Mary Allen
Often found in pet stores are around 5 to 6cm long and somewhat mysterious fish with a uniform pink body coloration and large eyes. These are dwarf gouramis. When they have grown up a bit in the local aquarium. , they amaze the aquarist, because from time to time two fish “kiss” each other. In reality, however, these “attestations of love” are acts of rivalry or courtship.
The dwarf gourami occurs in two color forms in the wild: green and pink. The green form is native to Lake Bung Boropet in Thailand, while the pink form is common in silted sections of rivers and lakes and in swamps on Java. It is considered a food fish by the natives and is caught in large numbers. In nature, Helostoma temminckii should reach a size of 20-50 cm. In our aquariums, however, it remains smaller with a body length of 10 to 20 cm.
The dwarf gourami needs both meat and plant food for a healthy diet. Good food is live cyclops and daphnia. Both food animals feed on phytonplankton (microscopic algae) and therefore represent a whole food diet for the kissing gourami – i.e. “meat with vegetables and salad”. Of course, you can also offer flake food with plant additives. The formation of the mouth shows that the dwarf gourami, like the Mbunas of Lake Malawi, is a growth eater. With his bulging lips he rasps off the growth of stones, wood and plants. A sparsely planted 100 liter community aquarium is completely sufficient for maintenance. The water values are not particularly important. Helostoma temminckii thrives well at 5 to 30 dGh, a pH value of 6.6 to 8.0 and a temperature of 24 to 28 degrees. Secondary sexual characteristics are not recognizable. You have to find out by observation what is male and what is female. The pink form has individually irregularly arranged gray spots. If you remember the position of these spots on the body, you can recognize each individual and put together a breeding pair.
Do dwarf gouramis need to be in pairs?
Since dwarf gouramis are social fish, they should be kept in pairs or small schools. They’re naturally shy, so if they’re kept alone they’re likely to become timid and spend their days hiding away.
Are dwarf gouramis hard to keep?
The dwarf gourami (Trichogaster lalius) is a very popular species, known for its brilliant blue coloration and for its calm demeanor. This species does very well in the community tank and it is generally not a difficult species to care for.
Are dwarf gourami easy to care for?
Dwarf Gourami are an easy fish to care for, and don’t require large tanks. They are also a hardy species, and relatively forgiving of water quality. They get along perfectly with other peaceful species, which makes them the perfect centerpiece to a beginner community tank.
How many dwarf gourami should be together?
At least four dwarf gouramis should be kept together. Dwarf gouramis are social creatures, and they feel more secure living in groups – the bigger the group, the better. With that said, if you have limited space, you can keep them in pairs.
How long do dwarf gourami live?
Most dwarf gouramis live for about four to six years; with proper care, they can live longer. Dwarf gouramis are generally peaceful fish—unlike the much larger standard gourami, which can become aggressive.
Will dwarf gourami eat shrimp?
Yes, dwarf gouramis do eat shrimp. They usually eat shrimp that fit in their mouth. That’s why small-sized shrimp, such as dwarf and cherry shrimp, are easy prey for dwarf gouramis. However, large-sized shrimp, such as Amano, bamboo, and vampire shrimp, are usually safe to keep with dwarf gouramis.
Do dwarf gourami eat algae?
In nature, gouramis eat small insects and larvae from the surface of the water and graze on algal growth on rocks and plants.
Do dwarf gourami eat guppies?
So, if you want to setup a community tank with dwarf gouramis and guppies, you can be sure that the will live together peacefully. Don’t forget though, that gouramis will eat baby guppies. So, in case you are planning to breed guppies, you might not want to keep guppies together with other fish species.
Can dwarf gourami live with betta?
Although dwarf gouramis and bettas belong to the same family, they’re not compatible with each other. These fish display aggressive behavior toward each other if kept in the same tank. They also occupy the same water level and end up fighting with each other.
What fish can be put with dwarf gourami?
- Neon Tetra.
- Cardinal Tetra.
- Mollies.
- Chili Raspberries.
- Zebra Damages.
