Simple Question About Gouramis

[IovaykInD]

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Thanks,
Isaac

 

[sylvia]

There are hundreds of different gourami species ranging from just over an inch to thirty inches in length. You're going to have to be a little more specific.

Most of the more commonly available gouramies will eat guppy fry but not neons. Having said that, most guppy fry would probably be able to avoid many of the gouramies relatively easily. Also, certain of the more common gouramies are very aggressive to even adult guppies while others do grow large enough to eat small neons as well as adult neons and other small fish. Basicaly, they'll eat anything that fits in their mouth that they can catch.

 

[IovaykInD]

Okay thanks. Too late, I was just going to buy a gourami on impulse because it was only a dollar. It looked really nice, because it was a bluish color and looked really healthy. It wasn't even a baby either, it was around 3-4"

Isaac

 

[sylvia]

So did you or didn't you buy it? Sounds like it was a three-spot - these are aggressive, grow to 6 and would be likely to kill your guppies.

 

[IovaykInD]

Yea, I think it was after looking at the pictures. Would it have been a good buy? Cause my dad said they don't go for that cheap.

Isaac

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

That is cheap, but not in the long run if you end up losing half your other fish!
It does make me suspicious as to where the gourami came from though. At that age it's mature enough to breed and makes me think someone had returned it due to being aggressive. If it was an overly aggressive male then you'd have to kiss all your little fish bye bye. Being that I have witnessed even larger catfish be herded into corners by a breeding male I doubt guppies would stand a chance.
Hugs,
P.

 

[IovaykInD]

I figured out by researching that it was actually a neon blue dwarf gourami. I have heard that these fish are territorial and will eat all my baby guppies, so I think I will pass.

 

[sylvia]

Though it's true that a dwarf (colisa lalia) would eat guppy fry, it would actualy be a suitable addition to your tank and would not eat all the fry or, in fact, any more fry than what the fish you already have would claim. Males are more territorial (the blue one would have been male - they also come in striped and orange colors - females are duller) but not to the same extent as the three-spot I initialy assumed it to be. They are usualy harmless to other species of fish, only showing aggression towards their own kind or closely related fish. They also stay at around 2" so are much smaller than the 6" three-spots. The major downside to this species of gourami is that mass-production and inbreeding have taken their toll and most now carry disease or are highly susceptible to internal bacterial infections (and, thus, dropsy aand ulcers are common). You probably made the right decision not buying it regardless as you should never buy any kind of gourami on impulse. They are not usualy forgiving.