male opaline gourami compatability in 55 gallon community tank

[esr209]

Hi, I have a possible issue. I have a 3 inch male opaline gourami. He is in my 55 gallon tank with two Cory cats ( I think they're called spotted Cory) and two black phantom tetra. I would like to put 3 more cories of the same species in this wekend, 3-5 more black phantom tetra by mid April, and a rubbernose pleco and six Denison barbs, and maybe a few otoc cats in the future. I would like to know if the opaline gourami will disturb any other fish or be too aggresive. Should I replace it with female gourami, or hope for the best?

[madagascariensis]

Opaline gouramis are a a bit on the aggressive side, but if done correctly it should work. It is a good sign that he is tolerating the same species you want to put in. (As you already have a few in the tank). What you can do is do a rearrangement of the tank before putting in new fish in order to break up whatever territory the gourami has formed. When he forms a new territory, the new fish will then be included as part of the "furniture". While the cories and phantom tetras are fine for the tank, however, the Denison barbs really won't work. They grow bigger than everything else in the tank(5 inches or 12 cm), are active and boisterous, and will likely intimidate the other inhabitants as well as themselves requiring a bigger tank.

[esr209]

So what is a similar fish to the Denison barb that I could use? I want something a little big ( but to fit my tank ) and active and colorful that isn't overly common.

[genocidex]

a dwarf cichlid would be rarer, colorful and about 3 - 4" aspitos are the rarer ones

[esr209]

Will they be friendly in a community tank? I ll do some more research on the species

[genocidex]

They will set up a territory, and if you get a pair and they breed they will defend their territory.... Only down side to then really.