Questions Submitted by Users:

Question: I have a 20gal aquarium with 6 harlequin rasboras, 4 pygmy cories. The tank has plenty of hiding spots and is pretty well planted. Would two honey/sunset gourami do fine in this tank setup or is the tank too small?

Answer: Assuming you have a good filter rated for at least a 20 gallon a pair of honey gourami's would most likely do very well in your tank. They only grow to about 2.5" and peaceful. Let us know how it goes and feel free to send in any pictures you have, we will post them.

Question: Which is easier to breed? Angelfish or Dwarf Gourami's. I'm getting ready to raise a new herd of fishes... Any input would be helpful

Answer: Just about any species of gourami is going to be easier than angelfish. Angels are not overly difficult, it just takes much time and patience to grow them up, let them pair off, let them spawn, and raise the babies. It is certainly not easy.

Most species of gouramis are fairly easy to breed. Dwarf gouramis will reach sexual maturity fairly young. Most all gouramis are sexually dimorphic, making identifying or picking a pair an easy task. The babies are not too difficult to raise if you follow standard labrynth fish rasing techniques.

Question: Why should I choose a Gourami for my Aquarium? What's should I choose, help???

Answer: A very commonly seen Anabantid is the Blue or Three-Spot Gourami - Trichogaster trichopterus. Gold, Silver, and Cosby Gouramies are also widely available and are simply artificial color varieties of the Blue Gourami. Blue Gouramies can get up to 6" long. They are not as aggressive as Fighters or Paradise Fish, but more than one in a small tank may lead to constant (if not overly deadly) chasing. They will do well in a tank with larger schooling fishes. Similar, though slightly smaller species include the Banded or Giant Gourami - Colisa fasciata (which is only a giant compared to the similarly colored Dwarf Gourami described below), the Thick-lipped Gourami - Colisa labiosa and the somewhat less aggressive Pearl Gourami - Trichogaster leeri and Moonlight Gourami - T. microlepis. The Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temmincki grows larger (up to 8") but makes a good fish for beginners with larger tanks. It is peaceful, though males will contest with one another by pressing their lips together and pushing - the so-called 'kissing' from which the common name derives. Most Kissing Gouramies seen will be of the Pink variety.

Small Gouramies, only growing to 2" or so in length, are also available. These include the Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia, the Honey Gourami - C. chuna, and the Sunset Dwarf Gourami (probably a cross between C. lalia and C. chuna). In theory, these would all be good fish for the community aquarium. In practice, these fish are often the victims of poor breeding practices in the Far East (like so many others described before) and many are even treated with hormones before they are shipped to make them appear brighter in the store tanks. A good rule of thumb is, 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.'

Question: I have come up with a plan for what I want for my new tank inhabitants. I've decided to rethink the tank and make it a mainly Gourami focused tank. The fish I have right now will go back to my LFS, except for the fish listed at the bottom.

I want to add:
2 Dwarf Gourami (1 male 1 Female)
2 Sparkling Gourami
1 Patrizi Killifish

Is there anything wrong with this arrangement of fish? compatibility? Agressiveness(sp?)? They will be in a 20gal, along with
1 clown pleco
2 sterbai cories
1 ghost shrimp

Answer: I would suggest you don't add the dwarfs and the sparkling gourami (unless the are both female) in a 20 gallon. Instead of the sparkling gouramis you might want to add another female dwarf. That way the male can divide his attention between the females. I tried a Pearl gourami and a dwarf gourami in a 29 gallon but that was a disaster.

The above recommendations are to the best of our knowledge. We imply no liability by offering fish suggestions, implement at your own risk. If you are interested in helping out visit our contributions page.