I have a Three spot gourami, and he does fine with some of my midsize cichlids. but of course he's full grown i.e. meaning 6 inches. i would say a large gourami that grows in with some cichlids that stay under 7 inches would be fine.
Thysochromis ansorgii. There's not much published info out there on these little guys, but they are the most peaceful dwarf cichlid (except for maybe bolivian rams) I've ever found. The best article on them is in Linke & Staeck's Cichlids from West Africa. Heck, it's the only article I've ever seen on them - there are no articles on the web.
Lars has some pictures about 2/3rds down this page: http://www.lem.net/alf/westafr.htm
For some reason, my netbook (or maybe it's firefox) hates Lar's website these days - takes forever to load.
Except when spawing, these guys are peaceful. Even when spawing in a 33 gallon tank, they live fine with cherry barbs, variatus platys, and a leopard bushfish.
One nice things about these guys is, unlike many dwarf cichlids, they're not shy...at all.
I agree with Colar from my observation of a family run pricey but well maintained LFS in my area. They are always getting huge donated fish that they sell for excellent prices considering their size.
My point is they have them grouped in what seem like the most outrageous combination's some in groups of Pacu, Oscars and Blood Parrots, Some with Parrots and huge sharks and some all alone. I recall commenting on why one huge Oscar was housed alone and they told be he was a fighter.
Amazingly these fish would just tolerate one another with no visible damage or signs of aggression but who wants a charcoal flat gray Pacu the size of a dinner plate at any price.
The blue/opaline ones have been kept in an open top pond with various mid level agressive cichlids(convicts, midas, etc), and held their own, but those are the most feisty of the gourami. If considering a croaking gourami I would not even consider dwarf cichlids with them.
I have a 3 inch opaline gourami and a neon swordtail. The gourami did not like the Tetra or gold algae eater I had before. I wanted to add a ram cichlid to my tank because it feels empty with only two fish but the ones at the store had ick. Thoughts on how to make my gourami and a peacock cichlid compatible?