Question about dwarf gouramis......?

Question

Okay, I have a five gallon tank (it's temporary I plan on getting a twenty or twenty-five soon. And as soon as I buy it and let it cycle I plan on putting them all in there) and in it I have a dwarf power blue gourami, dwarf red gourami and two dwarf sunset honey gourami. And they're all doing fine, swimming eating, all the things happy fish do, LOL. No, they're not fighting. I was wondering what else I could add to my tank (my future one. My five gallon temporary is already a tad to small for them, I know). I was hoping one of my male Bettas, because I have a very non-aggressive one in another tank....He doesn't even flare at the other betta in it's tank! (Of course they are separated with a divider that came with an detachable blue shading thing. So that once in a while, they can have some fun and I pull up the shader (NOT the divider though.)) Anyway, I've read that's not a good idea. I've also read though that keeping other gouramis together is bad too. So I'm obviously confused.

I know the urgency of getting a new tank. At first I only had 2 platys and a molly in there. But then my heater malfunctioned and they died. At the same time, I was given these 4 gouramis. (After getting a new heater of course).

Answer 1

Tetras usually do good with dwarf gourami. Just try to stick to the bigger tetras, like red eyes or black skirts. I would not put in neons or cardinals, as they would probably be too small. Paradise fish are also a good choice, and they get really pretty as they mature. I would not add kissing gourami, they can get pretty aggressive. Mollies , swords and platies would also work, but if you get different sexes, you will more than like end up with babies, which may become treats for the gourami. Hatchets would do ok too. Giant danios too. HTH

Answer 2

Well, I find that gouramis have a bad reputation that they don't deserve. Sure, some of them can be mean little SOBs, but for the most part, I have observed little to no aggression among them, specifically the dwarfs (the golds, well, they're another story).

Before I give you some stocking ideas, I MUST emphasize the urgency with which you must get a new tank. A 5 gallon tank is not enough for ONE dwarf gourami, let alone 4 of them. They're fine now, but they don't be healthy for long in such a small tank. You also have to factor in time required to cycle your new tank. That said, if you can't get a new tank very soon (say, before the weekend), then please consider bringing the fish back to the petstore until your new tank is ready.

Anyway, once your tank is established, you could try with your betta. Bettas and gouramis are in the same family, so it is possible that you'll see some aggression, so don't get rid of your betta's old home too quickly. Give them a week or two and if you don't notice any excessive aggression (a little flaring is fine) then you're safe.

For additional stocking, well, you could look into a school of small tetras or rasboras. With 4 gouramis and a betta, you're pretty well stocked, so avoid getting any other large fish. Some that would work:
6 neon tetras, or black neons, or harlequin rasboras, or glowlight tetras, or cherry barbs.

Answer 3

I wouldn't add a betta with the gouramis. They will just compete with the gouramis. Both are labrynth(?sp) fish, (they breathe air) so they like to be at the top of the tank. If you are going to add some fish, you should get some fish that like to be on the bottom or in the middle areas, like catfish or tetras. Gouramis can be territorial, so it's good to give them their own space.

Answer 4

it's not a good idea by the books though I had gouramis and I had pleco's, neons, and a couple other random fish in with him and we didn't have any problems though- only one way to know and that is to experiment not every animal has the same attitude