Whats A Good Mate For My Male Pearl Gourami?

[marcybeth0281]

By "mate" I mean pal/buddy. Not looking to breed at all.

I'm currently understocked in my 46 gallon tank and want to add a few more colorful fish. I *love* my male pearl gourami and want to have a few more gouramis in the tank - just not sure which type to add. He's a pretty peaceful fish - never bothers any of the other ones. I don't want to upset him, but I do want some other interesting fish in the tank.

Suggestions?

 

[KittyKat]

How long is your tank?

Gouramis are relatively territorial, so you might not be able to add any more unless the tank is long enough, in which case I recommend that you increase your pearl gourami numbers to 1m 2f.

But before you add any more gouramis, you should increase the hatchet to at least 6 and ideally hatchets and rasboras to 10+ per species. It's just not fair to keep schooling fish not in schools.

 

[marcybeth0281]

How long is your tank?

Gouramis are relatively territorial, so you might not be able to add any more unless the tank is long enough, in which case I recommend that you increase your pearl gourami numbers to 1m 2f.

But before you add any more gouramis, you should increase the hatchet to at least 6 and ideally hatchets and rasboras to 10+ per species. It's just not fair to keep schooling fish not in schools.

Planning on it! I haven't updated that list in a long while....things have changed. Going to get four more rasboras (they are my favorites) and a pair of hatchets. I really wanted the pearl to be the centerpiece of the tank and add a few gouramis of another breed - is that possible?

I have a pretty long tank. It's rectangular bow-front with lots of space.

 

[KittyKat]

I haven't updated that list in a long while....things have changed.

How so? It would be worth updating the list before we continue as new stocking depends on existing stock Is the following list current?
* 1 pearl gourami
* 4 hatchets (which species?)
* 2 platys
* 4 harlequin rasboras
* 2 tiger barbs
* bristlenose pleco

If it is, then keeping only two tiger barbs is not a good idea: once they are sexually mature, they are quite likely to terrorise the gourami.

I really wanted the pearl to be the centerpiece of the tank and add a few gouramis of another breed - is that possible?

I have a pretty long tank. It's rectangular bow-front with lots of space.

That depends on the exact dimensions of the tank. For me, a "pretty long" tank is 6+ ft, which I don't think yours is… Can you post a photo? It would help to see the decor as well.

 

[Ruskull]

I agree about the Tiger Barbs, no good with Gouramis. They nip at the feelers. I had to return 5 of them myself.

You should def. be able to add a Dwarf or Honey Gourami to the mix. They get along fine with Pearls.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Tigers. Are horible... Swore to never keep them again... They killed 3 swordtails!