New Golden Gourami

[hockeyhead019]

hey everybody,

well the title might be a little misleading but i want to get a golden gourami... and i was reading and it says that you shouldn't keep a male and female? that seems a little counter intuitive to me but then again i'm new to the whole thing... so what would the problems be to keeping multiple gourami's in the same tank (and fyi my tank is a 20g long)

also do they absolutely need salt?

thanks everybody

[Northernguy]

hey everybody,

well the title might be a little misleading but i want to get a golden gourami... and i was reading and it says that you shouldn't keep a male and female? that seems a little counter intuitive to me but then again i'm new to the whole thing... so what would the problems be to keeping multiple gourami's in the same tank (and fyi my tank is a 20g long)

also do they absolutely need salt?

thanks everybody

I don't think they need salt unless they are injured.
Here is some info.[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[hockeyhead019]

ok thanks because the petsmart that i went into just to take a look had some in salt and others without it... and i was under the impression that what u said was correct so thank you

[VoidParadigm]

Gourami temperments vary. I've heard everything from them going on mini-massacres to being the most peaceful community fish in the world. I have two males in a tank right now that are getting along fine. (I don't expect this to last, though! lol.) However, males are generally territorial towards other males, and from what I've heard occasionally females. For a twenty gallon I'd only suggest one, especially for a golden gourami. I've personally heard more reports of the golds getting nasty than any others. Could try some corys or tetras in there with it, though, maybe. =] (Don't quote me on the compatible fish, though! Never had them in with another species.)

Good luck!

Edit: Also if you get one of each gender in the tank and they breed the male's aggression will heighten, as he's the caregiver and he could potentially hurt the female.

[Gayle]

Gouramis do not need salt! Not at all!

A 20g is not large enough for more than one Golden.

Some Gouramis are sweet, some are mean, all fish have their own personality. However Gouramis tend to be a bit more of a bully.

If you have a male and female they will spawn, that is a very bad plan for a 20g community tank. The male will beat up any fish that gets close to his nest, eggs, or fry. And they can kill other fish! I know from experience. That also includes the female. He will attack her as well. In a 20g they really have no way to run from him. Besides they lay 100's of eggs. The fry can get overwhelming if you do not plan to breed and rehome.

Outside of that two males will cause major fights over territory, and they each need atleast 20g of their own IMO, or they fight for it. Two females will also fight in a 20g.

I would strongly recommend that you only get one Golden for your tank, as a centerpiece. They usually do great alone, and are very peaceful, curious fish. And they are so beautiful and graceful! I love mine! (Except when they beat up the other fish! LOL)

[hockeyhead019]

ok thanks guys i've decided to go with only one golden then but i do have tetra in there so i don't think anybody will be getting bullied as there are 8 tetra :)

[rich311k]

Actually those serpaes may cause the gourami much stress. They are nippers and those feelers make great targets.

[hali_fish]

Gouramis do not need salt! Not at all!

A 20g is not large enough for more than one Golden.

Some Gouramis are sweet, some are mean, all fish have their own personality. However Gouramis tend to be a bit more of a bully.

If you have a male and female they will spawn, that is a very bad plan for a 20g community tank. The male will beat up any fish that gets close to his nest, eggs, or fry. And they can kill other fish! I know from experience. That also includes the female. He will attack her as well. In a 20g they really have no way to run from him. Besides they lay 100's of eggs. The fry can get overwhelming if you do not plan to breed and rehome.

Outside of that two males will cause major fights over territory, and they each need atleast 20g of their own IMO, or they fight for it. Two females will also fight in a 20g.

So true!! lol I had a male and female dwarf together...wasn't long before I had hundreds of fry, and my male did a number on my female! lol And even though I put the fry into a breeding net, the male still managed to eat some of em. Although, I have 2 females together and they get along famously! lol I am beginning to see the fish really do each have thier own personalities! :hmm3grin2orange:

[frank_zappa]

ok thanks because the petsmart that i went into just to take a look had some in salt and others without it... and i was under the impression that what u said was correct so thank you

if it is anything like the petsmart near me, they were probably treating for ich

[hockeyhead019]

ok that makes sense... thank everybody