True disposition of Pearl Gouramis

saram521

saram521

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May 10, 2008
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Sara
Lately, I've been thinking of adding a trio (1m/2f) of pearl gouramis to my 46g stock list (which is yet to be set up). Other tankmates will probably be neon rainbows, neon/rummynose tetras, cories, and hatchets. I've been looking through old threads on here about people's experiences with pearls, and there are more negative accounts than I'd like to see! Someone wrote that their male pearl was chasing their sterbai cories, another said their male pearl was chasing everything moving in the tank! I'm curious as to whether these are true pearl gouramis (trichogaster leerii) whose bad behavior is being described, or if it's actually opaline gouramis (trichogaster trichopterus) being discussed. Can anyone here attest to their pearl gourami(s) actually being peaceful? Also, would angelfish be a good mix with pearl gouramis in a 75g?
 
I have 4 in my 56. One male and 3 females. I also have a herd of rasboras, both harlequin and espei. And 4 sterbai cories, 2 peppered cories, a schwartzi cory and one yoyo loach.
The pearls are far and away my favorite fish. They pretty much stay at the top of the tank. The rasboras stay in the middle and of course the cories and loach are on the bottom. And there are 2 mystery snails - golf ball size.

No aggressive behavior that I have ever seen.

I did have 5 pearls, 2 males and 3 females. One day one of the males was just.. dead. No marks, he wasn't being picked on - I still do not have any idea what happened to him. He was nose down in the apon. crispus.

It is not easy to find pearl gouramies old enough to sex in most local lfs, since most fish for sale are juvies. I found my females in a wonderful lfs in NJ - I wish I were closer, that is the best lfs I have ever found.

Don't hatchets stay near the surface? If that is the case, I would pass on them if you want pearls. I think that they like the surface to be "their domain"
 
Thanks for the input you guys. I probably won't keep hatchets in the same tank the pearls will be in, fauna. You have a good point about the pearls likely taking the top part of the aquarium as their territory. I would appreciate if a couple more people could share their experiences with pearl gouramis so I can have a better idea.
 
We have a 150gal with six or seven different gouramis in it, as well as some cherry barbs and kuhlis. The pearl is one of the more low-key fish in the tank.
 
i dont think that gouramis and angels can mix
 
My angel and pearl gourami get along just fine. Had them together for 2 years and no aggression at all.
 
We've had pearls a couple times over the years, M + F pairs. Beautiful, graceful not aggressive at all. I agree, skip the hatchets or any even remotely nippy fish.

IMO 2 "schools" are enough in most tanks.
 
We have had two pearl gouramis for about six weeks now, one is slightly larger and will occasionally try to keep the other one in the corner , it usually doesn't stay there too long. Other than that they are pretty peaceful fish. I do not know what sex they are, they have some nice coloring, but they do not have the long feathery fins like I have seen on some in photos on the web. Anyone know how to sex them?
 
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