Stocking New Tank, Dwarf Gourami

[kiira]

So my girlfriend is planning on starting a 5 gallon tropical tank. We saw some beautiful dwarf gouramis at the pet store but we were wondering how many we could keep in the tank that small, we were thinking 2 or 3. Also, what other fish would go well in the tank?

 

[twingogeekeo]

I would say 1 male 1 female. I got sold 2 males when i first started fish keeping and 1 male killed the other.

Also do your research on the fish!

 

[Ruskull]

5 gallon tank? No gouramis fit in a tank that small, sorry.

 

[musicfeind]

I'm glad i stumbled on your thread, I also had a 5 gallon tank, and put 3 gourami's in it! They were very happy once the cycle finished (overstocked with 4 Gourami's and 2 Guppys.) 3 Gourami's were very happy in there, especially enjoyed the live plants I bought at petsmart.
I recently also started a 20gal in the living room, cycled and stocked it with an Opaline Gourami, 2 more guppies (4 moved out of the 5 gal to cycle the 20 gal), and a Golden/Sunrise Gourami, which didn't survive the drive home very well I suspect, as it didn't last very long.

Having the 20 Gal in the living room the guppys were very dull, so I switched the 5gal Gourami's with all the Guppies. The move went very well with one exception. The Opaline Gourami seems to be very aggressive towards the other 3 Dwarf gourami's. He seems to chase one or seems to be nipping them, though I don't see any signs of actual damage to scales or gils. I'm not sure if they are playing, but it seems to be more mean like bullying.
Their diet is freeze dried bloodworms for now, next payday I'll get more flakes and probably brine shrimp for them, but they don't seem to fight over food.
I'm considering removing the Opaline, but it's quite attractive once it relaxes and turns white again. I'd even thought of getting 2 more, and trying to breed them. But that would probably just add bully's against the dwarfs?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I'm glad i stumbled on your thread, I also had a 5 gallon tank, and put 3 gourami's in it! They were very happy once the cycle finished (overstocked with 4 Gourami's and 2 Guppys.) 3 Gourami's were very happy in there, especially enjoyed the live plants I bought at petsmart.
I recently also started a 20gal in the living room, cycled and stocked it with an Opaline Gourami, 2 more guppies (4 moved out of the 5 gal to cycle the 20 gal), and a Golden/Sunrise Gourami, which didn't survive the drive home very well I suspect, as it didn't last very long.

Having the 20 Gal in the living room the guppys were very dull, so I switched the 5gal Gourami's with all the Guppies. The move went very well with one exception. The Opaline Gourami seems to be very aggressive towards the other 3 Dwarf gourami's. He seems to chase one or seems to be nipping them, though I don't see any signs of actual damage to scales or gils. I'm not sure if they are playing, but it seems to be more mean like bullying.
Their diet is freeze dried bloodworms for now, next payday I'll get more flakes and probably brine shrimp for them, but they don't seem to fight over food.
I'm considering removing the Opaline, but it's quite attractive once it relaxes and turns white again. I'd even thought of getting 2 more, and trying to breed them. But that would probably just add bully's against the dwarfs?

You need to, if you haven't already, take a full set of water test readings and post them up... it would have been alot easier (and possibly more humane) to move filter media sponges/noodles/balls around from tank to tank rather than live fish.
And with regards to the O.P's original question, i wouldn't put any type of Gourami in a tank that small...maybe some Ember Tetra though, Chilli/Micro Rasbora are also lovely looking fish.

Terry.

 

[Llegmore]

No gouramis. They need their space.

You could have a nice betta though. They're just as lovely.

 

[Ruskull]

A single Betta would be a great start.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I would say 1 male 1 female.

Also do your research on the fish!

your second statement is correct - always do your research. In this case it will show that your first statement is completely incorrect.