Blue Gourami

[CACAdmin]

I am thinking of adding a couple of female Blue Gouramis to my 70G planted tank (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555) which currently houses the following:

Green Sailfin Lyretail Mollies
Black Golddust Mollies
Platys
Lyre Swordtail (male)
White tipped BN plecos
Clown Pleco
P. Bridgesii snails
Spiixi snails
Red Ramshorn snails

I just looked the Blue Gouramis up online and so far from what I can tell they tolerate a wide variety of pH and GH and temps but prefer softer, more acidic water when breeding. My water is quite hard (kept that way for the snails) and I do not intend to breed them.

It was also noted that they'd be best kept with fish of a similar size (but no reason given):(. Can anybody clarify this for me? Also, I am looking for your input as to whether you think they would be reasonable tank mates for my existing inhabitants.:FishQuestion:

In addition, please share any experience you've had with Gouramis as this would be very helpful.:yes:

[blainep]

Looks like your list of tankmates should be OK.

I think the size thing is just making sure your new fish, or your current fish, don't become food.

They'll definitely like being in a planted tank. I have Dwarf Goramis, they spend most of their time cruising around the plants.

Males can be territorial, but with a 70 gal they should be fine.

[CACAdmin]

Males can be territorial, but with a 70 gal they should be fine.

That's why I was thinking of going with females... in hopes that everyone will play nice. ;)

[fishenthusiast]

I have both a female and a male gourami, kept in separate tanks. I keep the female in with rainbows and angels. She is a gentle giant. She loves to cruise around the plants and for the most part leaves the other fish alone. She will use her ventral fins to check out other fish, but I have never seen her harm one.

The male on the other hand is another story. He leaves smaller fish alone, but I put him in the same tank as the female and he tortured her. He also pestered the other fish to no end. I am sure that would have stopped eventually, but I couldn't take seeing my girl get beat up so he went back into his old tank.

I keep both gouramis in neutral water that is slightly acidic. I have no idea how they would adapt to harder water, but I am sure if you acclimate them properly it shouldn't be a problem.

[CACAdmin]

I keep both gouramis in neutral water that is slightly acidic. I have no idea how they would adapt to harder water, but I am sure if you acclimate them properly it shouldn't be a problem.


Thanks! As they would be quarantined for several weeks, I could test the water they're currently in, match it fairly closely and then adjust it slowly over time until it's time to add them to the tank.

[crazeycat]

Hi,how do you sex the gourami ? I have read so many different things about gouramis that it gets confusing after a while.
crazeycat
:smile: :confused:

[CACAdmin]

From the reading I've done (not extensive), I gather that the best way to tell Blue Gouramis apart is by their dorsal fin. The male's is quite long and pointed, the female's shorter and rounded.

Hopefully, someone with more experience with Gouramis can confirm &/or give us a more definitive answer.

[fishenthusiast]

From the reading I've done (not extensive), I gather that the best way to tell Blue Gouramis apart is by their dorsal fin. The male's is quite long and pointed, the female's shorter and rounded.

Hopefully, someone with more experience with Gouramis can confirm &/or give us a more definitive answer.

You are correct! Also, I have noticed that females are much plumper than males. I hear that is common across many species :twitcy:

[CACAdmin]

Thank you for all your input. As you can see from Gouramis - newly adopted (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=589) in the Aquarium Photo section, I ended up getting 3 Gouramis (a Blue Pair and a Gold female... all full adult size). They were only quarantines long enough for me to remove some fry from the 70G tank. (I took my chances).

They are exceedingly shy. They will now come out to feed if I stand motionless in front of the tank with food in my hand (above the tank) for several minutes. They will then join the platys and mollies in feeding. They are very quite and passive and even defer to the platys when competing for the same morsel of food. The Gold female is the most shy. However, they all do still startle easily.

There are still some fry in the tank which surprisingly enough the gouramis have shown no interest in whatsoever.:wideeyed:

[CACAdmin]

The gouramis are getting a little braver... or maybe it's hunger that's driving them to be more brave at feeding time. They still take a while before the come out and are easily freaked by the platys rapidly darting around the tank... I doubt they've ever had such exuberant tankmates in the past. And of course, when not feeding, there is only one thing on the mind of platys... and that's mating, so the chase is always on, so to speak.:laugh: I think, given time, the gouramis will adjust (I sure hope so.)

[crazeycat]

Could you put Gouramis and Angels in the same tanks?
crazeycat :smile: :tropicalfish:

[CACAdmin]

Someone else will probably be able to give you a more definitive answer but my adult Gouramis were in a tank with adult Angels when I got them... I think this was just a temporary situation so don't know how they'd get along, long-term. I know little about Angels. Gouramis, are quite adaptable to a wide range of water conditions from what I understand... as long as they are acclimated to it.

As for my gouramis... they are getting much braver and the blue female comes out to greet me regularly... I'd like to think she's decided she likes this new owner, but I tend to think that it's just that she now associates me with food.:laugh:

[fishenthusiast]

I keep my gourami with Angels, I have since I got her 2 or was it 3 years ago?

I have had my male with angels before as well, and I don't remember them having problems. Angels are pretty harmless unless they are breeding, or there are smaller fish in the tank that they can eat. Of course this is all based on my personal experience, I don't have anything to back my statement up.

I am glad to hear your gouramis are getting braver. I have had my male for at least 2 years, and he still jumps when I get too close to the tank.

[CACAdmin]

They get more brave by the day. Now, all I have to do is go stand quietly in front of the tank for a minute or so and they come out to greet me (lloking for food, of course.;) The bravest is the blue female... she's first out and doesn't startle as easily. But any sudden movement and they dart for cover.

They tend to come out and swim around the tank much more in the evening... no idea whey that is.

[CACAdmin]

My blue female gourami (the largest of the trio) has become the dominant one. Now whenever I approach the tank, she comes out and positions herself front and center near the top (expecting food)... even when I'm just going to get something out of the bottom of the stand. If I produce food, she turns a beautiful deep blue and when the other two venture out they remain some distance from her as if she is sending out the message: I was here first & this is my territory. However, any other time I will see the three of them swimming peacefully together (and she is a lighter blue at those times).

[CACAdmin]

An interesting note. My gouramis have shown absolutely no interest whatsoever in the fry in the tank (lots of tiny platy fry at the moment). They also choose to eat solely from the surface, ignoring any flakes that begin to sink... leaving those for the platys and mollies. (Of course, at the surface they have to compete with the platys (who eat at all levels). So the gouramis tend to stay together in a group eating in one area of the tank while the platys dash around...lol.

They are quiet shy creatures but I will still remain on alert for aggression if they breed.