Gouramis and plants?

[Jeddi]

I know they're typically "plant friendly" but will they eat plants a lot?

[rich311k]

I have never had any trouble with my gouramis bothering plants.

[Lab_Rat]

My gouramis have all been fine with plants.

[VoidParadigm]

Unless you've got something really tasty in there it should be fine.
My Dwarfs have eaten beard algae, and my Gold Variant likes to suck on (but not eat) my hornwort.

However, you should offer them fresh veggies (cucumber, spinach, etc) once in a while, as most Gouramis are omnivores.

[Kazenouta]

My Dwarf will occasionally "suck" at my anacharis, as VP put it, but I've never had any problems with him actually eating that or any of the other plants in the tank. This is most likely due to the occasional algae growth on the anacharis. He loves eating hikari algae wafers and also some blanched zucchini.

[Jeddi]

Alright, I guess I'll be safe then. :P

I know dwarf gouramis love plants, especially ones that grow over the top or floating, but will they do fine without? At least for a few weeks?

Also, how about a strong current? I know they like calm waters but will a strong current stress them out too much?

[Kazenouta]

I would advise that you get some plant cover in there as soon as possible as they're much more likely to hide away in the bottom of the tank behind whatever they can without some plant cover. This obviously means they'll be much more stressed.

As far as the current is concerned I would advise you to make one of the DIY diffusers that many of us use. Link:[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

With fish keeping it really is important to try and give the fish whatever they'd normally be living in as much as possible. Like humans, cats, dogs, birds, bugs, whatever they'll do much better if they're in an environment which suits them. It is your responsibility as a fish keeper to make this happen as much as possible. Best of luck thumbs2: Hope this helps

[Jeddi]

I would advise that you get some plant cover in there as soon as possible as they're much more likely to hide away in the bottom of the tank behind whatever they can without some plant cover. This obviously means they'll be much more stressed.

As far as the current is concerned I would advise you to make one of the DIY diffusers that many of us use. Link:[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

With fish keeping it really is important to try and give the fish whatever they'd normally be living in as much as possible. Like humans, cats, dogs, birds, bugs, whatever they'll do much better if they're in an environment which suits them. It is your responsibility as a fish keeper to make this happen as much as possible. Best of luck thumbs2: Hope this helpsI never even thought of that, LOL. I'll make my own using some random stuff I have laying around.

The only floating plant I can get around here is duckweed :( I like frogbit but I'm not sure if I could order it offline. Another thing it that the duckweed I currently have in my tank seems to be... disappearing? It's contantly being dunked into the water by the filter's flow, sometimes getting sucked into the filter intake. Even so, it doesn't seem to be growing that fast, and the only places it's covering are the edges of the tank, and they're mostly congregating around the filter "waterfall."

[Kazenouta]

I never even thought of that, LOL. I'll make my own using some random stuff I have laying around.

The only floating plant I can get around here is duckweed :( I like frogbit but I'm not sure if I could order it offline. Another thing it that the duckweed I currently have in my tank seems to be... disappearing? It's contantly being dunked into the water by the filter's flow, sometimes getting sucked into the filter intake. Even so, it doesn't seem to be growing that fast, and the only places it's covering are the edges of the tank, and they're mostly congregating around the filter "waterfall."

It might be worth your while just to go for it. I had problems with my anacharis staying afloat before putting a diverter in my tank but now I have no problems with it...besides it growing too much heh. In reality it isn't a bad thing for them to get some movement although getting sucked into the filter is not good. If you're ever at walmart you can get some nylon floss for something like 7 cents a yard and sillicone or hot glue it over the intake so it isn't getting pulled in quite so much.

[Jeddi]

alright :P As far as the gouramis go, I guess I'd be kind of mean to them by doing this but if I were to have them go for a few weeks without any floating plant cover, would that *REALLY* stress them, or just not be to their liking? I just don't want it to have long-term effects on their health... I don't see how a fish being mentally stressed would have a "bad" life just for a few weeks without preferable scenery, but who knows.

Reason I'm mainly asking is because I need to know what fish to get today, and which of my lfs to go to. They each carry different fish that I want-- The one closer to me carries the gouramis, otos, and ghost shrimp and the one farther carries cories.

Too bad the only place that carries the dwarf gouramis sells em for 10 bucks a pop. Seems pretty expensive if you ask me, seeing as the three-spots my other lfs has are only $1.30

[Rhaethe]

For what its worth, I've no floating plant cover in my gourami tank at all. Gus has always gobbled down and shredded the ones I've tried.

Now, I do have a "moss tree" in the tank, but while Sid (sparkling gourami) likes hanging out in it, Gus (dwarf gourami) only goes near it when he wants to sleep.

Again, it does depend on the individual fish. Personally, I wouldn't worry about floating plants much unless you really really want them, and do provide other cave type things and plants in the tank.

As far as current, before upgrading to a 10g, I'd kept Gus adn Sid in a 5g with a Aquaclear 20 filter on it. It definitely had current! They paid no mind though.

My two gourami do love caves though, as an aside.

Here's a thread with pics of the "odd couple" [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

And here's what the "moss tree" looks like: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Jeddi]

Nice fish and nice tank! I wish I could get my hands on a sparkling gourami here.

[Jeddi]

Just bought the dwarf and finished acclimating him! Poor thing must be so scared :( He keeps on gasping

[Rhaethe]

Make sure the lights in the tank are turned off for now. This helps the acclimation process.

Also, gourami are notorious for sulking and hiding out a good week to 2 weeks after being transferred to a new tank. As long as he eats, he'll be fine. Once he gets comfortable in his new digs ... he'll be out and about more often :sbiggrin: