Gouarmis as centerpiece fish?

[dman]

I was thinking of adding gouramis as a centerpiece fish. Right now I have 8 harlequins, 7 black neon tetras, 5 otos, and plan to get 6 or so cories all in a 50 gal planted tank. I thought about getting 2-3 gouramis and maybe a pair of rams as I want some bigger fish in there that stand out. I asked about them at the LFS and they seemed to discourage that, saying gouramis are best either by themself or with a larger group of them and that they don't last that long. They suggested maybe getting an angelfish instead. What are your experiences with gouramis in small groups? Is this a good idea? What types get along best? I don't know if I want just one big fish in there (like an angelfish) as opposed to having a few different types of smaller ones (like gouramis or rams). This is so hard to decide!!!!

[Red]

What kind of gourami were you looking into? A trio of dwarf gouramis would work. (1m to 2f) The females are hard to find, so a single male would be good. I have had luck with a gold gourami in the tank with community, but some may disagree. The rams sound nice addition to the tank.

[Lab_Rat]

In a tank that size, a trio of gouramis 1m/2f should work nicely. The three spots and their color variants are more temperamental, but if you can be sure to get a male and 2 females it should not be a problem in a 4' tank (assuming your 50g has the 4' footprint). Pearls are more peaceful and you could certainly do a trio of those, they would be a better bet if you're really worried about aggression. Moonlight would be another option in a tank that size. A colony of honey gouramis would also be quite nice. They are very sociable. You will need to stay away from kissing gouramis as they grow quite large.

A pair of rams would fill out the bottom of the tank nicely, and I've never had issues with rams and gouramis (either 3 spot or pearls).

[dman]

I liked some of the neon dwarfs, but heard they are more prone to disease. So some of the pearl ones and the three dot ones looks nice. They all are pretty, but I imagine they shouldnt be mixed, right? Get three of the same kinds?

By the way I have the 36 x 18" footprint.

[VoidParadigm]

I suggest going with the pearls. In my opinion three spots are too temperamental and unpredictable for someone who's not had much experience with gouramis yet. I wish I had known that before getting my first pair. My female killed her mate, for example. (Unless you're willing to do 1. I personally think one three spot with a pair of rams would be nice.)

As long as you get all females or a proper male to female ratio of pearls I think they'd be perfect for your tank. Quite peaceful.

As for Dwarf Gouramis, I wouldn't recommend them. They aren't terribly susceptible to disease, but they're often overbred, especially Neons, Flames, the brighter colored ones, to help keep that strong coloration. Makes their strains often weaker.

[Taurus]

Pearls are more peaceful and you could certainly do a trio of those, they would be a better bet if you're really worried about aggression.

A pair of rams would fill out the bottom of the tank nicely, and I've never had issues with rams and gouramis (either 3 spot or pearls).


Yup! :goodpost:

[rich311k]

I agree pearls would be nice and they are nice looking fish. The rams would work well in there.

[dman]

Yeah the pearls look pretty. I guess they would stand out in taht tank. Probably be better to have 3 than one angel, right? So are they usually separated by sexes in the store? Are the workers there gonna know which is which?

[VoidParadigm]

Ha, don't trust store workers to know which are which. Even so, with young gouramis sex may not even be determinable yet. I believe most gourami species are sexually distinguishable by males having a pointed fin, females much rounder dorsal or top fin. Don't recall if this is correct for the Pearl species. You'll just have to practice distinguishing online, then go and pick out which you want yourself. Do not trust store clerks on this. Sure, there are some who know what they're doing, but they're so widely spread that you need to be able to do it yourself.

[sheamurai]

Funny, usually I am the one thinking "surely he could add more to a tank", but in this case - a 36" footprint - I personally wouldn't do a trio of full size gouramis. they can get quite large, and I can't quite see three of them in a community tank that size. I'd be sticking with one, myself - unless you choose to go with dwarfs, then I'd be all for having 3 of them...
My gold has been growing quite fast, and I'm glad I only bought one - and that's in my 77gal with a 4' footprint.
Enjoy your tank! And shopping for it, lol - sometimes I think thats the best part...

