Is This True?

[BETTY BOO]

although ive been keeping fish for 6 years this is the first time i have kept a gourami.
i have a female honey gourami.anyway my husband was at work today and some guy there over heard him speaking to someone else about our tank.
he told my husband that honey gouramis should always be in pairs.if not the female will die from being lonely??.he said she would hide most of the time and never be her true self.well my gourami is swimming all over the tank all day and at night she lays in a plant.he was like i have been working with fish for 12 years so i know what im talking about.personally i have never heard of this.i just wanted to clarify with you.

i was thinking of getting a male but with my current stocking and the filter i have (fluval 3 plus) im not sure if it will cope with the bioload? ive always had externals and this is my first internal filter.it came with the tank. what do you think? im getting an external which is for 1000 litre tank next month.

 

[Liquid skills]

It true honeys do better in groups but it won't die from loneliness that's something reserved for mammals fish don't really have emotions like we do when it comes to being lonely she should be fine I've never known a fish to die because it's lonely

 

[BETTY BOO]

would my filter cope if i added a male?

 

[Liquid skills]

I can't see your stock as an on phone size of tank also

I can't see it being a prob just for a couple of weeks but as said dupe ds on ur stock and tank size

 

[reignofcheese]

His concept is not wrong and I think some of these fish are underestimated by some. My female Ram lost her mate and afterward sulked in the plants for a few months and died within several months - I've heard of other fish over the years showing similar signs of "depression" after losing a mate.

Anyway, your female never had a mate anyway and I'm sure she would not die from lonliness, but keeping them as a pair is more rewarding than keeping them solo. I have found keeping fish in their most ideal conditions brings out the best in the fish and keep pairing fish in pairs, harem fish in harems, and grouping fish in groups, plant dwellers with lots of plants, bottom dwellers with lots of bottom....

With the addition of the external filter the addition of a male would not be a problem, and I'm sure the current filter could cope just fine the mean time too.

But if your gourami is active and healthy and you are happy with her, there is nothing wrong with keeping her as a solo centerpiece fish. Get a male if you want to try them as a pair, but not just because others tell you you should.

 

[BETTY BOO]

thanks for your advise.well im going to get a male tomorrow.also i decided to get an external today online so should be here within a week so all should be good especially now ive got it earlier