Paradise Fish? How mean are they?

[Snowflake311]

I have a planted 100Gal community tank. I only have a few fish in it right now looking to stock it with med to small community fish. I had tried to keep a paradise fish Many many years ago but it was in it's own tank.

I have always loved how the males look like a betta fish. I would like to just get one Male I also would like to get some dwarf gouramis I have only kept one 3 spot gourami many years ago and I had sparkeling gouramis as well even got them to breed.

I know that Gouramis can be a bit like cichlids in the way they do not always tolerate others like them. Or that you need many so the aggression is spread out. I have kept many south american fish over the years and I am thinking it is time to try keep the asian fish now.

Any types on keeping Gouramis with paradise fish? I figure they are small fish and the tank is 5 feet long so it should be ok? I also have lots of plants. Well I took some out but they grow in fast.

 

[duanes]

I have found Paradise fish can be aggressive with other anabantids, although your tank may have enough space not to matter.
I've never considered paradise fish tropical though, being from Korea and China, more of a cool water species. I used to keep some in my rain barrel in Milwaukee spring thru fall where water temps would drop into the 50sF, and they would spawn in those conditions.
A better choice to live with tropical species like gouramis, and that have a similar appearance might be some of the wild type mouth brooding bettas, like Betta albimarginata or B. edithae, there are plenty of other species, that are non-aggressive, remain small, and unlike B. splendens can be kept without together in tanks without fighting..

albimarginata above, edit

 

[Snowflake311]

Oh yeah I forgot about them. That could be a good fish for me. Thanks..

 

[Allan01230]

yes I always had promblems keeping paradise fish with community tropical. They were very aggressive to my community as I remember.