Dwarf gouramis semi-aggressive?

So I'm brand new to aquariums. Cycled my 20 gallon long tank and got my first three fish tonight! Fancy male guppies they are doing great! Already good buddies curiously exploring their new home. I'm going to do tests again tomorrow night just to be sure everything is stabilized. My full stock is going to be 3 guppies, 6 cories, 6 cardinal tetras, and I was thinking of 1 Dwarf gourami, but while at the store looking I was told that Dwarf Gouramis are semi-aggressive and have been known to freak out and go on a killing spree... I definitely don't want that happening. I know that pet store employees are notorious for not necessarily knowing a lot when it comes to fish, but thought I'd ask anyways! What do you guys think? Should I go for something more like an Opaline gourami instead of the dwarf?

Also, I'd like to get 6 albino cories, but am having a hard time finding a store with a full stock. So I was wondering if anyone could suggest a couple different cories that would work in my tank in case I can't find 6 healthy albinos!

 

Dwarf gourami are like a slightly mild down male betta. Or at least mine is. It can be hit or miss. He would be fine with the corys, but if you get guppies, avoid like colored ones. Other than that, a dg should be fine.

Sent from my P900/Q900 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

I have a dg with larger tetras and a molly. In the beginning he was super shy and skiddish The dg can get a little territorial at times but since the others can out swim him they don't worry. I haven't seen any damage, but I would be careful about putting him in with slower fish such as a guppy.

 

My dg is fine with everyone in my tank but my other dg

 

Dwarf Gouramis are of peaceful nature. They may become slightly territorial if placed in a smaller tank with other Dwarfs.I have mine with guppies and Neon tetras and have had no problems so far.

 

My DG gets along fine with my Cory cats. I think it's mainly an issue with having two males in a smaller tank. Of course each fish is different so your experience may vary

 

Your tank is gonna be fully loaded, the opaline will get too big. IMO the DG will be hit or miss, depends on if it can stake it's territory or is too busy watching it's backside.

 

My (excellent) local fish store told me that about DGs as well. We are going with the same fish and tank size as you, but no DG, a snail instead.

 

An alternative to a dwarf gourami is a honey gourami. Very peaceful. The opalines will get too big for a 20g, 6" or so.

 

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy it. Alison

 

I have a DG with a bunch of fish - male guppies, cardinal tetras, platys. He doesn't bother any of them. I think the main aggression issue with DGs is if you have more than one male. The only issue I had with my DG was that he was VERY shy for about 2 weeks...he hid in the back and stayed there 24/7, not moving at all. I was told that is pretty common. Nowadays, he's all over the place with the other fish.

As for cory suggestions, i'm a big fan of juliI corys and am going to get them for my next tank And with corys, if you want to mix and match them, every different species needs a school of at least 6 of their own...which you can't fit in your current tank, so you'd have to choose just one type.

 

DG for the most part are peaceful, mine only chase the other fish once in a while. DG (as far as I know) don't go on killing sprees, they just like personal space. I second juliI Corys they are very cute . Good luck with your tank!

 

Correct, dwarf gouramis such as the "dwarf" gourami and honey gourami are not as aggressive as their bigger cousins, opaline, giant, gold, paradise gourami all come to mind.

 

Welcome to Fishlore. We had them many years ago and now again in both tanks.

They have never bothered anybody.