Powder blue Gouramis

[tornangel012]

My boyfriend and I just got a pair for his 55 gal tank among it he has 12 black neon tetras, 1 cory, 1 common pleco, 1 serpae tetra, 1 black skirted tetra and 1 rasbora. They have ample space in his tank and my parents liked them so they wanted to know if it's possible to get them for our new 10 gal that we're developing at home.

It's really going to be a gorgeous lil tank all blues and purples with Blue glass ornaments.

Anyways I've read from a couple sources that they should be in pairs and that a 10 gal would be ok but to me it seems a lil small for two of them. What are your opinions?

Also I would stock this tank with 4 cory's, maybe 3 ghost shrimp and some cardinal tetras. I was thinking of some fancy tail guppies but I think that would be too much if I get the powder blues.

 

[YoFishboy]

I think the powder blues inthe 10g would be ok, with maybe 2-3 small, dwarf cories. Ghost shrimp - probably ok. The cardinals, which will want to be in a group of 5 at least, I think would be really pushing the envelope.

 

[tornangel012]

Ok fishboy since your the only person who has responded thus far HOW about this for my 10 gal

2 powder blue gourami
3 panda corys or albino (unsure)
3 ghost shrimp
and 2 male fancy tale guppies?

If I did get the Cardinals it would of only been 4 at most.

 

[Analog Saint]

Gouramis do not like to be in pairs, unless they are a mating m/f pair. Powder blue gouramis are Dwarf Blue Gouramis, bred into a specific coloured strain, and will be aggressive towards each other, especially if both are males. The only reason they aren't beating on each other in the store tanks is usually they're too crowded and stressed to do so.

Unless you get a really uppity dwarf gourami, 3-5 cories would be good. Your gourami might also eat ghost shrimp if they're put together, so that's just a heads up. I'd also go with something like cardinals over guppies, just in case your gourami is a fin nipper.

 

[YoFishboy]

Ok fishboy since your the only person who has responded thus far HOW about this for my 10 gal

2 powder blue gourami
3 panda corys or albino (unsure)
3 ghost shrimp
and 2 male fancy tale guppies?

If I did get the Cardinals it would of only been 4 at most.

Here is my take - Hold the shrimp and guppies and go for the 4-5 cardinals - Analog Saint is correct that gourami disposition can be unpredictable - so be prepared to make adjustments - good luck!

 

[Analog Saint]

Oh and no matter what store employees say, most every gourami they sell are males. I've heard some people try and pass off other male gouramis as females. The females look very drab in colour, and usually have to be specially ordered. Breeding in a 10g is possible, but have another tank for the female once the fry are free-swimming.

I'd say 6 cardinals, A dwarf, and a quartet of cories would make a great tank. Plants are always appreciated... Dwarf gouramis are omnivores and appreciate a varied diet- spirulina flakes are always a good thing for them. They'll eat just about anything, but making sure they get their veggies is important.

 

[tornangel012]

sounds good to me you guys! Thanks for all the input I'll be sure to post the set up precycled pre fish tank so you can see my color scheme I'll try the two gourami's and if there is a problem it'll go into my boyfriends 55gal.

Also the quartet of cories solves my problem of what kind I suppose two albinos and two panda's but that's still in the think tank.

 

[tornangel012]

Here is my pre fish, pre water photo of my tank that I'm planning with those fish we discussed. I'm also planning on putting some live plants in the back and I have these pearlized colored fake plants coming.