Good Combinations?

[DanaJ824]

I had wanted a pitbull pleco before my tank was even cycled, but I remember being talked out of it on another forum due to large amounts of waste production(I believe).
Don't gourami need more of a planted tank and floating plants? I think that is what stopped me before. I had my eye on gouramis though. Are they generally peaceful and would they do fine with zebra danios and neons?

 

[-germ-]

Pitbull or bulldog pleco?
Bulldog (6")would probably prove to much for your tank, pitbull(2") do produce a fair amount of waste for their size but nothing you couldn't handle with good tank maintenance.
Gourami do like plantation and cover, but it doesn't have to be heavily planted, i mainly associate floating plants with breeding gourami although i'm sure they would indeed like it. Then again, if you do have plants there is every chance (depending on the plant) they'll slowly munch away at it until there is nothing left.
Should be ok, they can be fairly aggressive toward each other, hence having 2 females for your 1 male, should break up aggression, i'd personally add the females a week or 2 before the male if you want to further discourage the likelihood of aggression.
Whatever you do, don't get dwarf gouramis, these are a totally different matter.

 

[DanaJ824]

The pitbull, as I had mentioned.
I'm confused , why are the dwarf gouramis a totally different matter?! That's important to know as I had my eye on them.

 

[discus dreamer]

I have heard that zebras can be a bit too boisterous and fast moving for the more placid pearl gouramis but I have pearl gouramis with eight congo tetras who can be very boistous at feeding time and they seem to be doing ok but perhaps constant racing around might make them a bit shy. If you have a pair of gouramis they can get a bit aggressive to the other fish around breeding but as I have failed to choose a male despite trying I haven't seen that myself.
DD

 

[-germ-]

They are vulnerable to bacterial infection due to bad farming/breeding methods.
Also have a risk of DGIV (dwarf gourami iridovirus) which is a fatal disease that has no accepted cure or treatment as yet.
They also seem to be more violent than the other small gourami species.

 

[DanaJ824]

Thanks for the info discus!
Germ- thanks for clarifying. I didn't know that, and it's pretty important! I'm glad I posted here before going out and getting a few more fish.... The other fish forum that I was a member at seems to be undergoing maintenance right now.

 

[-germ-]

Have a look at thick-lips (the most peaceful IMO) or honeys (cute, very interesting) sparkling ( don't know tbh ) or if you really want a challenge; chocolate gourami, they are the sexiest little gourami ever although not the best for new tanks....

 

[DanaJ824]

Wow, I'll have to look into those. I'm just interested in seeing what the chocolates look like, probably not something I'd get anytime soon though.

 

[-germ-]

http/images.google.com/images?q=chocolat...sa=N&tab=wi
Only 1 and three quarter inches max size... so cute. They have them in an LFS near me (no space in my tanks) and they are stunning up close.
Look for samurais, these are apparently (?) the better quality...

 

[DanaJ824]

Wow I just checked out that link! They are amazing. I had no idea! I've never seen that at my LFS or any in the area.
I think tonight we'll go out and see what to get , if anything. If they have some of the options, who knows:O) Thanks so much for everything!