mixing gouramis

[Roxanne]

I'm rather new to fish keeping so if this seems like a stupid and
silly question I'll apologize now... sorry!

I have recently set up a 75 gal. tank with the following fish:
3 pearl gouramis (not sexed as yet)
3 blue or three spot gouramis (not sexed as yet, either)
10 pristella or x-ray tetras
12 blackskirt tetras
4 pepper corys
4 African dwarf frogs

It is well planted and has several rock structures for hiding and as
territory guidelines.

Now my question is, after all that pre-amble, Can I safely add a few
dwarf gouramis without either crowding the tank or having the full
size gouramis pick on the wee ones? I would love to add 3 or 4 fire
dwarf gouramis at a later date. Any and all constructive comments will
be appreciated!!

Thank you!!

[NetMax]

"Roxanne" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm rather new to fish keeping so if this seems like a stupid and
> silly question I'll apologize now... sorry!
>
> I have recently set up a 75 gal. tank with the following fish:
> 3 pearl gouramis (not sexed as yet)
> 3 blue or three spot gouramis (not sexed as yet, either)
> 10 pristella or x-ray tetras
> 12 blackskirt tetras
> 4 pepper corys
> 4 African dwarf frogs
>
> It is well planted and has several rock structures for hiding and as
> territory guidelines.
>
> Now my question is, after all that pre-amble, Can I safely add a few
> dwarf gouramis without either crowding the tank or having the full
> size gouramis pick on the wee ones? I would love to add 3 or 4 fire
> dwarf gouramis at a later date. Any and all constructive comments will
> be appreciated!!
>
> Thank you!!

Yes. Gouramis do have quite a bit of character and can be as bad as some
cichlids, so a lot depends on the individual personalities. The bigger
the tank, the better your chances, so in a 75g, you will probably be
fine. The Dwarfs might pick on each other and the ADFs might be pursued
by the 3-spots, so provide lots of shelter in the way of plants (ie:
low-lying plants for the ADF).

NetMax

[Vicki]

(Roxanne) wrote in message >...


I have been keeping gouramis for a long time and have to say that they
are my favorite fish. In all the years I have kept them I have never
had much trouble mixing dwarfs with their larger cousins, but there is
always a chance that one may be a little pushy towards its tank mates.
YMMV so make sure you have a back up plan for the dwarfs in case the
three spot's really hurt them. Also dwarfs may pick on the others
(they don't let their small size stop them) But you should not have
any trouble with them bothering the other fish in your tank.

Hope this helps,
Vicki




> I'm rather new to fish keeping so if this seems like a stupid and
> silly question I'll apologize now... sorry!
>
> I have recently set up a 75 gal. tank with the following fish:
> 3 pearl gouramis (not sexed as yet)
> 3 blue or three spot gouramis (not sexed as yet, either)
> 10 pristella or x-ray tetras
> 12 blackskirt tetras
> 4 pepper corys
> 4 African dwarf frogs
>
> It is well planted and has several rock structures for hiding and as
> territory guidelines.
>
> Now my question is, after all that pre-amble, Can I safely add a few
> dwarf gouramis without either crowding the tank or having the full
> size gouramis pick on the wee ones? I would love to add 3 or 4 fire
> dwarf gouramis at a later date. Any and all constructive comments will
> be appreciated!!
>
> Thank you!!

[m.dekort]

I have a Gourami based tank

In it I have a dozen or or so types

I stick y the rule of only one per type and females is they have color
close to the male. The object being as few males as possible.

Now this is not perfect. When I say i have one of each type I mean not
more than one of each specific type not group. As such I have several
paradise types, several of the blue and dwarf gourami hybrids/cousins
like the albino and blue neon respectively. In doing this - especially
since there are some males - I get turf battles and a pecking order is
established. Every once in a while i get a fish that beats up on the
rest do much i have to get rid of it. For the most part they settle in
with random chases. I also replicate the environment and water
chemistry for the weak link Gourami - the Chocolate - everything seem to
be fine - live plants and all. ph 6.6 - temp 80 - water soft.

You are going to have trouble with groups of three unless there are 2
females.

Why aren't they sexed yet? They would have to be very young. The types
you have are easy to sex - by the length and shape of the top fin.

I think you have plenty of room for the fish you suggest. What are
blackskirt tetras?

Go ahead and add a single dwarf and fire. the dwarf will have to be a
male - in the fire get a female.

Roxanne wrote:

>I'm rather new to fish keeping so if this seems like a stupid and
>silly question I'll apologize now... sorry!
>
>I have recently set up a 75 gal. tank with the following fish:
>3 pearl gouramis (not sexed as yet)
>3 blue or three spot gouramis (not sexed as yet, either)
>10 pristella or x-ray tetras
>12 blackskirt tetras
>4 pepper corys
>4 African dwarf frogs
>
>It is well planted and has several rock structures for hiding and as
>territory guidelines.
>
>Now my question is, after all that pre-amble, Can I safely add a few
>dwarf gouramis without either crowding the tank or having the full
>size gouramis pick on the wee ones? I would love to add 3 or 4 fire
>dwarf gouramis at a later date. Any and all constructive comments will
>be appreciated!!
>
>Thank you!!
>
>

[Charles]

On 3 Dec 2003 14:02:22 -0800, (Roxanne) wrote:

>I'm rather new to fish keeping so if this seems like a stupid and
>silly question I'll apologize now... sorry!
>
>I have recently set up a 75 gal. tank with the following fish:
>3 pearl gouramis (not sexed as yet)
>3 blue or three spot gouramis (not sexed as yet, either)
>10 pristella or x-ray tetras
>12 blackskirt tetras
>4 pepper corys
>4 African dwarf frogs
>
>It is well planted and has several rock structures for hiding and as
>territory guidelines.
>
>Now my question is, after all that pre-amble, Can I safely add a few
>dwarf gouramis without either crowding the tank or having the full
>size gouramis pick on the wee ones? I would love to add 3 or 4 fire
>dwarf gouramis at a later date. Any and all constructive comments will
>be appreciated!!
>
>Thank you!!


My luck has been different from that of other posters, mine killed
each other.

The blue gouramis will last longest, my prediction.
--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others