Suggested Tankmates For Blue Gourami

[smmetz]

I have a 20 gallon at work. It had 6 male platy and a BN pleco. Wanting to get 1 larger fish to make the tank more interesting, I looked into Gourami. I wanted a pearl gourami, but none were in stock at my lfs. I ended up getting a blue gourami.

Over the first weekend, (after getting the blue gourami) 4 of the platy died. No known problems with the water chemistry. I am assuming the gourami killed them. It has been a couple weeks now, and the remaining 2 platy are still doing OK.

I got the gourami to liven up the tank. However, since loosing 4 platy, the tank is not more lively. I can easily rehome the 2 remaining platy in one of my home tanks.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the tank fullly stocked, so it looks like a nice show tank for my office?\

My ideas include:

1. swapping out the 2 remaining male platy with some larger females from a tank at home? - since they are larger, maybe they would hold their own against the blue gourami better?

2. remove the 2 platy and swap in some zebra danio from a tank at home? Perhaps the faster danio would fare better with the blue gourami?

3. bring the 2 platy home, and get some other kind of fish from the lfs. suggestions?

4. return the blue gourami and restock with something else. suggestions?

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I have a 6 inch golden gourami and it is in with some danios.... it couldn't care less about them! doesn't try to attack them at all even when they swim right in it's face..... I'm a little confused as to why this is because i had a dwarf that caused HELL for everything until I put him in a 10gal by him self....( can you imagine a 1.5" gourami chasing around my 6" Plec....?) I think the danios would do fine because it seems fine for me.... but maybe my gourami is just blind or something.... I believe it is suggested to keep gouramis in groups.... although i haven't myself, I think its the same old 1M/2F ratio....? so maybe getting some more will be a good idea, of course this depends on your tank size(what else you want/have in the 20G) and personal preference, but I believe having groups lessens the aggression of the dominant fish..... anyway your call! some others on here may have some better Ideas.....

 

[smmetz]

Yeah, from what I have heard I need a larger tank for more than 1 blue gourami I have a female now.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

return the blue gourami, tanks a bit small IMO

 

[smmetz]

Well, there is a 5th option - more the gourami to my 55 gallon tank.

The 55 gallon tank currently has 10 female platy, 3 spotted raphael catfish, 5 rainbow madagascar(3"), 1 common pleco (8.5"), 1 bamboo shrimp, and 2 whiteskirt tetra. It is already pretty well stocked, but I could swap the 2 tetra 5 of the platy to other tanks. Perhaps then I could get a couple more blue gourami. I would just be afraid the gourami would attack the rainbow madagascar fish (which are hard to get around here and can cost around $10 each). I wouldn't be thrilled to find more dead platy either.

So, would you recommend I return the blue gourami, or try her out in my 55(and possibly get a couple more)?

 

[JackoUK]

Well, there is a 5th option - more the gourami to my 55 gallon tank.

The 55 gallon tank currently has 10 female platy, 3 spotted raphael catfish, 5 rainbow madagascar(3"), 1 common pleco (8.5"), 1 bamboo shrimp, and 2 whiteskirt tetra. It is already pretty well stocked, but I could swap the 2 tetra 5 of the platy to other tanks. Perhaps then I could get a couple more blue gourami. I would just be afraid the gourami would attack the rainbow madagascar fish (which are hard to get around here and can cost around $10 each). I wouldn't be thrilled to find more dead platy either.

So, would you recommend I return the blue gourami, or try her out in my 55(and possibly get a couple more)?

I would maybe try her out in the larger 55G tank and get another female and a male to go with her. If she is aggressive the introduction of a male may appease the aggression. Also in thought of your earlier point I have kept Zebra Danios with my Blue Gourami for months now with out any issues what so ever.