How would a Pearl Gourami do in a 10g tank?

[rsanz]

Well, my ram finally died after a sad life. I was thinking of replacing him with a Pearl Gourami. What do you think? I also want to restock my Cardinal Tetra school back up to 6 or 7 fish (it is currently at 4).

The Oto is doing just fine. Fat and healthy.

So the final stocking would be:
6 or 7 Cardinal Tetras
1 Pearl Gourami
1 Otocinclus

What do you think? Doable with regular water changes and vacuuming?

 

[rsanz]

Sorry for the double post, but I missed my edit time and I was thinking:

Could I maybe also add some shrimp to the bottom to keep the gravel a little cleaner? Or would that be too much...I realize that it's a small tank.

 

[irishspy]

I think that would be rather crowded for a Pearl. They can get up to 4-5". With another 3-4 cardinals, however, you would have a lovely school in that tank.

 

[Lupin]

Sorry for the double post, but I missed my edit time and I was thinking:

Could I maybe also add some shrimp to the bottom to keep the gravel a little cleaner? Or would that be too much...I realize that it's a small tank.

What shrimp are you going to add? The cherry red shrimps will end up eaten by the ram most likely.

 

[fishorama]

Lupin, the ram died.

rsanz, how about a honey gourami instead of the pearl?

 

[krytan]

a 10g is to small for a Pearl Gourami, what about a dwarf Gourami instead?

 

[Brian Bivens]

I agree, that a pearl gourami is too big. If it was the only fish in there, probably ok, with a school of tetras, it would be crowded, and you would have water quality issues.

You could get a female beta, a honey or dwarf gourami, a pair of platies, and then keep up with maintenance.

The shrimp might clean some, but they also create waste like everything else.

Personally I would get the honey gourami (a bright yellow one) and one or two more cardinal tetras, 2-3 amano shrimp, and call it a tank.

 

[GirlieGirl8521]

I agree ^. A Pearl gourami would not be happy in a little 10g. They get too large and would not have enough room.

 

[jm1212]

even if it was the only fish, the tank is just to small. 20 is really a minimum for pearl gouramis.

a nice sized school of 8 cardinals could be cool, and also keep in mind that otos should be in groups.

 

[Lupin]

Lupin, the ram died.

The OP didn't update the signature hence my reason to believe he had a ram.

Here are your alternatives:
1. Sparkling Gouramis
2. Honey Gouramis
3. Croaking Gouramis