Samurai/Licorice Gourami Question.
 

Hello all, after my 29 gallon's current use is done I think it would be cool to do a Gourami Tank. I like Licorice Gourami, and after researching I found that Licorice Gourami and Samurai Gourami have similar care requirments. If I have 2 Fluval U2 Internal Filters, would the tank be OK with a pair of Licorice Gourami and a school(?) of 6 Samurai Gourami? This is assuming I use peat in the filtration, Peat Extract Water Conditioner, and it's well planted. Thanks for any responses!

I have (presently) a couple of Parosphromenus deissneri (Licorice G) but have never kept Sphaerichthys vaillanti which is closely related to the more commonly-seen Chocolate Gourami. As you say, both species are basically identical in their requirements, and from my research a group of the latter is recommended. Display behaviours within a group will be more interesting.

A very thickly-planted tank with very soft and acidic water is essential, since both will be wild caught. My Licorice are doing quite well, surprisingly; this is not an easy fish. The water is zero hardness and the pH is at or below 5. They are not easy to feed, live foods are recommended, though mine will eat frozen bloodworms. Frozen daphnia would probably also be good [I can't seem to get this any longer in Canada]. Mine show an interest in prepared foods as they sink but appear to spit most of it out, so I'm not sure if they actually eat it or not. I understand the other mentioned gourami is similar in this respect.

Many of the small rasbora (Boraras species, but the smaller of the Trigonostigma species would also work) make good tankmates for some "activity" since these gourami are very sedate and often scarcely move.

Byron.

Oh, yes, I did also read that they needed live foods. I only have access to Brine Shrimp, if I gutload these will it he sufficent, along with Frozen Bloodworms? As I said before, I am going to add Peat Moss to the filter, along with this Peat Moss Extract Water Conditioner I have. Also, along with the Java Fern I have in there right now, Crypts for the substrate and Water Sprite floating will be sufficient planting, yes? Oh, and one last thing, Do you think that maybe 6 Sparkling Gourami would also be fine in here? Even if they aren't active, it will add more fish, so at most given times I may see some anyway.
Posted via Mobile Device

I had previously thought of mentioning the pygmy sparkling gourami as tankmates, then decided not to because of my experiences. While they "should" be suitable, I have had trouble with the aggressiveness of the males at every spawning, which are very frequent. I've had to move my group of sparklers twice because one or two males when guarding nests were so aggressive they had all the other fish in the tank hovering down in the plants. This is a situation that I will not allow because it stresses and weakens the fish, so out the sparklers came. These were in 29g and 33g tanks; they are now in the 90g among some tougher tankmates. A year or so ago I had a group (different fish) in with my two Chocolate gourami species and didn't notice this, and all these were regularly spawning in there. Of course, it was absolutely thick with plants, top to bottom, Wisteria stems and there was basically no swimming space in a 4-foot tank. Thick cover may be the solution.

On the food, one item is never the best, but if the fish won't eat you can't make them. I'm stuck with bloodworms as i mentioned for the Licorice, though they "peck" at prepared. Sometimes you can wean fish onto various foods, sometimes not.

For these sensitive fish I would recommend diluting the initial water to get the hardness near-zero. Peat and leaves will provide further benefits. Water changes with "pure" water (rainwater, distilled, RO) mixed with a tad of tap would work. Thick plants. Attached is a photo of the 10g that the Licorice are presently in; in fact you can see one of them just left of centre about 1/3 of the way down in the tank. The red fish are Boraras brigittae. I have Corydoras habrosus on the bottom. And snails galore. Just noticed my 3 Farlowella fry were still in this tank when the photo was taken a couple months back.

Ok, so no to the Sparklers. I suppose I can try culturing Blackworms, I believe I saw an article on it. Aren't Boraras Brigittae also known as Misquito Rasbora? Or am I confusing them? Very nice tank :)
Posted via Mobile Device

Well, I meant for this to be after I finished with my current 29 gallon, but recently I came into a used 29 gallon, for free :D so, I guess maybe I'll set up this arrangment. So, I was wondering, could I keep 3-4 Licorice Gourami together? If yes, could you guys reccomend a good filter for this? So, for stocking: 3-4 Licorice Gourami, 6-7 Samurai Gourami, 8-10 Boraras Rasbora species. I'd prefer a Fluval U3 or a slow Canister Filter, does anyone have a good experience with a filter? Thanks!
Posted via Mobile Device

With lots of plants, and I do mean lots:-), this should work fine. Male gourami are territorial, but I have found that the thicker the planting the less physical damage. "Out of sight, out of mind" does seem to be somewhat relevant here.

For filter, you want the least water movement possible; these are fish from very slow-flowing streams and peat swamps. A simple sponge filter in a 29g would be adequate; I used that with my Chocolates and Licorice and Boraras. You could do a Hydro or Elite dual sponge with an air pump, or if sound/quiet is an issue [like the tank in a bedroom] one of the small internal sponge-type filters. I believe Fluval make one of these latter; Eheim used to, I have one, but I understand they no longer make them.

Plants are the main thing; and full surface cover with Water Sprite is ideal.

For planting I was going to have the surface covered in Water Sprite, with a large Driftwood structure In the middle to anchor Java Ferns/Anubias to and surrounding it with a large "forest" of Crypts. I'll find a normal sponge filter, the noise won't be a problem because this will be a display tank in the family room. With the Samurais, and if I'm doing this tank I'll keep looking for them, I was going to do 3 Males and 3-4 Females, I've read this is a good pairing. For the Licorice Gourami, should I do a Harem with 1 Male and 2-3 Females or 2 pairs? Oh, and one more thing, I think shrimp would be really nice in this tank, would the other fish eat them, or are they generally compadible? Sorry for all the questions :oops:

I would do a group of both gourami. I've not kept the Samurai as I've never found them locally, but they are in the same genus as the two other "Chocolates" I have kept, so a group is best. The males have an interesting display behaviour. As for the Licorice, I suggested a pair in the profile but a small group should be fine; I only found 3 in the store, one didn't survive, the remaining two appear to be males and there is the usual display and chasing. A small group would probably work for these too.

As for shrimp, if they are large enough they won't likely get eaten. But the very soft acidic water essential for these gourami might not bode well for shrimp. Having said that, I have one shrimp in with my Licorice, not sure what it is as it arrived with the pygmy corys, but it has been in there for several months which has rather surprised me, given the zero hardness and pH below 5.

Ok, so just to be safe I won't do the shrimp. By Group i'm assuming you just mean whatever gender, in the case of the Licorice Gourami, correct? Oh, and since I haven't seen any Boraras species of Rasbora at any LFS in the area for about 6 months, would Coral Red Pencilfish be a suitable subsitute? They seem to have similar requirments to these gouramis, but just checking.