Is this asking for trouble?

tinymitymo

While I was at work today I sent my husband and kids to the lfs to pick up a Zebra Loach to eat the snails (and algae) that are starting to become problematic in our tank. He came home with a nice little Zebra Loach and a pair of male powder blue Dwarf Gourami. Will the two of them fight with each other? So far they seem to be just exploring the tank although I have seen the larger of the two rush the smaller a couple of times.

Our original plan was 4 corys but now I wonder if we should just get a couple more zebra loaches instead of adding the 4 corys to the one loach. We have a 28 g bowfront with live plants, 7 leopard Danios and a couple of mosquito fish as well as the newcomers.

Lonewolfblue

You really need at least 3 zebra loaches, they do better in groups. Also, they love snails, but do nothing with algae.

Melissa

what is the size of your tank?

tinymitymo

It is a 28g bowfront.

tinymitymo

well everything is peaceful so far and they seem to have settled in fine. I do notice that one of the gouramis seems to sit in the back of the tank behind the plants and just hang on the bottom. Is this typical? He does come out and swim around occaisionally but seems to have chosen this place to stay often. The two of them have swum together without fuss now and then.

musho3210

its fine. Possibly the gaurami is getting ready for breeding

tinymitymo

I was under the assumption that they were both males as they are both very brightly colored and beautiful.

musho3210

oh, well watch them to make sure there not sick or anything. I dont think theres anything seriously wrong though

Lupin

Indeed. I notice your sig saying 'powder Blue Gourami'. Both are indeed dwarf gouramis(Colisa lalia). Females are rather drab or silvery in color.

tinymitymo

These guys are a beautiful turquoise with just hints of the red spots and red edge on their fins. They are almost fluorescent they are so bright.
So far so good again this morning. The one big one occaisionally rushes the smaller one now and then but then sometimes they swim together with no trouble.
I do see them biting at the plants some.