Blue gourami in my 55?

[cowgirluntamed]

So...sort of came to an idea, possible conclusion on talking with some people on a gourami page of another forum.

Most think the 20 gallon is too small long term. Nobody did answer me on minimum size they think though...lol.

Anyway...I'm still undecided on his true sex so I won't be adding any other fish to the 20. But...if it's really too small for him long term...what about putting him in my 55 when I get it up and going?

One dilemma is I don't know how long it will be before I even start putting it up. Could be maybe within 6 months. Would this be fine, or even a bit longer, if I can't? Then again, if he doesn't get along with my stocking in it, he would have to live in the 20 the rest of his life more than likely.

This brings me to my next stocking question...my 55 gallon I want a huge school of glow light tetras, like 40. And I wanted to add 10-12 sterbai cories to the tank along with my current bristle nose male. I had thought of marble hatchets as well but not if I do the gourami.

Do you guys think this is a good plan? Do you think he would get along after being in a smaller space for a while? My idea was to also add all those fish before putting him in as well. Good idea or no? Thanks for any help!

 

[Demeter32]

The blue gourami would need a larger tank than the 20gal. I say minimum of 29gals but the 55 is perfect. The only problem would be how small the tetras are. Gourami have been known to eat neons, guppies, and all sorts of smaller fish. Not all do this of course but many do. Perhaps choose a larger schooling fish?

 

[cowgirluntamed]

The blue gourami would need a larger tank than the 20gal. I say minimum of 29gals but the 55 is perfect. The only problem would be how small the tetras are. Gourami have been known to eat neons, guppies, and all sorts of smaller fish. Not all do this of course but many do. Perhaps choose a larger schooling fish?

How long does it take the gourami to get full grown? All I have right now is the 20 which is set up and since he's pretty much done with quarantine I can put him in after my water change tomorrow.

The 55 I got just so I could do a school of glowlights. I really don't want to switch that up at all. I know they don't get huge but at least a couple inches. The ones I used to have seemed a pretty decent size anyway. Byron mentioned in another post of mine asking about rasboras that it would be more likely to attack if the other fish were more linear, like neons. Glowlights, at least the females, are not linear. Males maybe a bit more so since they are a bit smaller than the female.

Anyway, I don't know when the 55 will be up and going(hence me wanting to know how fast they grow). But if he would he better in it I would be willing to try putting him in with the glowlights as I won't have money or room for another tank for a while. If he isn't compatible he may just have to go back in the 20. I'm just not in the money to buy a different tank. Not a clue when either. Trust me though...I would if I could! Lol

 

[Demeter32]

I don't really know how long it takes for them to reach their full size. Once it reaches 3-4 inches you should really think about moving it to the 55 then. The sooner the better.

The only think you can do is try it out to see if the gourami can get along with the tetras.

 

[Byron]

Glowlights are linear fish. Neons, cardinals, green neons, glowlights, rummynose, come to mind as linear, along with the hengeli and espei rasbora that are related to the Harlequin but the latter is a bit more "oval" than linear by comparison.

It's a bit of a risk, this gourami. If it is a male, it is much more likely to become a bully, or more aggressive, than if female, though I have been told by those with females of some pretty aggressive fish so hard to say. And individual fish vary. I do not know how long it may take for the gourami to reach mature size, or if it does (genetics factor in, along with environment, feeding, etc); it has a length of six inches (15 cm) with aquarium fish usually somewhere around four to five inches according to sources.

While it is not ideal, the 20g with no other fish might serve...it is a case of the best of less than ideal situations if there is trouble.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

I don't really know how long it takes for them to reach their full size. Once it reaches 3-4 inches you should really think about moving it to the 55 then. The sooner the better.

The only think you can do is try it out to see if the gourami can get along with the tetras.

Thanks!

Glowlights are linear fish. Neons, cardinals, green neons, glowlights, rummynose, come to mind as linear, along with the hengeli and espei rasbora that are related to the Harlequin but the latter is a bit more "oval" than linear by comparison.

It's a bit of a risk, this gourami. If it is a male, it is much more likely to become a bully, or more aggressive, than if female, though I have been told by those with females of some pretty aggressive fish so hard to say. And individual fish vary. I do not know how long it may take for the gourami to reach mature size, or if it does (genetics factor in, along with environment, feeding, etc); it has a length of six inches (15 cm) with aquarium fish usually somewhere around four to five inches according to sources.

While it is not ideal, the 20g with no other fish might serve...it is a case of the best of less than ideal situations if there is trouble.

Thanks Byron. The more I thought about it the more I thought they were linear than not. I was also reading that about the females. I just know this gourami is from Petsmart, big box store so no clue about genetics. I may give it a go when the 55 is up. It will have wisteria and or frog bit in it floating too and I will try to have lots of plants and hiding places. Hopefully it will work. If not, I just saw a 29 gallon kit at Walmart for under $100. Though I will keep looking out on Craigslist or PetSmart sales and maybe I could get something bigger. Maybe...lol.

Anyway, thanks for everything guys!

Ps-if I was to get a bigger tank, what would more suitable tankmates be?

