I think when they are grazing the algae off them, they put a lot of pressure on them, and they just snap.

I have found, that they do leave certain plants alone. Java Fern, Java Moss, Crypts, Water Wisteria, and Vallis to name a few. Any Sword plants were always gone. I suppose since they have broader, flatter leaves, and since the algae grows on them faster, they are a prime target.

Just something to add on fish with Kissers:
Krib pairs I have always found to be good with my Kissers. Rams were always afraid of their size, and ended up hiding most of the time. :/ Livebearers are good too. Black Phantoms are also my favorite, and they VERY happily with my Kisser. Sometimes I catch her (I really think it's a her...but heck, I don't know) "Schooling" with them. They go one way, she goes that way. They go the other way, she goes the other way. Sometimes they seem a little bewildered, but it's cute.

Anyhoo...I'll stop going on about my Kissers. :*)
 
So, I'll cancel out the kissers.
So I can add with them:
banded (colisa fasciata)
thick-lipped (colisa labiosa)
moonlight (trichogaster microlepis)
keyholes
rams (bolivians)
apistos
neotropical dwarf cichlids
kribs
cories
plecs
otos
loaches

is that the list?
 
Yes - but not all at once :p

Also, depending on the species of plec, you would idealy want just one. Also, don't mix the cichldis - stick to one species as a pair/trio - and don't add more than 2 more gouramies or they will eventualy feel over-crowded.
 
Hi ethos.

You could add some of those fish, but definantly not all of them. If you were to add all those fish to a 55 gallon tank the bottom would be far too crowded considering that the loaches, oto's, plecs, cories and apistos all stay towards the bottom of the tank (Not sure about the kribs/keyholes, you would have to ask in African and N.W. Cichlids respectivly, i'v never had any experience with them myself so i can't be 100% sure). I'd pick my favourite fish from that list, then ask again, possibly including the species of the catfish, loaches, apistos you want, it would help a great deal :thumbs:

In the case of the gourami, sulvia already answered that...

Are you set on getting kissing gourami(es)? There are many others you could try instead. A couple of banded (colisa fasciata) or thick-lipped (colisa labiosa) or moonlight (trichogaster microlepis) or any combination of 2 of those would work with your current gouramies (provided you give them ample space by not over-crowding with other fish, add them first to the tank so they can establish a territory before the other fish are included and prefferably have quite a few tall and floating plants in the tank as well). As I mentioned, adding them first is a good diea. If your pearl gourami is not fully grown or female, add it at the same time as the new gouramies as well.

Good luck with your new tank! :)
 
Doggfather said:
considering that the loaches, oto's, plecs, cories and apistos all stay towards the bottom of the tank (Not sure about the kribs/keyholes,
Kribs tend to stay near the bottom too. Mine I never, ever see above the middle of the tank. Keyholes tend to stay more in the open areas, like the middle to top area. But they sometimes go down to the bottom, and into a cave, or hiding place. Basically...all levels. :)
 
I was thinking of just adding alittle bit of corys, just a fwew....
 
Cories woul be fine. Make sure you keep a group of at least 4 though. They like to be in a school.
 
I didnt know corys schooled? I have a single cory in my 10G with my other gouramis....
 
Yep, Cories are schooling fish. I have 6 Corydoras haraldschultzi in one of my community tanks, and they go EVERYWHERE together. You should probably get your Cory a few more friends - at least 2 - but I don't know what species you have. Some get pretty big for a 10 gallon tank, 3" or so.

What kind of Cories do you have?
 

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