center piece fish
- Thread starter Linda S
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tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
How hardy are gouramis? It seems to me there have been several threads about gouramis in the FW illness and disease forum. I don't want a fish that I will have to play nursemaid forever.
A pearl gourami would be stunning in a mix of embers and CPDs. Pearls can be a bit shy, but they seem to open up more in a nicely planted tank with some surface cover. They grow to 4"-5", though not usually over 4.5".
Most gourami species are very hardy, though the various color varieties of dwarf gourami have become quite weak due to inbreeding, often living for only 6 months. The normal colored dwarf gourami might be a bit hardier, but in recent years their quality has declined and they often succumb to early deaths as well. Dwarf gouramis grow up to be about 2".
Honey gouramis are one of my favorite fish. They are a small species, maxing out at about 1.5"-2". A trio would be lovely in your tank. If you are interested in honeys, make sure that you are getting Colisa Chuna, as the thick lipped gourami, Colisa labiosa, is sometimes labeled with the name honey gourami as well. A thick lipped gourami could work in your tank as well, as they grow to about the same size as the pearl gourami.
I'm not a big fan of keeping 3 spot gouramis in tanks under 30 gallons, as they can grow up to 6". They can be aggressive toward other fish in the tank, and they might chase after small fish.
Most gourami species are very hardy, though the various color varieties of dwarf gourami have become quite weak due to inbreeding, often living for only 6 months. The normal colored dwarf gourami might be a bit hardier, but in recent years their quality has declined and they often succumb to early deaths as well. Dwarf gouramis grow up to be about 2".
Honey gouramis are one of my favorite fish. They are a small species, maxing out at about 1.5"-2". A trio would be lovely in your tank. If you are interested in honeys, make sure that you are getting Colisa Chuna, as the thick lipped gourami, Colisa labiosa, is sometimes labeled with the name honey gourami as well. A thick lipped gourami could work in your tank as well, as they grow to about the same size as the pearl gourami.
I'm not a big fan of keeping 3 spot gouramis in tanks under 30 gallons, as they can grow up to 6". They can be aggressive toward other fish in the tank, and they might chase after small fish.
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tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
Pearl, 3-spot, ect are very hardy. My Pearls are over3 years old.
Dwarfs and their color-mutations are a different story. They are hit or miss.
:iagree:
Pearl gourami are peaceful and would be awesome with the CPDs (spots & spots!). I'd go for a single pearl gourami, or a trio of honey gourami (2f/1m).
My dwarf gourami are hitting the end of their 2nd year with me.... Never had an issue
very pretty and healthy they just dart so fast I can't get a pic of them!! they are scared of the camera.... silly fish
I have Pearl Gourami's and they get about 4 inches or so.
I agree with RazzleFish on the Apistogramma's, I love the Cacatuoides, I think they're my favorite dwarf cichlid, but I'll be getting Bolivian Rams from a friend, hope they're as nice as the Ap. Cacatuoides. Good luck with your choice, so many nice fish to choose from!
I agree with RazzleFish on the Apistogramma's, I love the Cacatuoides, I think they're my favorite dwarf cichlid, but I'll be getting Bolivian Rams from a friend, hope they're as nice as the Ap. Cacatuoides. Good luck with your choice, so many nice fish to choose from!
