Which Gourami should I add?

[Amelia]

I have always LOVED Gourami, ever since I had a pet paradise fish when I was 12 that I had for 4 years. He was so cool, used to eat out of my hand and nibble on my fingers and "follow" me around the room watching me. Wish I'd known then how to take care of fish properly, he probably didn't have a very happy life! :(

Anyway. I recently moved my group of swordtails out of my 30g tank, leaving a school of Neon tetras, some Kuhli Loaches and a BN Pleco (and some cories, but they're only in there temporarily!).

I would really love to add a Gourami of some sort. I like the Platinum/Whites, the Pearl/Laces and the Dwarfs. Any recommendations as to which I should get? Experience and advice greatly appreciated. :)

Also, I know that it is usually recommended to keep Dwarf Gourami (or any Gourami) individually, unless in a 55g+ tank with lots of cover. That pretty much describes my 70g, which is heavily planted and will be lush and filled with cover when the plants grow in properly -- ALL my tanks are heavily planted and filled with driftwood and rock caves, with dark substrate. I like them to look like natural underwater jungles.

Would a small group of Dwarf Gourami live happily in a tank like this? With loads of plants to create territories and break up the line of sight? Or is it just best not to attempt?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[ScottishFish]

In your 70G if it was really well planted, like jungle style, you could maybe manage several dwarfs. Even then they would still have run ins with each other.

I think a pearl gourami would be nice in your 30G

[madagascariensis]

A pearl in a 30 gallon? might work, but if you do like the look of
small(er) fish swimming unrestrained in a big(ger) tank, the pearl would be way better off
in the 70 gallon. after all, they get at least 10cm long and a typical 30 gallon tank only is
something like 8-9 times its length then.

[Amelia]

Thanks. :)

Should I be worried about this Dwarf Gourami Disease everyone talks about?

[madagascariensis]

dwarf gourami iridovirus seems to affect only dwarfs, so if you get another species you should not have to worry.

[pjaldave]

Go with honey gouramis if nothing else. They are not that much aggressive towards their own kind.

Sorry scotti, im with madagascar on this one. I will not recommend the pearl in the 30G, another type of dwarf gourami might work in the 30G.

[Amelia]

Thank you for your replies. :)

Would a Pearl be compatible with angels?

[pjaldave]

Just make sure you put them in the tank at the same time so they will not fight over territorial issues. Because they will have time to both establish their own territory.

I wouldn't put a gourami with a group of angels though.

[StrattonC]

You should get a sparkling gourami/croaking gourami. They are the smallest gourami, and they "croak" when they go to the surface of the water to get a gulp of air. They only get up to about one in a half inches long

[escamosa]

The Opaline Gouramis are quite nice, and would be better suited to the 30g.
If you like the Pearls - and concidering the tank is heavily planted - you could put a pair in the 70g.

And personally, I wouldn't try Gouramis in a tank with Angles. Both species of fish can have quite an attitude, and you will find that they will share the middle region of the tank, so they'll always be crossing paths. I would watch this combination very closely, if you decide to try it.