Dwarf Gourami questions (hard water, tank size, tank mates)

1. Would a dwarf gourami be okay with hard water? I have a community tank with platies and corys right now and when testing water I always find that it is very hard.

2. Would a dwarf gourami be fine in a 20 gal with 5 corys and 4 platies? I did not think it would, but my filtration is for a 30 gal, so I didn't know if that would make a difference.

I have not bought one yet, but I've always wanted one and need some advice. Thanks!!!

 

Yes to both. I have had a dwarf gourami in my 8.4 ph water, so however hard your water is, it should be fine. And I don't think that tank would be overstocked.

 

The water and stocking level should be fine, but their temperament can vary widely. Some are perfectly okay with tank mates of other species, and some will kill everything in the tank.

 

The water and stocking level should be fine, but their temperament can vary widely. Some are perfectly okay with tank mates of other species, and some will kill everything in the tank.

Okay thank you! Do you know of any peaceful centerpiece fish I could get that would work well in there? I'm just looking for something colorful like a gourami.

 

Okay thank you! Do you know of any peaceful centerpiece fish I could get that would work well in there? I'm just looking for something colorful like a gourami.

I've never kept them, but I see quite a few people recommend a trio of honey gouramis as centerpiece for relatively small tanks.

 

Okay thank you! Do you know of any peaceful centerpiece fish I could get that would work well in there? I'm just looking for something colorful like a gourami.

Betta fish can do okay, but is always a risk. Honey gouramis are good, and you can get them in a nice red colour too. Black tiger darios are great but they are quite small and can be picky eaters, but if you get the right ones they’re great fish.
Also Rams would be a good centre piece fish for a 20 gal.
Peacock gudgeons are also another option

 

I've never kept them, but I see quite a few people recommend a trio of honey gouramis as centerpiece for relatively small tanks.

Do you know if an all female trio would be okay?

Betta fish can do okay, but is always a risk. Honey gouramis are good, and you can get them in a nice red colour too. Black tiger darios are great but they are quite small and can be picky eaters, but if you get the right ones they’re great fish.
Also Rams would be a good centre piece fish for a 20 gal.
Peacock gudgeons are also another option

Okay thank you so much! Do rams or peacock gudgeons do well alone or do I need a few?

 

Do you know if an all female trio would be okay?

Okay thank you so much! Do rams or peacock gudgeons do well alone or do I need a few?

Rams can live alone, you shouldn’t get 2 male rams as they will fight. I spoke to a guy who breeds rams recently and he said they can live alone perfectly fine but may display better colours in a male+female pair
Peacock gudgeons can live alone but ideally in a male + female pair.

 

Do you know if an all female trio would be okay?

I believe so.