caring for gouramis

[bahja]

hello all. i just picked up my first gourami... ever.

i've not experience with this species so a lot of advice would be very welcome. i know they're pretty easy to keep, but still, i would like to boost my confidence in caring for this fish.

thanks in advance

 

[Auratus]

Can you give us more info? Like what type of gourami it is... that would help give more accurate info.

 

[bahja]

you mean they all aren't the same?

ha.. ok.. well i picked out a gold gourami... that's what it was labeled. i plan to pick up a baby blue powder? gourami soon.

 

[juliethegr8t]

Can you also tell us what size of tank and what other fish are in the tank? That would be helpful. Also, just fyi, since you have a gold gourami, I would suggest not getting the other gourami you were planning on - that is a type of dwarf gourami, and usually dwarfs don't get along with other, larger species such as golds.

 

[Bangin]

Gouramis are super cool fish, at least I think so. I have 8 gouramis and I've never had any problems with them. They enjoy floating live plants, though I'm not sure if you plan on having a planted tank.

Other than that I really don't know of any specific needs that must be met.

 

[J_acon]

I got myself 8 Dwarfs Gouramis, i keep them in a ratio of 3 males 5 females. Higher number of females to divide the males attention

 

[bahja]

thanks julie. that info will save me a couple of bucks!

maybe i'll return the gold and get the dwarf ones.

oh.. right now, i've got the gold in a 10 gallon tank with a few guppies. i know the gold will eat the guppies. i don't really mind... the guppies were given to me.

if i were to go with the dwarves, how much would i be able to stock?

oh, and how do i sex gouramis?

 

[Gourami Lover88]

Most of the times the males will be longer,be brighter,and will have a longer dorsal fin.The females will usualy be larger around and short with a rouded short dorsal fin.

 

[bahja]

oh man... i threw in the gold into my cichlid tank fearing for it's life... but it's a freakin' terror in there. it chases around the cons and zebras that are almost twice it's size...

now i'm fearing for the lives of my cichlids

 

[bahja]

will gouramis do well with goldfish? i'm askin' cuz my girlfriend has gold fish.

and another thing, can gouramis be treated like bettas? or do they actually need swimming room?

 

[Gourami Lover88]

Dont put Gourami or Betta for that matter in small little jars both need and do better with lots of room

Goldfish are more of a cooler water fish then Gourami, but they should do well if they are the same size.