Thinking About Gouramis

[sunpirate2u]

hey, i was thinking about getting some gourami(s). I was wanting for u to tell me what they really like, plants, food, tank mates, ect. I was just planing on a new ideas for my 12 gallon. Here are some I though were beatiful that I wanted, Pearl, Blue dwarf, Honey, opaline, and maybe red honey . I know I have to have all girls if I was to get more than one, right.

Thanks

 

[SouthernCross]

12 gallon is pretty small. Which rules out pearls and opalines for you - they need bigger.

Really all you could work with would be dwarfs or honeys, maybe sparklings, but I'm not too sure on those.

Don't know your location, but if you can't get your dwarf gouramis from a reputable breeder (i.e. you only get your fish from petshops, local fish shops) don't bother with them. They're usually diseased and will die within a few weeks/months.

So in that case that leaves you with honeys, I don't have them but a few people on the board do and seem to enjoy them a lot . There's a few colour variations too. Check out the forum species index, or germ's identification threads for some pictures/info. You don't have to have ALL girls (and girls aren't usually as pretty as the boys) but a good ratio for gouramis is one male to two females. Multiple males is where problems usually are.

Tank mates, gouramis usually a pretty peaceful/tolerant fish, pretty much anything goes. Multiple gourami species seem to cause some problems, never put a betta in with gouramis either, it will try to fight them (similar looking fish, also related). Avoid bad fin nippers too, like some barbs, they may bother their long fins and their feelers. I've got pearls in with corydoras, a BN plec, some platies and cardinal tetras in a 39 gallon - not a problem as yet . Just remember you don't have a lot of space to work with - aggression increases in smaller spaces as fish can't get away from each other and establish territories as well.

Most like well planted tanks, especially some floating plants. Current shouldn't be too strong either.

Good luck! Good to see someone thinking rather than just buying on impulse. Any more questions don't be shy.

Although I must ask - why are you waiting for your other fish to die? That's not very nice.... If you don't like them anymore why don't you try to give them away to a good home? By 'waiting for them to die' its probably compromising how you take care of them...Remember, some fish can live for 20 years or more! What are they?

 

[sunpirate2u]

Well, I was just playing around with tank ideas . I like my fish

 

[¬wicked¬]

So in that case that leaves you with honeys, I don't have them but a few people on the board do and seem to enjoy them a lot .

I have a male honey gourami and they're great fish. Really active and curious!

 

[Maximumbob]

Honey gouramis are the way forward

 

[sunpirate2u]

Thanks! A lady at my LFS said to have honeys' for my tank. So I may get some.