nitz

I was at my LFS yesterday and saw that they have german blue rams, which I really wanted, and also noticed that they have odessa barbs. The odessas look amazing and would be a good addition to my tank if only by the way they look. I was wondering if these two would mix well since barbs are usually pretty nippy (other than cherry barbs from what I've read)? I also will have a female gold gourami in there and either cories or a pleco. The GBRs at the store are all pretty small, about an inch or slightly more in length so I'd probably have to let them grow before adding the barbs.

rifter098

i dont think it would be a good idea to mix a gold gourami with GBRs...i have seen GBRs and barbs living together, but that was in a 40+ gal. tank
...also gold gouramis can grow to 6" and need to be in at least a 30gal tank...is it in your 12 gal?

nitz

Ya I got some terrible advice from a friend before I found fish lore. He seemed like an expert to me and told me that 2 gold gourmis could live in my 12 gal tank with no problem. He also gave me some other bad advice which LED to my 12 gal being overstocked. He told me they'd only get to about 3" and would get along. I have 2 females and one of them is a big bully.

Allie

Here's a profile on the barbs and the GBR...this may help your figure your question out.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/barbs/odessabarb.php
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barbs.htm
Click on the different community #s.

nitz

Thanks for the links Allie. I think odessas might grow a bit too big for my tank. The gold barbs look nice and I think I saw them at my lfs. Maybe I should stick to the smaller cherry/gold barbs.

Is it just me or do keyhole cichlids look somewhat similar to rams? It could be just that one picture I saw but they look similar except for their different colorations.

On this site, it says that gold gouramis only grow to about 3". Check out this link and let me know if it's true or they're just lying to me: http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10gouramis_blue.htm

Allie

I have a pair of keyholes...they get bigger than rams. They don't really look like them...they have dull coloring. They are so cute. Here's a pix of my pair...
I am not sure about gouramis I have only kept the dwarf ones and they were 3" so it's possible...someone else with know for sure tho.

Attached Images

DSCF8727.JPG (79.2 KB, 4 views)

nitz

Thanks Allie. I've had mine for 5-6 months now. They look 3" to me. I was under the impression they were dwarfs.

rifter098

the gold gouramis that i have seen for sale are a different coloration of the blue gouramis...but i am almost positive they will end up around 5"-6"

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...964&pcatid=964
it says they only need a 20gal. but most people will tell you that anything over 4" needs a 29+ tank...but if you think you can maintain their health, then it is possible they will do ok in 12 gal.

nitz

I believe what you're saying rifter. I kind've blindy followed what my friend said back then without doing much research. He told me to cycle with fish, to use those cycling liquids (not bio spira or safe start), and he tried to get me to buy a catfish (not a cory though) for my 12 gal tank. I only started doing my own research in May when I got my 29 gal.

I might try to sell one of them just so they can have a bigger tank that's more suited for them. Thanks for your help.