Gourami and Apistogramma in the same tank?

[Mode]

Hello,

I was wondering if I could keep any species of gourami and an apistogramma cacatuoides in the same 29G tank.

Thanks

 

[Andy Sager]

It would depend on which specie of gourami.

 

[Mode]

It would depend on which specie of gourami.

Well I heard that pearl gourami are kind of peaceful, but if not them then probably a honey gourami

 

[Andy Sager]

Well I heard that pearl gourami are kind of peaceful, but if not them then probably a honey gourami

Pearls generally are peaceful but they get too large for a 29 gallon tank unfortunately. They can stay in there while small but would need to be moved to a larger/longer tank as they grow. The honey would fit but to be honest, since the discovery of the iridovirus which causes dwarf gourami disease, which was created by all the inbreeding of dwarf gouramis to make the powder blue and flame and the others, I tend to not recommend any dwarf gourami specie that has been genetically manipulated. If you are going to get a honey gourami, get one that is of natural color and if possible, wild caught.
There are other small species of Gourami like the Sparkling or Licorice or Chocolate gourami which would do fine in a 29 but you will need to have slow water movement ( which most Apistos like as well) and a lot of floating vegetation so that they have security to hide in when startled.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mode]

Pearls generally are peaceful but they get too large for a 29 gallon tank unfortunately. They can stay in there while small but would need to be moved to a larger/longer tank as they grow. The honey would fit but to be honest, since the discovery of the iridovirus which causes dwarf gourami disease, which was created by all the inbreeding of dwarf gouramis to make the powder blue and flame and the others, I tend to not recommend any dwarf gourami specie that has been genetically manipulated. If you are going to get a honey gourami, get one that is of natural color and if possible, wild caught.
There are other small species of Gourami like the Sparkling or Licorice or Chocolate gourami which would do fine in a 29 but you will need to have slow water movement ( which most Apistos like as well) and a lot of floating vegetation so that they have security to hide in when startled.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

Might go for a pearl gourami since I have a bigger tank to transfer it to if/when it outgrows the 29G.

Oh and are red honey gourami also genetically manipulated or are they red in the wild?

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks

Might go for a pearl gourami since I have a bigger tank to transfer it to if/when it outgrows the 29G.

Oh and are red honey gourami also genetically manipulated or are they red in the wild?

There are no wild red honeys. They are a man made color.
As long as you have the longer tank for larger Pearls, that sounds like a good plan. If possible, get a male and a couple of females and you will see some amazing colors on the male as he matures and " shows off" for the females.