Replacement for gourami?

[justinhill]

So, the surviving gold gourami (asbo-fish as I call it) is being collected by someone on Tuesday and taken to a bigger aquarium where it'll no doubt have a better life. Since the gourami it bullied is now dead I did consider keeping it but I think this is for the best. It is now chasing the cardinals - though with limited success.

So, apart from the algae eaters all I've got now are the cardinals, and I'd like to put something in to replace the gouramis. I'd like something that's bigger than a tetra but not too big for the tank, something that I can have several of and they'll play well with each other and the other fish, and something that looks nice and colourful. Oh, and hopefully fairly long-lived and not overly demanding to look after I suppose.

Maybe gouramis are still the answer? But of a different type?

I'm starting to have a bit of a snail problem so something that enjoys eating snails might be a plus.

125L tank, 13 cardinals, 2 bamboo shrimp, 4 algae eaters (that I'm becoming more convinced are flying foxes).

 

[Guyb93]

I’d get a pair of keyhole cichlids personally

 

[justinhill]

I’d get a pair of keyhole cichlids personally

Hmm. Looks interesting. My tank size might be a bit marginal though, from what I'm reading

 

[Guyb93]

Hmm. Looks interesting. My tank size might be a bit marginal though, from what I'm reading

My pair almost fully mature now and they are a stocky 3inches not sure what there proposed size is but to me they are almost dwarf cichlids

 

[justinhill]

My pair almost fully mature now and they are a stocky 3inches not sure what there proposed size is but to me they are almost dwarf cichlids

...so roughly 15 litres of tank space per fish.

I was looking at this:

Cleithracara maronii – Keyhole Cichlid (Acara maronii, Aequidens maronii ) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

which suggests a maximum length of 11cm and a recommended minimum tank floor dimension of 0.27 sq.m. Mine's about 0.25.

I certainly like the idea of them - looks, size, behaviour etc...

 

[justinhill]

or what about Rainbow Dwarf Gourami - any thoughts?

 

[Guyb93]

or what about Rainbow Dwarf Gourami - any thoughts?

They look nice and would fit the tank nicely, I think you have a few options available, I’m a cichlid man and always opt for a cichlid,have a browse you know what size your after roughly so find one that stands out for you and you can’t go wrong

 

[QiQi]

Honey gouramies are supposed to be more mellow and they are smaller.
For the snail problem maybe assassin snails or pea puffers (these are territorial though so I don't know if you can put them in your tank).

 

[justinhill]

Honey gouramies are supposed to be more mellow and they are smaller.
For the snail problem maybe assassin snails or pea puffers (these are territorial though so I don't know if you can put them in your tank).

I've just read that honey gouramis should be in groups of at least four, which would be a bit of a stretch for my tank.

 

[Essjay]

I usually kept them as a male/female pair. When I had 2 females, 1 male, it was the females that didn't get on. Unlike some other gourami species, honey males don't do much hard to a female that isn't ready to breed, the worst I ever had was nipped tails which healed quickly.

Natural coloured honeys are the easiest to tell the sex but are not common in shops. Yellows are next easiest and reds are tricky. Let me know if you decide on them and I'll give you some things to look for.

 

[QiQi]

I like sparkling gouramis too, but I don't think they would suit what you're looking for since they are more like grey/brown with reddish fins, and they are smaller and more shy.