Fish Compatibility

[McSealTeam]

Hello, I currently have 4 Pearl Gouramis (2 male,2 female) in a well planted 26g tank. They are currently alone in the tank and I am hoping to add some more bright color and movement. So I am looking at getting a couple Pseudomugil Rainbows (Furcata Rainbows). Now my problem is that in the past my Gouramis have been agressive to smaller fish (Cardinal Tetras). So what are yall's thoughts on this new idea?

 

[dutto73]

I had two pearls in a community tank, with harlequins, rummy noses, mollies and platties. They seemed Ok. Unfortunately the pearls died 2 months later.

 

[Byron]

Hello, I currently have 4 Pearl Gouramis (2 male,2 female) in a well planted 26g tank. They are currently alone in the tank and I am hoping to add some more bright color and movement. So I am looking at getting a couple Pseudomugil Rainbows (Furcata Rainbows). Now my problem is that in the past my Gouramis have been agressive to smaller fish (Cardinal Tetras). So what are yall's thoughts on this new idea?

 
The species Pseudomugil furcatus is a shoaling fish and needs a group, not just "a couple."  The group should consist of several fish, at least 8 or more.
 
With respect to the combination with your pearl gourami...while this is a relatively peaceful species among gouramis, individual fish may step ouotside the norm, as you seem to have noticed.  Fish behaviour can be directly linked to the space, and/or the numbers.  A 26g tank is not much space (from the fishes' perspective) so I would not advise this particular mix.  Substrate or lower-level fish would be better matches with the upper gourami.
 
Byron.

 

[Bubbelzzz]

 

Hello, I currently have 4 Pearl Gouramis (2 male,2 female) in a well planted 26g tank. They are currently alone in the tank and I am hoping to add some more bright color and movement. So I am looking at getting a couple Pseudomugil Rainbows (Furcata Rainbows). Now my problem is that in the past my Gouramis have been agressive to smaller fish (Cardinal Tetras). So what are yall's thoughts on this new idea?

 
The species Pseudomugil furcatus is a shoaling fish and needs a group, not just "a couple."  The group should consist of several fish, at least 8 or more.
 
With respect to the combination with your pearl gourami...while this is a relatively peaceful species among gouramis, individual fish may step ouotside the norm, as you seem to have noticed.  Fish behaviour can be directly linked to the space, and/or the numbers.  A 26g tank is not much space (from the fishes' perspective) so I would not advise this particular mix.  Substrate or lower-level fish would be better matches with the upper gourami.
 
Byron.
 

I totally agree with Byron. As he mentioned they need to be kept with minimal 8 fish. In my opinion, is this still very little. It should be seen as an absolute minimum. So more is better.
 
To add to that, Pseudomugil species do not have a very long life span. So they will die very quickly of old age. Most will die after one and a half, however, there are some exeptional speciemens that live up to 3 years. This is more of an exeption than a rule though. So you might need to consider this short live span as well.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

You've encountered gouramis showing aggressiveness to tetra? Like the pearl gouramis or another kind? 
 
Please, let me know because I've been planning on putting two pearls in my 55 gallon with a bunch of neons.

 

[Byron]

I am not answering for McSealTeam on the behaviour of his/her pearl gourami, but I can offer some ichthyological comments on gouramis.
 
This group of fish is very akin to cichlids in their behaviours with respect to territory, male/female interaction, "dither" fish, etc.  Males of all gourami species are territorial, some very highly so, others less aggressively.  Many also drive females hard, so ratios of 1 male to 2 females and similar is sometimes best, depending upon species.
 
Aside from the above, the neon tetra is not one of the best community fish when you have larger more domineering fish such as gourami present.  I was in a local fish store one day and stood in front of a tank holding a group of neons and a few blue gourami (Trichopodus trichopteris) which admittedly are much more territorial and aggressive than pearls.  Two of the gourami encircled a lone neon, and within a matter of seconds managed to eat it.  The gourami were no where near full size either.
 
The pearls are less aggressive, but as I mentioned previously individual fish do not always adhere to the norm.  In a suitably aquascaped tank (floating plants are mandatory), and of sufficient size such as the mentioned 55g (4-foot length presumably), I would look to the less linear and more rounded fish.  Rasbora (not the dwarf species obviously, but the medium sized such as the Harlequin) make good tankmates, as they are similarly sedate fish like the gourami, and there are several disk-shaped tetras that would be good, like the Rosy Tetra, Roberti Tetra, Black and Red Phantoms, etc.  Just avoid any fin-nipping species.
 
Byron.

 

[dopieopie]

I have harlequins and bloodfin tetras with a pearl and other than occasional chasing she's fine with them.

 

[boshk]

 

Hello, I currently have 4 Pearl Gouramis (2 male,2 female) in a well planted 26g tank. They are currently alone in the tank and I am hoping to add some more bright color and movement. So I am looking at getting a couple Pseudomugil Rainbows (Furcata Rainbows). Now my problem is that in the past my Gouramis have been agressive to smaller fish (Cardinal Tetras). So what are yall's thoughts on this new idea?

 
The species Pseudomugil furcatus is a shoaling fish and needs a group, not just "a couple."  The group should consist of several fish, at least 8 or more.
 
With respect to the combination with your pearl gourami...while this is a relatively peaceful species among gouramis, individual fish may step ouotside the norm, as you seem to have noticed.  Fish behaviour can be directly linked to the space, and/or the numbers.  A 26g tank is not much space (from the fishes' perspective) so I would not advise this particular mix.  Substrate or lower-level fish would be better matches with the upper gourami.
 
Byron.
 

 
any sites you would recommend which allows you to list the types of fish and it can show whether they are compatible or not?

 

[Byron]

Fish compatibility is a matter of several factors, and the problem I have found with the "calculators" is that they do not (cannot, really) take all these into account.  It requires some thinking (= human involvement) to assess everything.  The calculations may sort out fish mass with respect to water volume, and some do note aggression issues.  But this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  Live plants, the filter, water current, aquascaping, and water parameters also factor in.
 
Byron.

 

[Far_King]

 

 


Hello, I currently have 4 Pearl Gouramis (2 male,2 female) in a well planted 26g tank. They are currently alone in the tank and I am hoping to add some more bright color and movement. So I am looking at getting a couple Pseudomugil Rainbows (Furcata Rainbows). Now my problem is that in the past my Gouramis have been agressive to smaller fish (Cardinal Tetras). So what are yall's thoughts on this new idea?

 
The species Pseudomugil furcatus is a shoaling fish and needs a group, not just "a couple."  The group should consist of several fish, at least 8 or more.
 
With respect to the combination with your pearl gourami...while this is a relatively peaceful species among gouramis, individual fish may step ouotside the norm, as you seem to have noticed.  Fish behaviour can be directly linked to the space, and/or the numbers.  A 26g tank is not much space (from the fishes' perspective) so I would not advise this particular mix.  Substrate or lower-level fish would be better matches with the upper gourami.
 
Byron.
 

 
any sites you would recommend which allows you to list the types of fish and it can show whether they are compatible or not?
 


 
If you Google "Fish Compatibility Chart" you will get image results for tables that provide a very rough guide.
As Byron says, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration.  If there is a fish I like I usually Google for it and do as much research as possible on the parameters it requires to live as well as any other species it may or may not happily co-exist with.  You can't do too much research and avoid the temptation to impulse buy when you're in the fish shop if you possibly can.