[finnfinnfriend]

Here I am asking another controversial question (gotta love me, right? ). Anyway...I have been researching and reading and looking at a lot of pictures and watching a lot of videos, and I honestly and sincerely don't see why I couldn't keep a single three spot gourami by itself in a standard ten gallon tank....Now I know they are capable of reaching 6 inches, and of course I wouldn't put a 6 inch fish in a ten gallon aquarium, but everyone who has kept them for a decent amount of time has said 6 inches is rare and they most likely almost always top out at around 4 inches. So I don't see why I couldn't keep a 4 inch fish all by itself in a ten gallon and have him do well...With hat said I don't plan on actually doing it because if I get one it would have to be added to a larger community...however I just want to know for the sake of knowing...thanks

 

[Sylverclaws]

Because three-spot gourami's require more space to swim and have territory or they get stressed out and depressed. They also CAN reach larger sizes, so it's not a good idea, always take in the max size as consideration. Besides, keeping even a four inch one in a ten gallon would be pure cruelty. I have one who is four inches, another is five inches...the four inch one, have you seen them as adults in real life, not on photos or videos? They're not small, they're fairly thick! If you see one, you will see why it's bad to keep them in smaller tanks. They -need- space to swim right, they're not like male bettas who more often than not will hold still and be slow...(though yes, some are quite active). You don't want to keep them in anything smaller than 25 gallons, and that's for a single little loner. In a ten gallon he or she would swim a couple inches then have to turn around, not a pleasant life for an active fish.

 

[finnfinnfriend]

Oh okay, that makes sense . I have seen them in person but idk what size tank they were in and I wasn't able to compare them to any tank sizes...why 25 gallons? it looks like a 15 gallon is as long as a 25 gallon...so why not a 15 gallon?

 

[Sylverclaws]

Even if they're as long, they're not as wide. Space is what you want with these guys. They're thick, they're long, and they like a good sized territory. 25 gallons is a -minimum- though I personally wouldn't have them in anything smaller than 40 gallons. That's my personal preference though, but the minimum requirement to keep one happy and healthy is 25 gallons. Minimums are...well, minimums, good enough to keep them alive in and have some space, but not much.

If you want a three-spot, don't go smaller on the tanks, go bigger. If you really don't want to set up your larger tank, you can have the smaller honey or a dwarf gourami in a fifteen gallon alone a lot easier than you can a three-spot.

 

[finnfinnfriend]

No, actually, they are the same with...the 25 is just taller..

Edit: I actually might be able to set up my 29 gallon now! But that again is the same width as the 15, 20, and 25 gallon...

 

[Sylverclaws]

So then it's a tall over long tank? If it's the same width and length as a normal 15 gallon, you may want to reconsider, they need longer tanks over tall ones, or normal sized ones. The difference in the normal made ones is usually width.

You DO want the fish to be able to swim, right? It has to have space for it's bulk to fit and for it to swim around. They're not the most active fish in the world or anything, but they do love a good swim across a long space.

I mean it can work, but it'll be tight for him. .-. He or she will probably be pretty bored. ^^;

 

[finnfinnfriend]

No lol standard 25 gallon tanks are just proportionately taller...that's why I was confused about your recommendation...
Have you had both your gouramis for the same amount of time? How long have you had them? Does one sex tend to get bigger than the other?

 

[jimscott]

Why not a 30 gallon long tank?

 

[finnfinnfriend]

Well the thing is, I already have a 29 gallon that is not in use /:
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[jimscott]

Go with it!

 

[Sylverclaws]

I have had my two gourami's in my 55 gallon tank for quite a while. One is male, one is female, and the male is always chasing her around, but he never does anything nasty to her or anything, he just likes to chase her like a jerk. One of them will have a new home soon since the stress has mounted to an unsafe point on my girl.

I got them both at the same time, different tanks(one is the normal blue variety, the other is gold), they were both about three inches then. In the last five months or so they've both grown more than an inch, the male has grown nearly two inches being about five inches now. I think they're done, not sure though, they seem to have random out of nowhere growth spurts. The female is chubbier than the male, but he's bigger than her, longer by about an inch, she, however, is thicker bodied and doesn't look small at all. Just smaller than him. In normal cases I'd say she'd be bigger than the common sized males, but she may not be common sized herself since she passed the four inch mark. I have seen no difference in color, the females of this species seem to be just as, or almost as bright, they have different fins and their body shape is a tad different, usually appear chubby too.

But yeah, set up your 29 gallon and go for it like Jim said. You may pull it off, just treat him or her good, alright? :3

 

[finnfinnfriend]

Alright...I am going to set up the 29 gallon! Super excited woot!
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[Flint]

I hope you're going to properly cycle it first! ;-)

 

[finnfinnfriend]

I hope you're going to properly cycle it first! ;-)

I know this is an old thread but....The 29 gallon was an upgrade from my 10 gallon, so all the filter media and decor went in there. Already cycled! and the water parameters are good! Thanks

 

[22ghitas]

I have a 25 gallon tank with 6 neon tetras 6 rummy head tetras a male and female cherry barb 3 albino corys all baby's and a 2 inch 3 spot gouramis and I'm worried about when ghe gouramis grows to 4 5 inches

 

[22ghitas]

Will the gouramis attack or eat my other fish?