CROWDED Pearl Gourami's?

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GinH20

AC Members
Jan 24, 2006
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Seattle, WA
I have two pearl gouramis in my 29 gallon HEAVILY planted tank. I bought them when they were about 1.5", now they 3.5". I also have 9 cardinal tetras 1", 4 otocinclus 2.5", 2 marbled hatchet fish 1.5", 2 bright orange bristlenose? plecs (3"), and 3 albino corys 2".

I have 2 questions. 1) should I transfer some or all of the other fish to my 55 gallon tank to free up space, and 2) should I severely trim back my plants, even removing some, so that there would be more free swimming area?

The pearls don't seem to be suffering, but I don't know enought about them to know if they prefer a larger tank, fewer companions, more swimming space with less plantlife that reduces free swimming space. The 2 Pearls get along great now (battled for about a month at first).

I keep the water at 77 F., 7.0 pH, <20 ppm nitrates, 0 nitrites & ammonia. Using an Eheim Ecco 2234 filter (love it to death!!!!).

Keep selected smaller fish and which one? Trim back foliage? Pearl Gourami keepers advise? :help:
 
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GinH20 said:
I have two pearl gouramis in my 29 gallon HEAVILY planted tank. I bought them when they were about 1.5", now they 3.5". I also have 9 cardinal tetras 1", 4 otocinclus 2.5", 2 marbled hatchet fish 1.5", 2 bright orange bristlenose? plecs (3"), and 3 albino corys 2".

I have 2 questions. 1) should I transfer some or all of the other fish to my 55 gallon tank to free up space, and 2) should I severely trim back my plants, even removing some, so that there would be more free swimming area?

The pearls don't seem to be suffering, but I don't know enought about them to know if they prefer a larger tank, fewer companions, more swimming space with less plantlife that reduces free swimming space. The 2 Pearls get along great now (battled for about a month at first).

I keep the water at 77 F., 7.0 pH, <20 ppm nitrates, 0 nitrites & ammonia. Using an Eheim Ecco 2234 filter (love it to death!!!!).

Keep selected smaller fish and which one? Trim back foliage? Pearl Gourami keepers advise? :help:
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What are the dimensions of the tank? I agree with Element. A picture is worth a thousand words.:) Trimming the plants is up to you but if you feel the fish seem to have difficulty swimming around, then you can do so.
 
Gouramis are labyrinth fish and they don't give a crap about swimming space nor do they have a problem if the tank becomes low in available oxygen - that is exactly what their native conditions are like.

I would be more concerned about the other fish when it comes to swimming space and dissolved oxygen.
 
echoofformless said:
Gouramis are labyrinth fish and they don't give a crap about swimming space nor do they have a problem if the tank becomes low in available oxygen - that is exactly what their native conditions are like.

I would be more concerned about the other fish when it comes to swimming space and dissolved oxygen.
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I seriously beg to differ. All of my fish, expecially my bettas, have shown significant improvements with health & happiness (coming out more, fatter, more vibrant, breeding activities) when they have been placed into a bigger tank.
 
I can't say I have ever noticed such a thing. In my estimation though, this is more due to the fact that labyrinth fish are highly evolved and therefore have stronger individuality than many other "lower" species.

I've had bettas who were happier in smaller tanks, some who were happier in larger tanks.


I don't think it's as much to do with the swimming area as it does the fish's individual preference.

But I stand by what I said in regards to this particular inquiry - I would be more concerned about the tetras, hatchets and plecos having room than the gouramis.
 
echoofformless said:
Gouramis are labyrinth fish and they don't give a crap about swimming space nor do they have a problem if the tank becomes low in available oxygen - that is exactly what their native conditions are like.

I would be more concerned about the other fish when it comes to swimming space and dissolved oxygen.
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Yes, but very unlikely that these fish even know where their species originates from or have even experienced smaller spaces. Not to say that a lfs tank would necessarily be any more roomy than say a rice paddie but not a reason to not get as much space available as possible.
 
Millions of years of evolution - especially when you consider that these species have developed specialized organs in order to deal with low levels of oxygen - are not going to be undone by a few decades of tank breeding.

I'm not advocating the notion of stuffing these fish into tiny, unfiltered tanks. What i am saying is that they really wouldn't care as much as other fish when it comes to being in somewhat cramped, low-oxygen conditions. They are biologically predisposed to live in such settings. So though they might be happier in a larger aquarium with more open space and good oxygen content, they surely wouldn't be unhappy in the opposite situation.
 
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