Dwarf Gourami questions [Archive]

UncaBret

11-23-2005, 8:19 AM

Just read gsk177's sticky. I'm trying to avoid the mistakes he warns about.
I'm confused.
I've checked out a dozen different sites and gotten a dozen different opinions on these critters.
I have a 20gal high that I am just setting up, I plan on doing this over the next couple months. I have app. 2" gravel with a piece of driftwood and several golfball size rocks set in it now. I am waiting for the 6 plant bulbs to start growing (actually, I would like the plants to all be at least 8" tall before adding fish) and would like to add a few more. I am getting an Eclipse filter hood and plan to keep the temp at 77. I don't plan on breeding at all.
My questions, then;
How many can I get?
What ratio of guys to gals?
Who do they get along with?

Thanks,
Bret

UncaBret

11-23-2005, 10:27 AM

One more thing; would it be safe to put my Betta in with the DGs?

beviking

11-23-2005, 10:33 AM

It depends on how you want the tank to look and how much maintenance you want to do. You could pack it pretty good with them and make it look like a fish store display ( :sick: ) or you could have a couple males and several females to make it something relaxing to watch.
I prefer fewer fish in a tank personally (1 male/2-3females) but two males and 4 or 5 females would work, provided there are some hiding places (one male will pick on the other usually).
They get along fine with most other peaceful fish. I'd be leary of adding other types of gouramis.
Bettas are always touchy. Some work, some don't. As long as you have somewhere else for it to go if things don't work out, try it. Just be prepared to remove the betta if problems arise.

Oh yeah, welcome to AC!!!

ParadoxLiz

11-23-2005, 2:40 PM

I generally see people recommend against bettas and gouramis in the same tank - both are labyrinth fish and therefore more likely to fight.

FWIW,

Liz

beviking

11-23-2005, 3:14 PM

Liz is correct, however, it's the shape of the fish the invites the aggression, not the fact that they're both labyrinth fish.

UncaBret

11-23-2005, 10:02 PM

.Oh yeah, welcome to AC!!!
Thanks.
I was thinking about getting 2-3 males and 6-9 females and a few of those little catfish that won't eat my plants. Then maybe a pacu and a couple of oscars.

UncaBret

11-23-2005, 10:04 PM

Just kidding about the oscars.

Roan Art

11-23-2005, 10:32 PM

Just kidding about the oscars.I can tell yer gonna be fun :)

Roan

UncaBret

11-24-2005, 9:50 AM

Thanks, I try to be!

UncaBret

11-24-2005, 9:57 AM

Okay, so the gouramis will occupy the top part of the tank, right? What would ya'll suggest I get for the bottom part? Something that won't eat my plants.

Also, would it be okay to occasionally give my gouramis betta food?

pbrack

11-24-2005, 12:11 PM

for the bottom, you could get some Cory's, some Oto's or some loaches (Kuhli)

Edit---> Btw, if we can't keep bettas with gouramis, can we keep different species of gouramis in one tank? Just curious

stingray4540

11-24-2005, 12:34 PM

By different species, do you mean dwarf and regular, or different types of dwarf gouramis? If the latter than, yes. I have one blue dwarf and one flame dwarf that are doing great, other than the occasional ,this is my side of the tank, chase.

pbrack

11-24-2005, 12:42 PM

yeah, like an opalline and a dwarf gourami?

stingray4540

11-24-2005, 12:45 PM

Not sure, I've only keep't dwarf gourami's, but I can't imagine any problems you'd run into by mixing. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Ghost_knife

11-26-2005, 8:08 PM

I have big and small gourami in my tank, they get along with everyone else

UncaBret

11-29-2005, 10:46 AM

Okay, patience is a virtue.

Not one of mine, but...

Got tired of waiting on my bulbs to grow so I bought some plants. And some oto's. All are doing fine.
Do oto's eat anything besiseds algea?

NorthStar. How do you move a 300+ tank?

Roan Art

11-29-2005, 1:16 PM

There's a thread in the Catfish and Bottom Feeders forum on pleco dietary needs. Many otos like the same stuff. I know mine love zucchini, yams and broccoli stems. It's a neat thread and worth a read imho.

Roan

beviking

11-29-2005, 2:54 PM

I've had mixed results keeping different species of gouramis together, even different color variants of the dwarf together. There was a time I would buy a few, take back the one I thought was the aggressor, then the new tank mate would be the beaten one. Removing the fish from the tank, re-arranging the decor a little, then re-intro the fish back helped some. Too much work in the long run for me though.

Better to add 3 pacu's since one will get lonely ;) :joke:

UncaBret

11-30-2005, 8:36 AM

Better to add 3 pacu's since one will get lonely ;) :joke:
Actually, I've decided against the pacu. I'm leaning more toward the alligator gar now. :rolleyes:

UncaBret

11-30-2005, 8:58 AM

UncaBret

11-30-2005, 8:16 PM

Does anyone know anything about 'sparkling' gouramis? I saw some at the store tonight, but there was no info on how big they get. If they're dwarf I may get some, but I don't want them if they are going to get more than 2-3 inches.

Larissa

11-30-2005, 10:02 PM

Sparkling gouramies stay really small.

UncaBret

12-01-2005, 10:46 PM

I hope so, I bought 4. I was just gonna get three, but that would have left one in the tank all alone, so.....
They are pretty little buggers. When they go toward the back of the tank the light really shows off the blue/green. And they seem to really like their new home.

