To pair or not to pair

[JDMboy]

I have just purchased a second hand 150L (~40Gal) and with it I inherited a few fish. I managed to take the trouble making red tailed shark and Kribensis cichlid to the tank at work but I am left with a beautiful male pearl gourami.

My problem is I already have a male red dwarf gourami and I am worried they wont get along. I was told that they should be fine if I plant the tank well enough and and if I gave them each a female to keep them occupied they may be less aggressive to each other.

Any advice or opinions on the matter would be great!

[steeler58]

Well pearls are one of the most peaceful of that family and his size should keep the dwarf in line. You could probably get another pearl but in most cases the dwarfs will fight over territory, to the death even.

[JDMboy]

I could live with that, the pearl looks quite lonely on his own.
So you don't recommend getting the dwarf a female too?

[steeler58]

Most sources say no and it's hard to find females because they lack the colors of the male.

[JDMboy]

Thanks for the advice!

...stupid pet stores just stocking what sells and not what I want

[Lady Hobbs]

Don't mistake "lonely" for "peaceful". Your dwarf will probably bully the Pearl to death.

[JDMboy]

I'll just have to see how it goes when I move the dwarf this weekend and if the they behave i will look into getting the pearl a mate. Otherwise I will just have to gift the pearl to someone.

The dwarf is not overly aggressive he was in a tank with a betta for a while and he didn't give it too much trouble after they established their own territories.

Ill let you know how it goes

[steeler58]

I would do what your doing. Patience is a virtue. Sometimes you have to see how things work out. It's good you have a backup plan.

[JDMboy]

After the Pearl asserted his dominance they are getting along fine (leaving each other alone) now to get the Pearl a mate