Help with 2 Dwarf Gouramis

[JamieNSC]

I have two beautiful Male Dwarf Gouramis in a 29g tank. I am having some territory issues and need some help.

I am new to aquarium keeping so I did a lot of reading...I cleaned the local library out. But there is stuff that the books don't tell you. The books that I read and the "helpful" person at the fish store told me that the two would be fine together. It has been two weeks and I am starting to have what seems to be territorial issues. I have read the threads here and find that two males together are usually a problem.

My question is...now what?!? I have a 10g tank with a Dalmation Molly and a Crowntail Betta. They are getting along fabulously so I hate to add to the mix but should I move one of the Gouramis to that tank? If I do, then is one Gourami okay without a Gourami friend? Or would the three fish be too much of a load for the 10g?

So many questions that my head is spinning. I really appreciate any suggestions or helpful advice.

[cocoa_pleco]

2 males will almost always fight, you need either 1 male/1 female or 2 females

the 10g is already stocked wiuth the molly and betta. is it possible to get a divider for the 29g?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

i think if you have good enough filtration that one gourami will be ok in the 10g temporarly if the fighting gets too bad, other than that i think a divider like cocoa said would be best. Did you add both gouramis to the tank at the same time?

[ncbuckeye]

I've heard if you change the aquarium around it moves the territories, or if they're fighting over one certain piece, remove it's or add more, I have 3 gouramis but I don't know if their male of female with not problems.

[JamieNSC]

I have plans to eventually add more fish to the 29g so I hate to add a divider.

Yes, I added them both at the same time. They seemed to get along great for a while but over the last couple of days they have clearly drawn lines in the tank. I expect to see tape down the center any day now...:c11:


So if the 10g is already full and I don't really want to add a divider to the 29 gallon then what might be another option. What is the smallest tank that a Gourami can be happy in?

[JamieNSC]

What if I moved one Gourami to the 10g tank with the Betta and move the Molly to the 29g tank with the other Gourami? Are those a compatible mix?

[ncbuckeye]

your gourami should be fine with the molly, now with the betta I don't know. I had several gouramis in a 10 g tanks when I was younger.

[Ryuu]

I've heard if you change the aquarium around it moves the territories, or if they're fighting over one certain piece, remove it's or add more, I have 3 gouramis but I don't know if their male of female with not problems.

When I had my dwarf gouramis I moved around everythign and to them it seemed like a whole new tank and its stopped the fighting for a month and then they fought again, so maybe if oy move your things around they will stop fighing and keep moving it, it also keeps the tank looking new

[~Erik3.8.07~]

if it were me i would get rid of one or both of them and replace it with some other small gourami. I love gouramis, but not really a fan of the dwarfs, mainly cause you can only get males and they tend to be more fisty than other gouramis anyway. If you really want a pretty pair of gouramis that can live together, try a pair of paradise gouramis or a pair of sparkling gouramis, both will do fine in a community and get along nicely

[cocoa_pleco]

yeah, if you could flip the betta and the molly into the 29g that works. just make sure the betta is okay with the one gourami, since theyre both surface dwellers

dwarfs can live in bare min. 5.5g, best 10g

[JamieNSC]

I tried but the Gourami would not cooperate. He was chasing everyone around and stressing the tank and me! I took him back and exchanged for a Cremesicle Molly.

Hopefully the Gourami that is left has learned from the experience. I know that I have.

[MandyL]

Probably for the best. A betta will likely fight with a gourami as well.