Dojo

Hi I have 1 male dwarf gourami and would like to add a couple more so was wondering is an 180 litre tank big enough to give them their own space?
The ones in the shop are in a group of like 8 or so in a fairly small tank and seem to get along fine so would adding 2 from a social group be ok?My one was also in a tank with a heap of other males and seemed fairly docile.

Also I was thinking i'd like a female gourami for my fella but would a female cause fighting between otherwise peaceful males?

Would 2 male/female pairs be better than 1 pair and 2 extra males, or would just 1 male/female pair be best?
The tank is planted so there would hopefully be room for their own territories if I got 2 pairs.

Cheers

Barbrella

The overcrowding in the petstore is the key to keeping the peace. Many territorial fish in one small tank are unable to set up and defend a territory, which is why they don't bother fighting. If there were only two left in this tank, they would no doubt battle constantly.

You should be able to have 2 male dwarfs in your tank, since they will be able to keep out of each other's way and have their own space.

Getting into breeding situations is a whole other thing. To do this, you'll need another tank full of plants for the female to condition her so she's filled with eggs. THen you must put the male into HER tank (if you do it the other way he may attack her) and wait til the eggs are laid. Then the female must be removed and put into yet another tank to avoid having her severely beaten up or killed by the male defending the eggs.

I really don't suggest you do this unless you're prepared for all the extra work and tanks.

Dojo

Hi thanks for all the advice, I didn't realise he would be aggressive with the female if they bred, i'll stick to just adding one more male so.

Barbrella

I think that's a good decision! Dwarf gouramis are adorable and you would hate to seem them beating each other up!

GouramiGirl1221

Two males should have plenty of room in a tank your size. Just another note, you might want to consider getting some floating plants (live or fake, the fish don't really care). Gouramis love them...mine are up swimming around in them all the time.

Dojo

Hi yep i'm hoping to get at least 2 floating plants so they can each have their own hangout, have yet to find an aqua place which stocks them but keeping my eyes open for them
If I can't find live ones i'll just get fake silk ones.

Clare12345

How big is your tank? I have a couple questions of my own I'd like to ask but I'll make a new post

DarkFin

Gouramis are so cute!, but I think you are supposed to have more females in the tank then males. (probably not right, might be another fish.) but anyway good luck!