Pearl Gourami Compatibility

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GouramiGuru

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
21
Hi guys; right now I am keeping a Pearl Gourami in a 10 gallon setup -- he is a juvenile right now, but I anticipate hopefully moving him to a 29 gallon if/when that becomes financially doable, because I am aware that the 10 gallon might end up a little cramped in the long run.

However, for right now I am looking to get him some tankmates for the 10 gallon; these would most likely continue to inhabit the 10 gallon if I move the Gourami to a 29 in the future, but I am flexible, and wouldn't mind getting some more species that would accompany him to the 29.

Anyways, regardless, I am a little stumped at what to put in with him for the 10 gallon. I was possibly thinking about Corydoras, but I am not really sure. Or maybe a Honey Dwarf Gourami? I know that Anabantids often times can pose a great deal of aggression to fellow Anabantids, so I doubt this would be a good idea, but at this point I am really stretching for ideas.

So please, if any of you have any ideas I'd love to hear them. I'm really open to just about anything at this point.
 
I wish I had better news for you, but I'd advise against putting anything with him in a 10g tank. The swim space for a pearl gourami, even a juvenile, in a 10g tank is quite limited.

It would be best for him if you put him in a 29g and then added some tankmates. Many species of non-nipping tetras would be great and corys would do good with him as well.
 
Ideally, get the 29g as soon as possible and put him with tankmates in there. A lone gourami makes a nice "centerpiece" fish in a community tank. In a 29g, you could add a school of small-to-medium sized tetras and then also a small school of corys for your bottom. Really nice tank, the corys would spend most of their time on the bottom, the tetras most of their time mid-water, and the gourami most of its time mid-to-high water.

If you could find baby corys (juvenile), then maybe you could put the school of corys in the 10g with him for the time being. Or maybe a half dozen small tetras (neons or something) instead, without the corys. (Throw a couple ghost shrimp in there and they will work on keeping the bottom clean.) But the sooner you can move to the larger tank, the better.
 
+1 to both of the posts. Save the money that you'd spend on fish towards the bigger tank. Patience is the toughest part of the hobby quite often.
 
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