gourami ratios?
- Thread starter munkee
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for breeding or for normal deco purpose?
either ways, i don't know. haha.
for me, i don't care how many females i put as long as the males don't fight.
either ways, i don't know. haha.
for me, i don't care how many females i put as long as the males don't fight.
With gouramies you should generally use 2 females to 1 male if keeping (obviously 1 and 1 if you are breeding). The reasons is males will annoy the females too much and if you only have a 1:1 ratio the females will get stressed and may not survive. have a 2:1 ratio diffuses this situation a little
Having said that the acutal ratio depends on the species, the size of the tank, the age of the fish and the temperment of each fish amongest other issues. If you are not experienced with a particular species, you should start using 2:1 and then decide if you need more females to diffuse an aggressive male.
Having said that the acutal ratio depends on the species, the size of the tank, the age of the fish and the temperment of each fish amongest other issues. If you are not experienced with a particular species, you should start using 2:1 and then decide if you need more females to diffuse an aggressive male.
and it is not true that females have the same temperment as males... It depends. I have had a lot of experience with pearl gouramies and a bit less with a few other species and I can assure you that they vary but when you get an aggressive male you will know about it.
I used to have a fully grown male pearl gourami that used to attack fish twice his size with vigour. He was unquestionably the boss of the aquarium specially around feeding time. As a general observation, I found that male gouramies tend to be aggressive towards other species during feeding but leave them alone all other times (except in small tanks) but they will constantly annoy females of the same species.
I used to have a fully grown male pearl gourami that used to attack fish twice his size with vigour. He was unquestionably the boss of the aquarium specially around feeding time. As a general observation, I found that male gouramies tend to be aggressive towards other species during feeding but leave them alone all other times (except in small tanks) but they will constantly annoy females of the same species.
sad case, my beautiful male betta got killed by an ugly female during courtship.
i guess the male was desperate and the female showed no mercy.
i guess the male was desperate and the female showed no mercy.
Sounds like some dates i've been on...
Oh wait.. back on topic...
I keep blue gourami and paradise fish (a cousin in the same family) and have had sucess with various gender combinations. Usually when breeding I will isolate a egg gravid female and male in one tank with no surface agitation so they can nest.
Oh wait.. back on topic...
I keep blue gourami and paradise fish (a cousin in the same family) and have had sucess with various gender combinations. Usually when breeding I will isolate a egg gravid female and male in one tank with no surface agitation so they can nest.
I've got a pair of pearl gourami in a 30g community, and they seem to have gone into spawning mode. Their colors have gotten more intense, and the male has built a bubble nest in the quietest corner. They dance around every once and awhile. This alternates with violent chases and with quiet hanging out in the ambulia (under the nest). The rasbora, who also like the ambulia grove, are periodically chased off.
The nutshell end of the story is:
•How big is the tank? (How much room do you have for violent chases? can harassed fish get far enough away?)
•How much coverage will harassed fish have available? (Her best coverage in my case is unfortunately right under the nest. Plants, driftwood. She made an escape move behind the heater at one point).
•What other fish are going to be effected as bystanders? (The two schools of rasbora have fused back together and seem a little freaked out: they liked having long swims back and forth).
It also depends on the temperament of the gourami: the pearls are supposed to be one of the most peaceful gouramis. And usually they are, but today they're not.
I've heard of using two females with a male to diffuse aggression, but when he pairs off with one the other one may be harassed by both. Part of the pair-bonding bit. I think having an "other" actually helps reinforce the pair-bond, which may be better for breeding. (Think high school).
The nutshell end of the story is:
•How big is the tank? (How much room do you have for violent chases? can harassed fish get far enough away?)
•How much coverage will harassed fish have available? (Her best coverage in my case is unfortunately right under the nest. Plants, driftwood. She made an escape move behind the heater at one point).
•What other fish are going to be effected as bystanders? (The two schools of rasbora have fused back together and seem a little freaked out: they liked having long swims back and forth).
It also depends on the temperament of the gourami: the pearls are supposed to be one of the most peaceful gouramis. And usually they are, but today they're not.
I've heard of using two females with a male to diffuse aggression, but when he pairs off with one the other one may be harassed by both. Part of the pair-bonding bit. I think having an "other" actually helps reinforce the pair-bond, which may be better for breeding. (Think high school).
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Well, it sounds like you've got space to play with so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I chose pearls as my first gourami pair because I'd read they were fairly peaceful for gourami. I've read about some species being extremely territorial and others not quite so much, so in part it depends on the species you want to go with. They're not all bubblenesters, but I think most are territorial to some degree.
Any bubblenester will need a safe place for the bubblenest, so 5 feet of open water may not mean anything in a fight for two quiet corners. You can increase the amount of potential territory with floating plants. Right now, no one is allowed within about about a foot of his corner. The normally crowded ambulia grove is empty. The amount of cover everyone else has and having a good quiet spot he can stake out are the important points. You could probably keep several pairs in such a big tank if there are enough territories and refuges.
A pair seems to work just fine, 2 or 3 females per male may work better if you've got the space. A few pair may work if you've got the space. Females are probably going to be harder to find.
You may want to look for a different barb. Most gouramis will probably be susceptible to the nipping thing. Supposed to be less of a problem so long as there are enough barbs.
I chose pearls as my first gourami pair because I'd read they were fairly peaceful for gourami. I've read about some species being extremely territorial and others not quite so much, so in part it depends on the species you want to go with. They're not all bubblenesters, but I think most are territorial to some degree.
Any bubblenester will need a safe place for the bubblenest, so 5 feet of open water may not mean anything in a fight for two quiet corners. You can increase the amount of potential territory with floating plants. Right now, no one is allowed within about about a foot of his corner. The normally crowded ambulia grove is empty. The amount of cover everyone else has and having a good quiet spot he can stake out are the important points. You could probably keep several pairs in such a big tank if there are enough territories and refuges.
A pair seems to work just fine, 2 or 3 females per male may work better if you've got the space. A few pair may work if you've got the space. Females are probably going to be harder to find.
You may want to look for a different barb. Most gouramis will probably be susceptible to the nipping thing. Supposed to be less of a problem so long as there are enough barbs.