Do You Have To Buy Gouramis As A Pair ?

[joza2210]

I have heard that you have to buy gouramis as a pair ?
Is that true ?
Because on thursday i am going to get a single female pearl gourami ... Will i have to get a male ?
-Thanks
Joza2210

 

[Forestpisces]

A single female should be absoloutley fine on her own

 

[crazychris]

Hi. No you don't have to buy them in pairs at all. Sometimes shops will sell dwarf gouramis in pairs though.

 

[Gourami123]

no not wih most gouramis especially pearls as males are aggresive

 

[Inchworm]

Hi joza2210

A single female pearl gourami should be fine by herself. If you later decided you wanted two, she will get along well with another female too.

 

[kelly528]

I agree, a single female will be just fine.

I strongly suspect the reason they push pairs upon buyers is that because usually buyers only want the brightly colored male (thinking of Dwarf Gouramis here) which leaves a bunch of females that nobody wants.

Should you consider a pair, I recommend buying a trio instead (1M:2F) or 4 (1M:3F) because I have observed male dwarf gouramis harrass females to death when he only has one girl to focus all his courtship on. The more females their attention is divided among the better!!!

 

[crazychris]

I agree, a single female will be just fine.

I strongly suspect the reason they push pairs upon buyers is that because usually buyers only want the brightly colored male (thinking of Dwarf Gouramis here) which leaves a bunch of females that nobody wants.

My lfs has started just getting male dwarf gouramis in now!

 

[kelly528]

I agree, a single female will be just fine.

I strongly suspect the reason they push pairs upon buyers is that because usually buyers only want the brightly colored male (thinking of Dwarf Gouramis here) which leaves a bunch of females that nobody wants.

My lfs has started just getting male dwarf gouramis in now!

Their source possibly just culls the females... a few stores in my area only sell the males as well.

 

[Inchworm]

This is the true dwarf gourami that is found in the wild, Colisa lalia. This picture is of a male and the female is more silvery but does have some color too. Unfortunately they are seldom seen in the lfs these days. Instead, you see line bred, farmed fish with unnaturally bright and varied coloring in the males while the females (not usually sold) are plain silver. I just do no believe that people will not buy silver females but think they do not wish to sell them so they cannot be bred by hobbyist breeders. No fish is more plain and homely than a female guppy yet they sell many of them. Why would people not buy female gouramis with their lovely shapes?

 

[kelly528]

This is the true dwarf gourami that is found in the wild, Colisa lalia. This picture is of a male and the female is more silvery but does have some color too. Unfortunately they are seldom seen in the lfs these days. Instead, you see line bred, farmed fish with unnaturally bright and varied coloring in the males while the females (not usually sold) are plain silver. I just do no believe that people will not buy silver females but think they do not wish to sell them so they cannot be bred by hobbyist breeders. No fish is more plain and homely than a female guppy yet they sell many of them. Why would people not buy female gouramis with their lovely shapes?

Well female guppies at least have a nice tail... I have gotten some real nice ones in the past. That, and they are extremely easy to breed, the possibility of babies without needing to deliberately spawn then, grow the fry out, etc. attracts buyers. I know thats why I got a female guppy as a kid!