- Harlequin Rasboras.
- Otoclinus Catfish.
Can dwarf gouramis live with neon tetras?
No, gouramis won’t eat neon tetras. Gouramis are mostly peaceful and unlikely to eat neon tetras that are too big to fit in their mouths.
Can dwarf gourami live with guppies?
You’ll be pleased to know that YES guppies and gouramis can definitely live together. However, if you do plan on letting them live together, you need to make sure that you pick the right species of gourami as well as making sure the requirements of both fish are met!
Do dwarf gourami eat other fish?
Yes, dwarf gouramis eat other fish. Dwarf gouramis are predatorial in nature and will try to eat any small fish that can fit in their mouths. They might even try to eat similarly-sized fish that are sick or dying. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep dwarf gouramis with other fish.
What temperature do dwarf gouramis like?
pH should be between 6.8 and 7.8, alkalinity between 3° and 8° dkH (50 ppm to 140 ppm) and water temperature should remain between 75° and 80° F. If the aquarium is kept in rooms below 75°, use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain the correct temperature.
Can dwarf gourami live with angelfish?
Dwarf Gourami are great tank mates for Angelfish, but make sure to keep your eye on how they interact. If your Angelfish is especially territorial or aggressive, Dwarf Gourami might not be the best choice. They are so docile that they often let other fish bully them.
Can gouramis live with tetras?
Any tetra species that shares the same water requirements will get along just fine with a dwarf gourami. Many species are brightly colored and very active, so they’re an interesting addition to a home aquarium. As schooling fish, tetras must be kept in groups or they’ll become unhappy.
Can you keep two male dwarf gouramis together?
They’re social fish that feel secure in large groups. You can keep a pair of male and female dwarf gourami together. You can also keep two female dwarf gouramis together. However, you can’t keep two males together as they will fight for territory.
Can gourami live with goldfish?
Dwarf gourami and goldfish can coexist, but it is best to have a small number of each fish, so they don’t compete for food. They are both sturdy, hardy creatures that can handle various conditions in their aquatic environment. Fortunately, there isn’t much difference between dwarf gourami and goldfish regarding caring.
Do gourami eat snails?
Labyrinth fish, such as Bettas and Gouramis, will also eat snails. However, they are not as adept at tracking them down in the gravel.
Can bettas and gouramis live together?
No, betta fish cannot be kept with gouramis. But what if you’re keeping female bettas with pearl gouramis (Trichopodus leerii), one of the more peaceful species of gourami? Still no. While these fish might come from the same family, they are not compatible tank mates in the aquarium hobby.
What goes with gouramis?
- Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus sp.)
- Dwarf Crayfish (Cambarellus sp.)
- Kuhli Loach (Pangio spp.)
- Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii)
- Amano Shrimp (Caridina japonica)
- Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda)
- Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)
- Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus)
- Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)
- Otocinclus Catfish (Otocinclus sp.)
- Pygmy Corydoras
- Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)
- Other Gourami
Why is my dwarf gourami staying at top of tank?
As such, gouramis tend to hang out near the water surface, so they can take their supplemental oxygen. A gourami hanging out near the bottom of an aquarium is a sign that something has gone wrong with the fish.
How many dwarf gouramis Can I put in a 10 gallon tank?
They need plenty of plants, including floating plants, and choosing a dark substrate will help to display their colors. You can keep three Dwarf Gouramis in a 10-gallon tank, or just one with a school of other peaceful fish, such as five Neon Tetras.
How can you tell the gender of a dwarf gourami?
Females have a rounded belly compared to the males. However, the dorsal (top) fin is the most distinctive difference that can be seen between males and females. The dorsal fin of the female is short and rounded, while the male has a longer dorsal fin that comes to a point.
Will dwarf gourami eat platy fry?
If your platy fry are small enough to fit into the gouramis or the cherry barbs mouths then they will be eaten 90% guaranteed but if you let them grow so that they are bid enough that they don’t fit into the other fishes mouths and you think they are fast enough to get away from the other fish then it is possible.