New to the forums! Gourami Stocking Question

feederfish

feederfish

AC Members
Feb 7, 2009
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Mobile, AL
First Hello to Everyone at Aquaria Central!

I will start with just one stocking question:

I really like Gouramis the best and will definately be keeping Pearl Gouramis. Is it possible and morally okay to keep other species of Gouramis, if I limit the total males to the tank to like 1, 2, 3 etc and keep mostly females? This would mean some species would be all female. I will be getting a 70 to 125 gallon tank. The tank will be well planted (even if all fake). It would not be an all Gouramis tank... just that I would like it to be the focus if that works.

Thanks for any help,
Feederfish
 
Welcome to AC!
Hope you enjoy it here

Pearl Gourami's are real Peaceful, A trio of them would be great in a 70-125 tank, maybe even more.
Try to get some Fish that are also peaceful and not as aggressive Like Tetras.
 
sleepyskater said:
Welcome to AC!
Hope you enjoy it here

Pearl Gourami's are real Peaceful, A trio of them would be great in a 70-125 tank, maybe even more.
Try to get some Fish that are also peaceful and not as aggressive Like Tetras.
Click to expand...

I also am thinking about adding Pearl Gouramis. Would two males do well in a 38 g moderately planted tank? (or a male and a female, if I can sex them at the LFS.)
 
Pearls are peaceful for gouramis (and one of my favorite fish), but you might have problems with two males in that tank, as one will come to dominate the other. I'd stick with one male and 2-3 females. I wouldn't mix them with trichogaster trichopterus (blue/gold/3-spot gouramis), since those can be quite aggressive. I've kept pearls and dwarf gouramis together successfully, but I'd still be cautious.
 
Thanks for the input sleepyskater and irishspy. Very helpful.

Here is an example of my first stocking plan, and maybe a bad one at that! Hahahaha. At least I have NO little terrors that I know of (red-tailed shark, paradise fish).

7-8 Cardinal Tetras.
4 Pearl Gourami (1 male)
4 Polka-dot Loaches (Botia kubotai), if I can get them. Otherwise Zebra Loaches
2 Dwarf Gourami (1 male)
3 Platy
1 Silver Dollar
1 Algae Eater

Maybe a swordtail too
 
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Of course, I may have to setup a 10 gallon for the dwarfs if things go poorly. Let me know what else you think about the selections and feel free to make suggestions.
 
feederfish said:
Thanks for the input sleepyskater and irishspy. Very helpful.

Here is an example of my first stocking plan, and maybe a bad one at that! Hahahaha. At least I have NO little terrors that I know of (red-tailed shark, paradise fish).

7-8 Cardinal Tetras.
4 Pearl Gourami (1 male)
4 Polka-dot Loaches (Botia kubotai), if I can get them. Otherwise Zebra Loaches
2 Dwarf Gourami (1 male)- I would avoid these. Mixing different gourami species is always hit or miss and these tend to be "weak".
3 Platy
1 Silver Dollar- These are schooling, hyper fish. I wouldn't advise adding one and I think a proper group would be too much mayhem for the gouramies.
1 Algae Eater- What kind of "algae eater"?

Maybe a swordtail too
Click to expand...


Comments etc. in red. :welcome: to AC!
 
Thanks Hooked Newbie!

Mixing Gourami species at all sound like trouble. Well no doubts about the Pearls though, they look great and were very friendly at the LFS (they have a lot). The Dwarfs seemed friendly but the noticable males (blue and red) were agressive with each other. As a newbie fishkeeper, I will play it safe.

I didn't realize the silver dollars were schooling and hyper. I seen one once all by itself and it was active but not very hyper. Maybe it was depressed/bored becuase it was the only one.

No idea yet on an algae eater... My friend had one that got at least 8" and reminded me of a stealth fighter, haha. Definately had to be a catfish of sorts. I liked it a lot and would want one. What do most LFS stores sell/have (not the Chinese Algae Eater)? They look to be the same thing - some catfish clung onto the glass.

Gave me much to think about.

What about Rosy Barbs or Odessa Barbs?
Would Harlequin Rasbora or Danios be too much excitement for the Pearl Gourami?
 
I have a gourami tank. It is a 90 gal tank with 9 gourami in it. 5 are Trichigaster trichopterus, all females. 2 are Pearls, male and females. 2 are Banded, both males. The tank is heavily planted. All of the gourami have been togeather for at least a year. All of them get along well with only minor chasing, etc. The tank also has 3 ottos, 3 Panda cats and 2 Giant brochus cats. I have never notice any fins niped.
I was advised to not put the gourami together but it has worked out in this case. I think that the male Trichogaster trichopterus is the most aggressive and since I don't have any in this tank that is why it is more peaceful.
 
Thanks for the input jimmy mc.

I like your stocking and the banded do seem to be more peaceful from what I read. Here is another go at possibly ill-adviced Gourami stocking:

7-8 Cardinal Tetras.
4 Pearl Gourami (1 male)
4 Polka-dot Loaches (Botia kubotai), if I can get them. Otherwise Zebra Loaches
1 Banded Gourami (male)
2 Trichigaster trichopterus (female) [maybe, space permited]
3 Platy
1 Algae Eater (catfish suck-on the glass type)

Appreciate all the input. This way faster then getting a headache over the possibilities.
 
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