[Lab_Rat]

A trio of pearls will be perfectly fine with a 36"x18" footprint. I would not do a trio of 3 spot variants with that footprint. Pearls are quite peaceful. The males will have a deeper red chest than the females as adults. Males will also have a more elaborate top fin than the females.

[sheamurai]

yes, they are lovely and a peaceful fish...I'm just thinking at 5 inches 3 of them would seem a bit much in a 3'/50gal tank...a centrepeice that would overshadow the rest of the community. Just my opinion, I'm sure others beleive the centrepeice fish should be the main focus of a tank.

[dman]

Actually, when I was doing tank research, I seem to remember that actual surface area is more important than height. So with a 36 x 18 in tank (648 sq. in. vs 576 sq. in. for a 48 x 12), isn't there actually more swimming space in that?

[Neon]

In a tank that size, a trio of gouramis 1m/2f should work nicely. The three spots and their color variants are more temperamental, but if you can be sure to get a male and 2 females it should not be a problem in a 4' tank (assuming your 50g has the 4' footprint). Pearls are more peaceful and you could certainly do a trio of those, they would be a better bet if you're really worried about aggression. Moonlight would be another option in a tank that size. A colony of honey gouramis would also be quite nice. They are very sociable. You will need to stay away from kissing gouramis as they grow quite large.

A pair of rams would fill out the bottom of the tank nicely, and I've never had issues with rams and gouramis (either 3 spot or pearls).

excellent post , as usual, thank you!

ps I'm also interested as I want to introduce Gouramies and /or rams to my tank after xmas

[Maestro]

ps I'm also interested as I want to introduce Gouramies and /or rams to my tank after xmas
A trio of Pearls would be an excellent centerpiece for a 50 gallon, probably what I would have if I had a tank that size.

How long has this aquarium being established? Rams are sensative to new tanks, and it is best to introduce them after the tank had been up and running for at least 6 months.

[dman]

It actually has just been running 6 months. It looks like everything is doing good now. The algae has stopped growing, the plants are looking good, and I even threw in some really tiny red cherry shrimp last week that I got from the store for a couple bucks and I even saw some of those today. Just to be safe though, I think I will get the rams last. I'll get the cories within the next week or so, then the gouramis, then the rams. Then I probably will be pretty stocked and can't get anything else :(

[Lab_Rat]

Sounds like a good plan. And you can always get more tanks... :hmm3grin2orange:

[tori.lock]

Sounds like a fun little tank. Keep us all updated!

[Lady Hobbs]

I also would do the pearls.

[dman]

You guys are all so helpful. I think I am going to get the cory cats this weekend maybe. I love those otos, they have cleaned the tank up so well in a week. I put a bamboo shrimp in there too and didnt see him for a couple days, then I thought I found him dead in there. At first it looked like his skin, but I took it out and it seemed too well detailed and heavy and even turned white so I thought he died. But then the next day he was in there! He is pretty fun to watch. They even gave me some real tiny red cherry shrimp and I threw them in there to see if they make it. I am starting to see them come out of hiding once in awhile. The ghost shrimp I put in there are pretty big now too. So I understand that the bigger fish may eat these, but maybe I should just give them a chance and wait until they grow a little before I get the gouramis? The corys won't hurt them will they?

Then that will give me more time to contemplate the pearls, hehe. No I think I probably will go with the pearls. I mean ideally, I think it would be nice to have as many different types of fish as I can. I was going back and forth beween the 3 pearls and two rams, or just getting one pearl and two rams and then there might be room for something else later. But I guess I am just gonna have to pick something and stick with it eventually. I'm sure it will look great. Thanks again for all your help.

[Lab_Rat]

What you saw was the exoskeleton of the bamboo shrimp after he molted. The cherry shrimp are likely to get eaten by many fish (the gouramis will eat them) unless they have a ton of hiding spots. I don't think cories would mess with adult RCS though.