Gouramis and betas?

[SteveJP]

I wanted to see what would happen if I put my wife's beta (Phil) into my 45 gallon fresh tank with my guppies and platies in it. They mix really well and no murders. Now, I want to add a fire belly dwarf gourami and a dwarf honey gourami to my tank. Does anyone have any experience in mixing betas with these guys? I don't want to buy 2 gouramis and wake up the next morning with fish that have been picked apart. Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Stefernini]

I had my dragon betta, Walter, in my 50 with two honeys, Clover and Tupelo, for a few weeks til his 10 was cycled and they all did fine. My betta is very mellow, despite being a "dragon", however.

It really depends on the betta. If he's fiesty or a punk it probably won't work.

[bettaowner]

The fins of male guppies resemble betta fins so a fight is bound to occur. Bettas and gouramis are related so they might also fight.

[Stefernini]

Oh I missed that you have guppies. That won't work.

[Shane87]

My opaline gourami was a nightmare he bullied everything and always tore up my bettas fins, I had to return him after a while.

[Cynic]

Well if you've got your betta cohabitating with guppies and platies you may have a very passive betta. That said I really wouldn't suggest pushing your luck any further with a gourami.

[SteveJP]

I'm not going to get gouramis. I don't want to risk the beta, Phil. She would kill me If he was nipped to death.

[Calypso77]

Originally Posted by SteveJP

I'm not going to get gouramis. I don't want to risk the beta, Phil. She would kill me If he was nipped to death.

Good idea, you don't want her to kill you. Smart man.