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Dwarf or pearl gourami with tetras?

4K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  jaysee 
#1 ·
Hey guys,

I was thinking about inserting Dwarf or Pearl gourami in a tank with tetras (neon or cardinals, still have to decide), corydoras and otocinclus.

Do you see any compatibility issue? Does gouramis get along with tetras? What tetras should I pickup if I put gourami, neon or cardinals?
 
#2 ·
Depending in the size of the tank, it should be fine. IMO, I would go with cardinals, I find neons to keel over just by looking at them due to the amount of inbreeding that occurs, reducing hardiness. Cardinals aren't as finicky as neons, and make a far superior choice IMO.
 
#3 ·
I've also found them to occupy different regions of the tank, so there is that too to consider.
 
#5 ·
Neons stay in the bottom half whereas cardinals tend to stay in the top half.
 
#8 ·
Yes. Cardinals are supposed to stay in the top half of the tank, according to most profiles, and that's exactly what they did for me. But I kept them in a large tank. In a small tank, the "top" and "bottom" can be one and the same so it may not seem like it's the case.

In my experience with dwarf gouramis, they occupy all regions of the tank equally, whereas pearls will spend most of their time in the top third of the tank, coming down to forage.
 
#7 ·
I think Jaysee is getting at that the DG occupies the top of the tank, while the other fishes occupy the middle and bottom strata.

If you want to breed, then add a female. However, during breeding times the male can get a bit "feisty" and the constant activity of your other fish will cause stress, not to mention they may be picked on. When breeding, the female is often "driven away" however in an aquarium, she is unable to do so. So you may want to have a couple of tanks for the female, fry and of course, the other aquaium inhabitants.

(Go with a single male! ;-) )
 
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