Betta vs Gourami; Stocking...

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kissofcrimson

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 8, 2010
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North Carolina, USA
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Been in a conundrum for quite a while trying to decide what to stock my 29 gallon with. I've had many different setups and finally settled on a community tank setting.

I've had various color variations of the Three Spot Gourami (Gold, Blue, Opaline) and each one turned out to be aggressive, esp the male Gold I recently rehomed. I've heard great things about Pearls but do not think I will get any, since it will be pushing the limit. I also do not want to chance them and get stuck with aggressive fish.

So my question is, what would fit in more, a Betta or Dwarf Gourami? Should it be a male or female and if I get a Dwarf, should I get a pair? Here's my tank info:

Tropical planted tank (stays around 77 degrees) with sand sub and rock formations. Marineland Bio Wheel 200, 75w heater, 20g air pump, and I do weekly 50% water changes. Fish include: 2 adult Red Wagtail Platies, 3 BHT, 1 Glass Catfish (getting 1-2 more), 6 Neon Tetras, 1 Dojo loach and 2 Kuhli loaches.

Or any other possibilities? I need a center fish that's peaceful enough not to illict aggression issues. Wish I could post pics but am on mobile lol
 
kissofcrimson said:
Been in a conundrum for quite a while trying to decide what to stock my 29 gallon with. I've had many different setups and finally settled on a community tank setting.

I've had various color variations of the Three Spot Gourami (Gold, Blue, Opaline) and each one turned out to be aggressive, esp the male Gold I recently rehomed. I've heard great things about Pearls but do not think I will get any, since it will be pushing the limit. I also do not want to chance them and get stuck with aggressive fish.

So my question is, what would fit in more, a Betta or Dwarf Gourami? Should it be a male or female and if I get a Dwarf, should I get a pair? Here's my tank info:

Tropical planted tank (stays around 77 degrees) with sand sub and rock formations. Marineland Bio Wheel 200, 75w heater, 20g air pump, and I do weekly 50% water changes. Fish include: 2 adult Red Wagtail Platies, 3 BHT, 1 Glass Catfish (getting 1-2 more), 6 Neon Tetras, 1 Dojo loach and 2 Kuhli loaches.

Or any other possibilities? I need a center fish that's peaceful enough not to illict aggression issues. Wish I could post pics but am on mobile lol
Click to expand...

You can only do one of each, one male Betta or one Male Gourami. Males from both species will fight each other(including a male Betta and a Gourami, they're from the same family so they generally don't get along). You COULD do a female Betta sorority, but I'm not sure how they are with other community fish.


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I thought about that but am not sure if i should risk it. Female Bettas would get along with my fish but not sure if they'd do so well together. Had a friend who had 1 male and 3 females, they ended up killing each other. I didn't mean get both a Betta and Gourami, just one, learned that the hard way. lol I dont mind aggression, since some aggression is involved but not constant bullying aggression.
 
kissofcrimson said:
I thought about that but am not sure if i should risk it. Female Bettas would get along with my fish but not sure if they'd do so well together. Had a friend who had 1 male and 3 females, they ended up killing each other. I didn't mean get both a Betta and Gourami, just one, learned that the hard way. lol I dont mind aggression, since some aggression is involved but not constant bullying aggression.
Click to expand...

Of course 1 male and 3 females would kill each other! You can't do just three females, and you can't do male + female unless it's for breeding - and even then it's complicated, or so I've heard.
Female Bettas will be fine together IF you have enough of them. It's usually recommended to get a minimum of 5, but the more you have the better. I've always wanted to start a Betta Sorority. :)

I came home today to find my male Betta's fins completely eaten, and I don't know who did it! He was still alive but I opted to put him out of his misery. ): Poor guy.


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Thats what I told her but she didn't listen. lol. Would 5 fit comfortably in a 29 gallon though? I think that would be pushing it. She had a heavily planted 20-30 gallon. The biggest female sought out and assasinated the male, along with the other two females. She died by a bacterial infection I believe. I'm just tired of buying fish and having to rehome, so I'm trying to put together a good community tank. Last tank I had was strictly aggressive fish, hence the Gold Gourami, which was tankmates with an Angelfish pair.

That sucks. Always hate losing a fish, esp pretty ones.
 
Ok so I most likely won't be doing a s.f tank. My stock is basically the same, though now I have one more kuhli loach and glass catfish.

I'm still looking for center fish but have a list of what I think *may* fit:

- Pearl Gourami (2-4 females)
- Platinum Gourami (only one f)
- Sparkling Gourami (4-5; more f then m)
- Pair of rams (more then likely bolivian)
- Male Betta
- Dwarf Gourami (a pair or maybe 2 males)

Any ideas or advice welcomed!

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