New Stocking Ideas

[gourami*girl]

Sadly, my 2nd female dwarf gourami just died from an unknown illness after my best attempts to save her and a valiant effort on her part. This is the third dwarf gourami that I have systematically lost and all from (seemingly) unrelated causes.

Therefore, I'm thinking about what to do with my 20 gallon tall tank now. Currently it's stocked with 6 harlequin rasboras which are doing well. My water comes out basic from the tap (7.4-7.6) and although I have never tested it I know it is rather hard. I have been thinking about adding peat moss to my filter becase I like the look of tannins. I currently have a Whisper 30 running on the tank. There are several large artificial plants in it.

I plan to stock about 6 panda cories next, and beyond there I am not sure. I like gouramis because of the way they look and their personable nature, but have had such trouble with the dwarfs and am limited to other types due to my tank size. Honey and pygmy gouramis are cute and available at my LFS, any thoughts on those?

Alternatively, I was considering a single (or pair) of rams, or maybe another school of colorful small fish (tetras, barbs, etc.) Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Naturestee]

How about a group of female bettas? Or sparkling gouramis?

You'll love your cories. They're so cute when they play together!

[fishymommy]

Hey, gourami, remember we were having similar troubles with fish deaths? We (aquaticcomunity peeps and I) have pretty much concluded its NTD (neon tetra disease). The same things happened with my fish too how the gouramis and neons died but my harlequin rasboras are all perfectly healthy and happy.

Anyway, as for stocking, I would suggest Cardinal tetras. I have some/am getting some and think they are very pretty and go well with the rasboras. I've never seen or tried any other types of gouramis so can't help there. I've heard rams can be kinda hard to get settled in since they have been overbread. Once you manage to keep them alive for three months it seems they are really good after that though but I'm not for sure.

Hope this helps! :o)

[Red]

I would go with a pair of rams and a school of cories..

[troy]

I think some pygmy gouramis and dwarf corydoras would sound like great additions.

[gourami*girl]

I cannot wait to get my cories! Love those cute little buggers! :1luvu:

I have a few questions about rams for those who have owned them. Are they very hard to keep alive/care for? Petco had them listed as "not for beginners" what does this mean? Also, are they personable? If I do go with rams, are there specific varieties I should seek out or avoid. I know I have seen german blue rams at my LFS, but other than that I'm not sure.

Has anyone owned pygmy, sparkling, or honey gouramis? What are they like? Are they hard to keep alive?

Thanks!

[Red]

A honey gourami is a kind of dwarf gourami and i think are the same as other dwarfs. Do you have any other LFS around you because buying a GBR from petco is a pain, because they have been over bred in asia which makes there immune system grow weaker and get internal parasites very easy. I would suggest a food based with garlic, like NLS has a perfect food for it that advertising that it is full with garlic and have had success with treating with it. That is the same problem i think your are having with your dwarf gouramis. Once you get the GBR from petco (if you can't find home bred) you need good water quality and you will be ok. woo i hope that helps

[gourami*girl]

A honey gourami is a kind of dwarf gourami and i think are the same as other dwarfs. Do you have any other LFS around you because buying a GBR from petco is a pain, because they have been over bred in asia which makes there immune system grow weaker and get internal parasites very easy. I would suggest a food based with garlic, like NLS has a perfect food for it that advertising that it is full with garlic and have had success with treating with it. That is the same problem i think your are having with your dwarf gouramis. Once you get the GBR from petco (if you can't find home bred) you need good water quality and you will be ok. woo i hope that helps

I actually do buy all my fish from a LFS that is not Petco, just happened to be in there and was checking out the fish. I'll ask the owner of my LFS if his rams are local or imported. I already have some NLS that I am feeding, and it seems like some good stuff. Thanks for all the great info, Red!

[Red]

Are you sure your NLS is the garlic stuff. Sorry for being so vague but i really don't no what it is called.

[gourami*girl]

Yes, my NLS lists garlic as one of the ingredients

[Naturestee]

Honey gourami= Colisa chuna
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Dwarf gourami= Colisa lalia
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They're different species, although I've heard the red morph of the honey gourami might be a hybrid. I haven't seen any mention of honey gouramis being prone to bacterial infections like the dwarf gouramis although they are really sensitive to water quality.

I considered getting a honey gourami for my 10 gallon but I was worried I couldn't keep the water quality high enough in such a small tank. 20g should be good though.

About rams, I've never had them but I've heard they're pretty sensitive too.

