Purchased A New Dwarf Gouramis

[lakeshore]

I purchased a dwarf gouramis for my new aquarium. I heard that these are good beginner fish, that are quite tolerant of water conditions, and suit a newbie aquarium well.
Should I have bought at least two or is it better just to have one male for now?? I can get more males, but I do not know what the availability of females is. Will one male be fine all by himself???
I intend to add more fish, namely danios, and cory catfish at a later date, but is the male OK by himself??

 

[Gurglar]

Yes they do fine by themselves, do not buy another male or else they will fight.

 

[sylvia]

Yes, he'll be fine because they are territorial but dwarf gouramies are by no means 'tolerant' or hardy fish. Whoever told you that was giving you pretty bad advice. If this is your first fish and you are attempting to use him to cycle, don't - return him immediately to your LFS and do a fishless cycle.
Also, how large is the tank? Danios like to occupy the upper water layers and so do dwarfs so your tank needs to be large enough so that they don't need to compete much for space.

 

[Gurglar]

Yes, he'll be fine because they are territorial but dwarf gouramies are by no means 'tolerant' or hardy fish. Whoever told you that was giving you pretty bad advice. If this is your first fish and you are attempting to use him to cycle, don't - return him immediately to your LFS and do a fishless cycle.

I can argue this with my dwarf gourami. I put him straight into the 5 gallon that hes been in about 4-5 months ago without it being cycled and hes never had anything wrong with him.

 

[sylvia]

Gurglar - that's just lucky. Seriously, it's bad enough cycling with most fish, using a dwarf gourami is realy pushing it.

 

[Gurglar]

Gurglar - that's just lucky. Seriously, it's bad enough cycling with most fish, using a dwarf gourami is realy pushing it.

yeah I know this was when I first started fish keeping and didnt know anything about cycling. I won't be doing it again.

 

[Barbie Bubbles]

I've always kept Dwarf Gouramies in a community tank. First of all please do not use him to cycle your tank and preferably get him after it's well established. I had a few hardy ones survive a cycle (also was given the same advice that they are beginner fish) but generally they are far too delicate for this. There are so may far stronger fish to cycle a tank with. Such as platys or danios or guppies. I have 2 Males in a very large tank 125 gal. so they have a lot of room. But they each occupy opposite sides of the 5' tank, in a smaller setting the more dominent one would surley bully the weaker one. So I would get only one and he'd be much happier or you could get him a female (though they are not very pretty, buy hey that's just our opinion, I'm sure the male gourami would think otherwise) Good-luck

 

[Rhiannon]

I was about to ask this same question, will one be ok, or will they be upset, sooky and alone?

In a 20gal tank, how well would 2 do? Or should I just stick to one?

I have 3 guppies in that tank.

 

[sylvia]

Stick with one but get a couple of females if you like. (not just one though or she'll be bullied)
Gouramies like dwarfs don't get 'lonely' they are territorial and enjoy the solitary life.