Red Robin Gourami

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Sep 15, 2004
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Hi All,

My LFS has a new tank full of Red Robin Gourami's. Could anyone tell me wheather they are easy to keep as I'm having trouble finding info on them through googling.

My tank specs are below and that is where i would want to keep them if I bought them. Would a male and female be good?

Tanks specs:
28gal
18 w flouro with reflector (which is supposed to bouble your output, seems to be doing so. So far I've not felt the need to get a second bulb in there).
Fluval 3 internal filter
Small CO2 injector (for sub 20gal tanks)
Temp: 25c
Substrate: Just pea gravel at the moment. the plants are happy so I've no plans to enhance it so far.

Fish:
2 Dwarf Gouramis (Male and Female)
4 Fancy Guppies (2 Leopard, 1 Bluegrass, 1Purple)
3 Albino Corys
2 Bronze Corys
1 Common Pleco
1 As yet unidentified tetra who appeared in the bag with the bronze corys once i got them home. Going to take him back to the store where he can be with his own kind.
 
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I'm guessing they're just like "flame gouramis," which are colour-specific breed of dwarf gouramis... Wouldn't bet my life on it though.
 
I wouldn't introduce more gouramies to your tank. They can be territorial, and the new fish would likely be harrassed and pestered by the current pair.

You might want to take the common pleco back as well--it wil quickly outgrow the tank within the year, and there are a wide variety of smaller fish that will work in your tank, in addition to being better 'workers' than a common.
 
I know about the pleco but he's my favourite (his name's Sammy), and i'd rather increase tank size than get rid of him should he start to grow.
However, i'm not 100% sure that's going to happen. The man in the shop I bought it from (which is a very reputable place) said that the ones they get in don't go past 5inches. I wouldn't of believed him except that we bought the pleco we have at work from the same source. I've been working there for 3 years and the pleco has been there longer than me. He's still only about 3 and a half inches max. He seems happy though, and he's well feed on algae waffers, plus occaisonal veggies and bloodworm.
Perhaps they're not common plecos, but looking at them I can't see what else they could be.
 
If it's a common, it will get bigger. If it's not a common, there are many that stay smaller--but you may want to verify species so you can be sure to provide it appropriate foods--many of the smaller varieties require more meat than vegetation to stay healthy. Check here: www.planetcatfish.com for help in identifying the fish.

In terms of a common that has stayed that small--they are being stunted. Happens frequently, and results in a shorter lifespan for the fish.
 
Hi Oriongirl,

Thanks for the link.Looks like a good website.
It helped me find out that i don't have a common pleco. But i still can't find out what i do have. I have the same skin markings as the bristlenose, plus the 2 white spots on the tail. neither my baby one or the one at work has any bristles whatsoever. I'll try and borrow a digi camera so i can post a pic of it on the site.

Thanks
 
Sounds like a female bristlenose. There are several species of ancistrus, and while the males of all species have bristles, the females of many do not. Very good fish! They are great cleaners, and stay around 4-6 inches (depending on the species). They are good fish for smaller tanks, and unlike many other pleco species, they continute to eat algae throughout their lifespan.
 
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