[Red]

I did not mean exact same, but it IMO they are a lot a like with water quality.. But the honey are a bit sensitive

[gourami*girl]

I did not mean exact same, but it IMO they are a lot a like with water quality.. But the honey are a bit sensitive

When you say sensitive to water quality are you talking about ammonia, nitrates, nitrites or about pH and hardness? Unfortunately, the pH and hardness of my water is less than ideal for gouramis that like soft, acidic water. Rams seem a little more compatible, with a neutral pH and medium hard water.

Also, I'll ask again because I am very interested. Are rams personable? (ie. do they greet you at the glass, have personalities, etc?)

[Taurus]

When you say sensitive to water quality are you talking about ammonia, nitrates, nitrites or about pH and hardness? Unfortunately, the pH and hardness of my water is less than ideal for gouramis that like soft, acidic water. Rams seem a little more compatible, with a neutral pH and medium hard water.

Also, I'll ask again because I am very interested. Are rams personable? (ie. do they greet you at the glass, have personalities, etc?)

GBR's require the same water conditions as Discus. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrates, less than 20ppm nitrates, soft and very clean water. They also need a seasoned tank...at least 6 months up and running.

Bolivian Rams are a bit more forgiving in terms of water quality and parameters, but not much. They need at least a 30g tank.

I tried GBRs in my 20 gallon long and failed. I purchased the GBRs at Petco. They appeared very healthy and did well for about a month. Then I lost both within a day of each other. I couldn't keep water temperature at the 80 degree f mark because I was using a 100 watt heater that just couldn't keep the tank temperature above or at 80 degrees. I did trade out the 100 watt heater for a 150 watt, but it was to late.

I also tried a Dwarf Gourami. He did well for about 10 months, then lost his color and died about a month later.

I've had the best luck with Harlequins, Corys, White Clouds. But I think the Cardinals would do well also. I'd recommend a mix of Harlequins, Cardinals or glowlight tetras
, and Corys. Stick to ~ 1.5" to 2.5" schoolers and Corys and they should do well with nitrates at less than 40ppm, ph 7.0, 76 degree f water temperature.

Filtering with peat, in all cases mentioned, would be beneficial.

Good Luck GG :fish:

[gourami*girl]

Thank you for all the info, Taurus!

From what I have heard about Discus, they require pristine water (usually RO), extrememly frequent large water changes, and specific feeding methods.

Is all this true for rams, too, or are you just referring to the fact that they need stable tank parameters? My tap water certainly is not pristine, but if I waited about 6 months with the harlequins and cories for my tank to mature do you think I may be able to successfully keep a pair of GBR?

I am leaning towards the idea of a "centerpiece" fish over a second school because I'd like a personable fish in my tank. The rasboras are beautiful and doing very well, but the only time they interact with me is when I am dropping food in the tank, lol. I loved how my dwarf gouramis came to the glass to say "hi" and tried to touch me with their feelers.

I know a betta would be a good choice because they are hardy and charasmatic, but I don't like the way they look very much. :14: If GBR's are that hard to keep, maybe I'll try a small gourami again once my tank is mature. Perhaps the problems I had were all due to the tank being young.

If anyone has thoughts about this, or ideas about other charasmatic "centerpiece fishes" that can be kept in a 20 gallon, I would love to hear them. Thanks!

[Taurus]

Thank you for all the info, Taurus!

From what I have heard about Discus, they require pristine water (usually RO), extrememly frequent large water changes, and specific feeding methods.

Is all this true for rams, too, or are you just referring to the fact that they need stable tank parameters? My tap water certainly is not pristine, but if I waited about 6 months with the harlequins and cories for my tank to mature do you think I may be able to successfully keep a pair of GBR?

Thanks!

GBRs need both pristine water conditions and a seasoned tank. You will have a better chance at success with GBRs with a larger, well seasoned tank.
A larger, well seasoned tank will give GBRs a chance to thrive and not just survive. :fish:

[Red]

I don't think that they are as hard as you say they are to keep. I keep mine is 7.5 and they have bred for me. I say when your parameters are the same for 3 months straight, you are ok IMO to introduce rams to your tank..

[Naturestee]

If you want fish that will meet you at the glass, how about platies? Mine are always happy to see me, as are my mollies. Although mollies may be a little big for a 20g. As soon as I go near the tank they start zipping up and down the front of the glass begging for food. They're busy little bees all the time, so much that one of my rabbits will actually sit and watch them sometimes. I never had that with tetras.

[Taurus]

Platies are not a bad idea. The colors can be quite striking. Here's a link to a male Topsail Platy.

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