 

[Byron]

Ps-if I was to get a bigger tank, what would more suitable tankmates be?

You mean the 55g, with the 3-spot gourami, but not the glowlights, etc? I would want to know the temperament of the gourami, but we don't.

Generally, considering most gourami species, suitable tankmates are sedate fish, meaning non-active swimmers, as that is the gourami trait and active swimming fish will annoy gourami, which leads to more likely aggression out of frustration. Second consideration is size, as we've been discussing above. Third consideration is the behaviour of the tankmates themselves; notorious fin nippers must be avoided. But even among "peaceful" shoaling species, some can become nippers in the presence of sedate fish with longish fins like gourami, while others are unlikely to turn to nipping.

So, keeping in mind the above guidelines so to speak, I tend to look at rasbora since none of these are active swimmers. Some of the tetras are or should be OK, thinking of the disk-shaped species in Hyphessobrycon as examples--these also do well with angelfish for most of the same reasons. Safe species are Rosy Tetra, Bentosi Tetra, Red and Black Phantoms. Maybe the Bleeding Heart, with reservation--I had one member elsewhere who had these tear into her angelfish, but the shoal I had were peaceful (though not in company with angelfish, so who knows). Gourami tend to be upper level fish, rasbora mid-level, and the tetras I've mentioned are lower half of the tank, so another reason why they work so well.

Again, the above are guidelines that suit the peaceful gourami species. Once you get to the one you have, you enter the unknown as individuals can be terrors, or not.

I'm being cautious here, as the last thing you want is to end up with a bunch of fish that you have to remove and have no where to put them if this didn't work out. I have 8 tanks in my fish room, and I have a couple times had tomove species from one tank to another, in one case even three times, to solve problems.

Byron.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

You mean the 55g, with the 3-spot gourami, but not the glowlights, etc? I would want to know the temperament of the gourami, but we don't.

Generally, considering most gourami species, suitable tankmates are sedate fish, meaning non-active swimmers, as that is the gourami trait and active swimming fish will annoy gourami, which leads to more likely aggression out of frustration. Second consideration is size, as we've been discussing above. Third consideration is the behaviour of the tankmates themselves; notorious fin nippers must be avoided. But even among "peaceful" shoaling species, some can become nippers in the presence of sedate fish with longish fins like gourami, while others are unlikely to turn to nipping.

So, keeping in mind the above guidelines so to speak, I tend to look at rasbora since none of these are active swimmers. Some of the tetras are or should be OK, thinking of the disk-shaped species in Hyphessobrycon as examples--these also do well with angelfish for most of the same reasons. Safe species are Rosy Tetra, Bentosi Tetra, Red and Black Phantoms. Maybe the Bleeding Heart, with reservation--I had one member elsewhere who had these tear into her angelfish, but the shoal I had were peaceful (though not in company with angelfish, so who knows). Gourami tend to be upper level fish, rasbora mid-level, and the tetras I've mentioned are lower half of the tank, so another reason why they work so well.

Again, the above are guidelines that suit the peaceful gourami species. Once you get to the one you have, you enter the unknown as individuals can be terrors, or not.

I'm being cautious here, as the last thing you want is to end up with a bunch of fish that you have to remove and have no where to put them if this didn't work out. I have 8 tanks in my fish room, and I have a couple times had tomove species from one tank to another, in one case even three times, to solve problems.

Byron.

Thanks Byron. This would be if I got another bigger tank for him to try new friends (if I can afford it, and if he is accepting). I will keep those fish you mentioned in mind. I was just glancing at some of the tetras they had on live aquaria, since seriously fish doesn't like me right now. What about the pristella tetra? Seems to be around the same water parameters but I don't know their temperament. I do like the look of them though.

 

[Byron]

Thanks Byron. This would be if I got another bigger tank for him to try new friends (if I can afford it, and if he is accepting). I will keep those fish you mentioned in mind. I was just glancing at some of the tetras they had on live aquaria, since seriously fish doesn't like me right now. What about the pristella tetra? Seems to be around the same water parameters but I don't know their temperament. I do like the look of them though.

Pristella are perhaps a bit more active, but I don't think they'd be a problem. The group I had were fine. But the tank size does factor into this.

If you are intending a 29g for the gourami (not the 55g), this is more demanding because the space is less for both the gourami and the tankmate fish. From the fish mentioned ion my last post, the suggested tetras would be the best in a 29g with this gourami, as they remain in the lower half. Rasbora would be a bit trickier, though the Harlequin should work. Any of these add nice colour too. But water parameters are going to factor in. That's the problem when considering fish as tankmates...there are so many factors.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Pristella are perhaps a bit more active, but I don't think they'd be a problem. The group I had were fine. But the tank size does factor into this.

If you are intending a 29g for the gourami (not the 55g), this is more demanding because the space is less for both the gourami and the tankmate fish. From the fish mentioned ion my last post, the suggested tetras would be the best in a 29g with this gourami, as they remain in the lower half. Rasbora would be a bit trickier, though the Harlequin should work. Any of these add nice colour too. But water parameters are going to factor in. That's the problem when considering fish as tankmates...there are so many factors.

