Butters

Hey, Do you guys think it is safe to buy a dwarf gourami now? I would like some ideas for getting a peaceful, loner fish for my 20 gallon tank and all I can think of is a DG. I know blue and gold gouramis get to big for a 20... and I'm getting a sparkler for my 10. Any other ideas?

Barbrella

I don't think anyone can answer the question if it's safe or not.

I've had mine for 5 weeks now, and he's doing great and is totally adorable, so I think if you want one you should try it.

Find out how long the DGs have been at the petstore. Look them all over carefully and make sure none are huddled at the bottom, bloated or inactive, and that their bodies are smooth and shiny. Not much else you can do.

I really can't think of any other smaller sized, peaceful loners.

Iron waffle

I've had mine for 8 weeks, no problem, except an ICH scare. He survived and is even more full of personality.

Butters

Alright guys, I think I'll try it out, see what happens. The only DGs I've seen at my LPS for a while now has been the flame ones... are these different in any way from regulars? thanks again!

Barbrella

All the different colour morphs - Flame, Powder/Neon blue - are basically the same fish.

Can't wait to see your new addition!

GouramiGirl1221

The flames are beautiful. The only thing I'd suggest is that if you want something extremely peaceful, I'd get a female, which will have a shorter, rounded dorsal fin. I haven't had any 'problems' with my dwarf, such as attacking other fish, but he definitely does boss everyone else around and wants his own space. Like I said though, it's all minor stuff; I don't have personal experience with female dwarfs, but I hear they're less 'bossy' and territorial.

Barbrella

Male DGs can be a little bossy. Mine sometimes lunges at my barbs, but never is any harm done and my barbs don't really care, so I wouldn't hesitate to get a male.

kacie

My male is very peaceful and I've had him for almost 8 weeks. Or you could try a Killifish maybe.

Butters

Well, I scratched that idea when I went to my LPS. The few DGs they had they were all lying on the bottom and not looking good at all, forget that! So I bought a platy and two swordtails

timmafee

alot of fish shops around me have really bad quality dwarves except this one shop where i got mine. when u walk past they come to the front and are really active and shiny, haven't had a problem with him in 2 months

DarkRevoultions

To tell you the truth, gouramis don't grow that fast depending on how much you feed them.

I have some dwarf gouramis that aren't so dwarf at all. They are about 3-4" from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He is still growing along with my female gourami.

Also, my angels are fairly big too, so sometimes they can become very aggressive, and that is why I introduced a turquoise severum. They are very aggressive, but the male severum, and my angels are good buddies, they don't get into fights at all anyway. It is still small, about the same size as my angels, so I might return him later if they are going to start to fight.