I recently set up a FW tank. I've checked the water and have added my beginning fish. I chose gouramis to start with because I heard/read they were very hardy. The local pet store helped me choose 3 gouramis to start with, 2 female and one male. I'd like to add a few smaller fish to the tank. But I have no idea on what to add, or if anything would be suitable. I was talking to a lady at the local pet store and she suggested an irrediscent shark, but that turned out to be way to aggressive for my gouramis and luckily the LPS took him back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Fish With Gouramis
- Thread starter DWestover
- Start date
oh, my, they sold you an iridescent shark, a fish that gets too big for 90% of the aquariums out there and is among the more skittish fish in the trade, as a good community fish? Mmmmkay....
At any rate, what size tank are we talking about? Many fish do well with gouramis, but knowing the tank size will better determine the best choices for you.
At any rate, what size tank are we talking about? Many fish do well with gouramis, but knowing the tank size will better determine the best choices for you.
I just have a 10 gallon tank. So I am not wanting anything new right now, but wanted some suggestions of fish to research. I decided from now on I am doing much more of my own research rather than relying on the pet stores help.
good call.
I've had cichlids, catfish, neons, large tetras like silver dollars, and several other fish that escape me at the moment with gouramis with no problems whatsoever. I've also seen large blue gouramis in tanks with BIG fish like pacus with no apparent ill effects. It depends on the personality of the fish, though.
I wouldn't put flashy fish like bettas or guppies with them, because they might mistake the bright finnage for a threat display and kill the offending party for no reason.
I've had cichlids, catfish, neons, large tetras like silver dollars, and several other fish that escape me at the moment with gouramis with no problems whatsoever. I've also seen large blue gouramis in tanks with BIG fish like pacus with no apparent ill effects. It depends on the personality of the fish, though.
I wouldn't put flashy fish like bettas or guppies with them, because they might mistake the bright finnage for a threat display and kill the offending party for no reason.
Thank you for all your help. I do have one fire gourami, a blue gourami and a lavendar gourami. Thanks for the advice. I am going to look into all the fish everyone suggested.
I used to have my gouramies in my community tank--a mix of tetras, a rainbow shark, rainbows, and a plethora of bottom feeders. They are now in a planted 20 gallon tank with an african frog, and are much happier for it. In the planted 40, they hid out most of the time--stashed under logs and behind plants. Gouramies seem to like it calm, and quiet--even lots of splashing water upset mine (2 golds, 2 blues). Now, with just the frog for company, I can always find them close to the surface, just hanging out. They have much better behavior solo than they did with the community.
Do realize that non-dwarf gouramies get much larger than a 10 will accomodate. I am not sure, but the lavendar might not be a dwarf. As is, you won't be able to put a school of fish into that tank without overstocking it--even the dwarf gouramies can hit 2.5 inches. If I were you, rather than adding anything busy and active (like barbs, millies, platies, ect), I would look into getting 2-3 cories, or a single bristlenose pleco. Either choice would work, and shouldn't upset the gouramies much.
Do realize that non-dwarf gouramies get much larger than a 10 will accomodate. I am not sure, but the lavendar might not be a dwarf. As is, you won't be able to put a school of fish into that tank without overstocking it--even the dwarf gouramies can hit 2.5 inches. If I were you, rather than adding anything busy and active (like barbs, millies, platies, ect), I would look into getting 2-3 cories, or a single bristlenose pleco. Either choice would work, and shouldn't upset the gouramies much.
I bought my ten gallon because my husband was not for a fish tank AT ALL. He works sixty hours a week and I am a full time student and he was afraid it wouldnt get taken care of the way it needs to be.
He now loves it. He realizes how calm and relaxing it is. And even when I am taking care of the tank I still find observing the fish relaxing and it even lightens my spirits a little and gets me laughing.
So, our new game plan is: Find a larger tank that will fit in our living room (probably a 30 gallon) and move the 10 gallon into the work out room for a quartine tank. This way my gouramis will have much more room (my little lavendar gourami has grown quite a bit already and I want her to have enough space.)
But I'm still going to wait awhile to do this I want to get into the hang of the 10 gallon really well before I up and get an even bigger one.
Thanks for all the advice.
He now loves it. He realizes how calm and relaxing it is. And even when I am taking care of the tank I still find observing the fish relaxing and it even lightens my spirits a little and gets me laughing.
So, our new game plan is: Find a larger tank that will fit in our living room (probably a 30 gallon) and move the 10 gallon into the work out room for a quartine tank. This way my gouramis will have much more room (my little lavendar gourami has grown quite a bit already and I want her to have enough space.)
But I'm still going to wait awhile to do this I want to get into the hang of the 10 gallon really well before I up and get an even bigger one.
Thanks for all the advice.
While I understand your reason for waiting until the 10 is stable before moving up, it's actually easier to maintain a larger tank. Big tanks are much more stable than a smaller tank. What I would do is get the 30 now, fishlessly cycle it, then move all your current fish directly into this new, larger home.