Moving Dwarf Gourami to 10 gallon

Just want to get some thoughts about this... I've had my Dwarf Gourami (male) living in a 29 gallon tank for the past year with the following fish: a rainbow fish, 5 neons, 4 rummy-nose tetras, 2 cardinal tetras and 3 ghost shrimp. For as long as the dwarf gourami has been in the tank, the rainbow fish has acted aggressively towards it and it has always hidden in the plants and kept to one corner of the tank. I have another 10 gallon tank that only has a very young, very small mickey mouse platy in it. I decided to move the dwarf gourami to the 10 gallon to see if he comes out of his shell and enjoys swimming the length of the tank without feeling threatened.

So my question is this... was this a good idea or a bad one? If not good, what are your recommendations to help this little guy?

Also, is his behavior simply just normal for dwarf gourami's? Do they normally just hide all day?

Thanks!

 

Bad one... Sorry, but gouramis shouldn't be kept in a 10g, your 20 gallon is over stocked as well. The rainbow fish is probably trying to school with the gourami since they have such a strong schooling instinct. What rainbow fish is it? I'd keep two of the schools(along with the gourami & ghost shrimp) and give the rest away, the neons aren't temp compatible either. All of your fish minus the gourami need 5+ preferably 6+.
Gouramis normally doing hide all day.

 

To clarify, it's a 29 gallon. It's a Boeseman's Rainbow Fish. I'm afraid my children are too attached to give him away, but just wanted to know what I can do to help this DG come out from hiding all the time. All of the fish, including the neons, have actually done great in the temp I keep the tank at (78 degrees). I've had them for over a year and all of them are very healthy.

Actually, the kids are not as attached to the other fish in the tank as they are to the rainbow fish. Since I can't give him up, would you suggest moving all (if not most) of the tetras out of the 29 gallon and adding more rainbow fish so he can school with them?

Thanks!

 

Your rainbowfish definitely needs to be rehomed. It's a schooling fish that get around 4 inches which would make them too big for your tank size. I'd move the DG back to the 29 gallon and also rehome the neons. They're the least temp compatible with the other fish as they need it below 75F. Further, having 4 different schooling fish are too much in that tank size.

So, to recap - rehome the rainbowfish and neons. Move the DG back to the 29, up the rummy noses and cardinals to at least 6 each. Then all your fish can be comfortably kept at 78F.

 

To clarify, it's a 29 gallon. It's a Boeseman's Rainbow Fish. I tried attaching a picture I found online (not my exact fish) but it's the same kind. Not sure if that worked. I'm afraid my children are too attached to give him away, but just wanted to know what I can do to help this DG come out from hiding all the time. All of the fish, including the neons, have actually done great in the temp I keep the tank at (78 degrees). I've had them for over a year and all of them are very healthy.

Actually, the kids are not as attached to the other fish in the tank as they are to the rainbow fish. Would you suggest moving all (if not most) of the tetras out of the 29 gallon and adding more rainbow fish so he can school with them?

Thanks!

Unfortunately bosamanI rainbow fish need I believe a 55g. They get to large and are to active to keep in a 29g, and they need 80-86F. I'm going to have to give mine away since I don't have enough space to keep him, I currently have him in a 65g, but none of the other fish are temp compatible. There are a ton of other rainbows though. Maybe you could do a school of them with one of your other schools? And the gourami?

 

Thank you all. Looks like I have some reconfiguring to do. I appreciate the advice!

Side question: How long should I wait before moving the DG back to the 29 gallon? I don't want to overly stress him with too many moves too quickly.

Thanks again!

 

What tank size would you recommend for a school of rainbow fish?

You can mix and match rainbows, I'd say a 55g. You could have two bosamanis and four others.