UncaBret

12-03-2005, 3:27 PM

.
Do oto's eat anything besiseds algea?

Besiseds??? Someday maybe I'll learn to spell!

Anyway, my 20 high is set up and running, my plants are growing and my fish seem happy. I now have 4 dwarf sparkling gouramis and 5 oto's. I tried putting Ghoti in with them but he was not playing nice, so back to his own tank he goes. Too bad, he is sooooo beautiful under the flourescent light.

Anyhoo, I would like to add a few more DGs and maybe 2-3 ghost shrimp. Could I safely add 2-3 flame DGs and 2-3 striped DGs? Would 10 DGs, 5 oto's and 3 ghost shrimp be too much?

mrbigmuscles

12-03-2005, 4:31 PM

Besiseds??? Someday maybe I'll learn to spell!

Anyway, my 20 high is set up and running, my plants are growing and my fish seem happy. I now have 4 dwarf sparkling gouramis and 5 oto's. I tried putting Ghoti in with them but he was not playing nice, so back to his own tank he goes. Too bad, he is sooooo beautiful under the flourescent light.

Anyhoo, I would like to add a few more DGs and maybe 2-3 ghost shrimp. Could I safely add 2-3 flame DGs and 2-3 striped DGs? Would 10 DGs, 5 oto's and 3 ghost shrimp be too much?

It is a 20g tank right? I go by about 1 ghost shrimp/gallon for my tanks. It seems like it would be crowded but they all find places to hide (and some get eaten anyways). 10 DG's sounds like a lot for a 20 high though.

ghinksmon

12-03-2005, 6:56 PM

yeah, like an opalline and a dwarf gourami?

I wouldn't put an opaline gourami in a 20 tall, they're on the large side for that tank. Stick with color varieties of dwarfs if you want variety.

pbrack

12-04-2005, 5:13 PM

Sorry for the confusion, It's a 50 gallon tank. I was thinking of Opalline or pearl with a few dwarfs. But I also want a pair of angelfish for sure. So are gouramis and angelfish ok together?

Fish Kate

12-05-2005, 12:29 AM

I would not put two male DGs in the same tank unless your LFS is prepared to take one back if they fight. Male DGs absolutely HATE eachother.

This is based on my personal experience and advise from a very knowledgeable LFS guy (my tank is half your size, but my LFS guy said it doesn't matter how big the tank is, with this particular fish, the males will always fight for territory. That was what happened to me.)

Best of luck whatever you try!

UncaBret

12-08-2005, 10:08 AM

Well, gosh. What I bought as 'sparkling' gouramis apparently were mis-labeled. They appear to actually be powder blues. From what I just read about the sparkling (pygmy) gourami, I probably lucked out.

Oh, Yeah. Northstar, didn't you mention thet the fish in your avatar was a chocolate dwarf gourami? If so, were did you get it? Are they hard to find? I have a feeling our house may end up filled with gourami tanks!

( What the hell, SportsClix is dead :mad2: so I need someplace to put my time and money!)

stingray4540

12-08-2005, 12:53 PM

stingray4540

12-08-2005, 1:30 PM

Uh, let me clarify that. 29/30 gallon would be the absolute minimum for 2 males. If you have a 50 I think you could easily do 3 probably 4. Just watch them reall close for the first week. the only problem I see you haveing, is if one gets more stressed than the others during transport. The others will see the weakness and kill him if left alone. Just make sure you get them all at the same time, if you get 3 and try to add a 4th later, he might not make it.

Aqualung

12-08-2005, 8:22 PM

Sorry Kate, but I have to disagree with you. I have 2 male dg in my 30 gallon and they are fine. At first there was a lot of chasing around and a little nipping, but no damage was ever done. NOw they both have there own side of the tank and for the most part leave each other alone, exept for the occasional meeting in the middle where they tail whip each other. Kind of amuzing to watch those guys. I would adpvise adding all that you want to have at the same time though so no one has a chance to clame the whole tank tohimself.

Sounds like you lucked out, at least for now. They may get along for life but I wouldn't count on it. I had two male dwarves in my 29 gallon and they got along fine for nearly a year. Then all of a sudden, one snapped and started beating on the other one severely. Needless to say, they had to be seperated. Depending on the individual fish it might work out, but have a place to move one of them to in case they need to be seperated.

stingray4540

12-08-2005, 10:12 PM

Huh? I haven't had them for a year yet so I'll have to keep an eye out. They do seem a LOT more docile since I have more fish in there now, maybe that helps. Thanks for letting me know about your experiences, I'll refrain from giving this kind of advise untill I've had them longer than a year. Sorry about your gouramis. Was it the red dwarf and gold honey that you had to seperate?

Aqualung

12-08-2005, 10:29 PM

No, the honey gourami and dwarf get along fine. There is a little chasing now and then but nothing major. The other dwarf went into my girlfriend's tank. Your post reminded me that I need to get around to updating my "my tanks" page. A lot has changed since the last time I updated it - more tanks and more fish now!

I don't want to alarm you or anything. Your fish might be ok together for life, but big emphasis on might. Just something to be aware of, and if one starts showing overly aggressive behavior towards the other then that will be a good time to seperate them.

stingray4540

12-08-2005, 10:56 PM

I'm not worried, they both seem to be equally agressive to each other. I just don't want to advise anyone about something that I might not have enough experience with. You may have just got a mean fish, or my fish aren't as mean, or maybe they will be eventually. Who knows? Time will tell.