Not really new but have a question

[fishnutc]

I have a 35 gal acrilic special made tank with custom made under ground filter and I wanted to know if I could put clown loaches and tiger barbs togather in it with my gold guami that I have? Or what nice colorful fish can I get to go with my gold guami?

[ChilDawg]

I'm going to guess that you mean gourami. As for additional tankmates, I have no recommendations other than cories or other bottom dwellers, or else the gold gourami wouldn't be too happy and might show this displeasure with tankmates in aggressive ways.

Tiger barbs are notorious fin-nippers, and those pectoral "feeler fins" on gouramies are a little too tempting for the tigers. Your gourami will lose them in a manner of no time, if relevant literature on the Tigers holds true.

Clown loaches might be all right, but you need at least four, and I would recommend that, at a minimum, your tank would have the same footprint as a 40 gallon. Please post dimensions of the base of the tank as that would help greatly.

Hope this helps.

~Matthew

[thom336]

Originally posted by ChilDawg
Clown loaches might be all right, but you need at least four

Over here in the UK the official recommended minimum is actually 3 rather than 4, as they seem to fair better in odd numbers. I personally keep a pair in a 35gal community tank, and theres never any problems. I did origionally have a trio, but one died during a bad time with ammonia problems, and I dont want to add another in case it gets bullied by the other two - but they seem fine as a pair.

Thom.

[fishnutc]

Yes I ment gourami. All the reading I have done as said that he is agressive that is why I said how about Tiger Barbs. Plus they look so cool with there strips and cool orange color. So you think they would take off the gold gourami feelers? Then what would make great tank mates? I want to try to keep them colorful but am alway up to suggestions.

[OrionGirl]

The gourami will be happier if you avoid adding any busy fish--danios and their like will annoy the heck out of him. Maybe some of the more sedate schoolers, like emperor tetras? Agree on the clowns--do better in groups, and will outgrow a 37 eventually, but are slow growers.

[RTR]

I love Clown Loaches, but they are perhaps the most commonly stunted fish we keep regularly. Those few hobbyists who keep them properly (a tiny number) see fast growth and large size in a realtively short time for such a large and long-lived fish. It is a major dilemma for me - I want to keep the fish, but will not devote my biggest tanks to them, so I won't keep them.

[caz]

definately not tiger barbs, or any fin nippers. maybe sailfin mollys or some larger peacefull fish.

[OrionGirl]

I guess I don't know anyone who keeps them properly. :o I won't get them for the same reason--I know I don't have a tank big enough.

[Vagabond]

If you get a small school of Tiger Barbs they seem to keep their chasing to their own kind. I've got 6 Mossy Green Tiger Barbs in with 2 Dwarf Gourami's and the Barbs dont bother the Gourami's at all. In fact the larger of the two gouramis is definately the king 'o the tank, and he'll actually chase the barbs around if they get out of line.

...just my tank, yours may differ.

[DWestover]

I have one dwarf gourami and one lavendar gourami with 3 tiger barbs, they get along just fine.