Gourami compatible with betta?

I would never suggest that someone mix gouramis and betta spendens in a tank.

However, I wouldn't say it can't and hasn't been done. I have done it with perfect success - in fact I used to have a female blue gourami and a female betta splendens living in a 20g long together and it was almost kind of cute: not only was the betta the only fish in the tank that the gourami didn't characteristically bully around, but she would also chase away any fish that she caught harassing her betta friend. Boy did that cherry barb get a piece of the gourami's mind quite often. Nippy little bugger would sneak up and nip the betta only to find he had a big gourami to contend with every time he tried it.

But when I first added Ms. Betta, Ms. Gourami chased her around to a point that the betta hid so much I couldn't take her out of the tank. Then in a week or so not only was she out and about, but the gourami had lost interest in chasing her. That is why I left the betta...and then when I noticed that they had oddly become some sort of friends, I was happy to have the betta and gourami together. They stayed that way until death did them part a few months ago.

And would you believe it - they died within a few weeks of each other.



Moral: gouramis and bettas can be kept together.



But don't do it unless you are an experienced fishkeeper and also have the time and patience to keep a good watch.
 
I'm going to guess the chances of a combo working would be best if it were not male betta/male gourami since the males of the species tend to fight more.
 
I just got a dwarf gourami tuesday and him and my betta get along great. I watch them swim next to each other and there's no problems, they don't pay each other a second thought.
 
Having plenty of other fish in tank will help distract the 2 from agression with each other alittle.
 
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