Thanks again Byron. I know it will depend on the size of the tank. I do like the black phantom though. Need to find better pictures of the red. Lol. Are these just 2 colors of the same fish? Could I get the 2 colors and have them school together? Depending on my tank size and if I could even find reds...lol. black seem to be easy to get.

 

[Essjay]

They are two different species.
Reds are Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
Blacks are Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

Rather than have a mixed shoal it is better to have just one of them - or both of them in large enough individual shoals.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

They are two different species.
Reds are Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
Blacks are Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

Rather than have a mixed shoal it is better to have just one of them - or both of them in large enough individual shoals.

Thanks essjay!

So....I've been thinking.....I do want to do the best for the fish I currently have. I still don't know how long it will take to get the 55 going, but maybe I can go ahead and do what's best for Outlaw. He will go into the 20 by himself until the 55 is ready. The black phantoms look like really nice fish. I do like the sterbai cories and would want some of them as well. Though I don't think I want to just have the black phantoms, so would a group of harlequins do well too? What groupings of each do you think would do good? Also, my bristlenose male, Butch, will still be going in this tank, and of course, my blue gourami, Outlaw. Lol.

Maybe one day I can get a bigger tank for my glowlights, if anything, I can use the 20 for a small group of them. If just by themselves with a couple of mystery snails, how many would fit comfortably?

 

[Byron]

As essjay noted, there are two species. The Red is less often seen (at least in my area of NA) but quite a stunning fish with its bright overall red colour. Will be wild caught though, so attention must be paid to water parameters. The Black is commercially raised and thus seen more often.

Harlequins and Black Phantoms, no problems.

As for glowlights in the 20g alone, if it were me I would have around 12. This could be a stunning and authentic habitat tank. The species occurs in tributaries of the Essequibo River in Guyana, in forested areas where the water is brown from tannins. It is most brightly coloured in soft acidic water, but you could probably compensate for this by having a dimly lit tank, with floating plants, and chunks of wood and branches for the principal decor, and a good substrate layer of dried leaves like oak or beech collected now in the autumn. Such conditions always make such fish more colourful, regardless of parameters (to a degree anyway). I think this would be better than having them in the larger tank, as it would really show them off. This is one big advantage of smaller tanks for a single species, or sometimes a couple of species--it is easier to go all out with wood and leaves and floating plants to create a truly authentic habitat. The fish will certainly appreciate it; even though they have been commercially raised for decades, it has not removed the programming of this in to their DNA.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

As essjay noted, there are two species. The Red is less often seen (at least in my area of NA) but quite a stunning fish with its bright overall red colour. Will be wild caught though, so attention must be paid to water parameters. The Black is commercially raised and thus seen more often.

Harlequins and Black Phantoms, no problems.

As for glowlights in the 20g alone, if it were me I would have around 12. This could be a stunning and authentic habitat tank. The species occurs in tributaries of the Essequibo River in Guyana, in forested areas where the water is brown from tannins. It is most brightly coloured in soft acidic water, but you could probably compensate for this by having a dimly lit tank, with floating plants, and chunks of wood and branches for the principal decor, and a good substrate layer of dried leaves like oak or beech collected now in the autumn. Such conditions always make such fish more colourful, regardless of parameters (to a degree anyway). I think this would be better than having them in the larger tank, as it would really show them off. This is one big advantage of smaller tanks for a single species, or sometimes a couple of species--it is easier to go all out with wood and leaves and floating plants to create a truly authentic habitat. The fish will certainly appreciate it; even though they have been commercially raised for decades, it has not removed the programming of this in to their DNA.

Thanks Byron!

I did just move my gourami to the 20. He absolutely loves it! Especially the floating wisteria. Though he is using all of the tank now. And....he hasn't done anything to the mystery snails! Even with their antenna out as he's swimming by. So good so far. He did pick at some of the mts and tried to eat the babies but just mostly knocked them off...not aggressively. Just hungrily. Pig.. lol.

So, what would you recommend on numbers for the phantoms and harlequins? I'll probably stick with black phantoms. Would 15 or 20 of each be fine? And then like 10 or 12 sterbai cories?

 

[Byron]

Thanks Byron!

I did just move my gourami to the 20. He absolutely loves it! Especially the floating wisteria. Though he is using all of the tank now. And....he hasn't done anything to the mystery snails! Even with their antenna out as he's swimming by. So good so far. He did pick at some of the mts and tried to eat the babies but just mostly knocked them off...not aggressively. Just hungrily. Pig.. lol.

So, what would you recommend on numbers for the phantoms and harlequins? I'll probably stick with black phantoms. Would 15 or 20 of each be fine? And then like 10 or 12 sterbai cories?

Yes on these numbers (in the 55g). You could also consider Pristella Tetra here too, in a group of 15 or so. They do remain in the upper level, where the gourami will reside, but in the 55g this might be advantageous.

Just to illustrate the sort of thing I was getting at earlier, here's a photo of my former 29g from early 2016 before I moved these fish into the new 40g. You could eliminate the chain swords (I had initially intended this, but as I had them I tossed them in the tank rather than the compost bin).