two questions about pearl gouramis

[emilyekk]

I have a 55 gallon and I would like to have pearl gouramis as my "centerpiece fish".

I was planning to get two, is there a specific male/female ratio that the pearl gourami needs to stay happy and peaceful? I know, for instance, guppies need a 4/1 female/male ratio and I don't know much about gourami's so I wanted to ask.

My tentative stocking plan is this:
12 cory cat fish
15 neon tetra
8 glo fish
8 cherry barbs
5 balloon mollies

Is 2 the maximum number of pearl gouramis I could get with the above stocking?

Thanks for your input on all the above questions!!! :read:

 

[andyjs]

I think you could do a male and 1 or 2 females.

 

[Lupin]

A 55g can fit three. Why not do two females and a male?

 

[ksane]

Male Gouramis don't pick at each other like the Golds and Blues. They're pretty laid back and gentle. I had 6 males with 2 females and they literally never fought or chased. That sure wan't the case with my Blues. In a 55 g you could easily have 6-8 Pearl Gouramis. 4 male and 4 female would work fine.

 

[ksane]

I just read the other answers. Seriously, you guys? Only 3 Pearls in a 55 g tank?? People commonly put 5 Discus or 5 Angels in a 55 g. Pearl Gouramis are a heck of a lot smaller. I guess it'd be easier to keep nitrates under control with only 3 Gouramis in a 55 g

 

[saram521]

I agree with Lup on a 2fm/1m ratio. I've heard from other aquarists who have kept a male with just one female that the male harasses the female too much at times, stressing her out. With two females, the possible over-assertion from a male is dispersed so that neither female gets overly stressed. You might also consider keeping just one male as well. I would however not keep more than one male, esp. with no females around. They can kill one another once fully grown and sexually mature.

Side note: I would reconsider the number of balloon mollies you're wanting to keep if you'll be getting 2 or 3 pearl gouramies.

 

[saram521]

I just read the other answers. Seriously, you guys? Only 3 Pearls in a 55 g tank?? People commonly put 5 Discus or 5 Angels in a 55 g. Pearl Gouramis are a heck of a lot smaller. I guess it'd be easier to keep nitrates under control with only 3 Gouramis in a 55 g

People who keep 5 discus in 55's usually don't keep them there forever. If they do, they're probably doing alot of tank maintenance to keep the water quality up. Juvenile discus don't like large tanks and feel uncomfortable in them, and you may have seen young discus being kept in 55's.

5 angels will usually not last in a 55 either. As adults, they're pretty aggressive with one another, and a 55 is far too small to allow for each angel or each pair of angels to have their own territory w/o wanting to kill one another. People do keep multiple angels in 55's and under, but often do move them as the aggression level rises.

Pearl gouramis grow to 4.5-5 inches, about the same size as angels. They're not that much smaller in reality.

In a 55 g you could easily have 6-8 Pearl Gouramis. 4 male and 4 female would work fine.

That may be true, if pearl gouramis are the only fish you'll be keeping in the 55. Pearls need more than 5g each to thrive and grow properly.

 

[emilyekk]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys.

I have to keep the balloon mollies because I already have 5 and my boyfriend and my nephews LOOOOVE the mollies, lol. So they have to stay.

I have also read that you can't really find pearl FEMALE gouramis that easily, is that true? If it is - would it be okay to just get all males? Or will that result in tension.

With the stocking I had listed above, you guys think it's okay to get as many as 5 pearls? Really? If so that'd be awesome, lol. I was assuming my limit was 2.

 

[saram521]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys.



I have also read that you can't really find pearl FEMALE gouramis that easily, is that true? If it is - would it be okay to just get all males? Or will that result in tension.

With the stocking I had listed above, you guys think it's okay to get as many as 5 pearls? Really? If so that'd be awesome, lol. I was assuming my limit was 2.

It is sometimes difficult do differentiate between male and female pearls who are still pretty young. Only males will develop a light to deep orange coloration below their mouths. As stated above, I would not have more than one male, esp. with no females around. Males are aggressive towards one another and will try and destroy each other. I would strongly suggest getting no more than 2-3 pearls with the stock you plan on keeping. Just know that the mollies will grow to about 3-4 inches each.

 

[emilyekk]

Yes unfortunately I picked 1 female balloon molly about 2 months ago and she had babies about a month ago... so, now I have 4 babies, one momma. lol. If she has anymore however, I won't be keeping them.

If it were up to me - I probably would not have even gotten the mollies but its my boyfriend (who I live withs) favorite fish, so since the tank is in the home we share - he got to pick 1 fish... lol of course she ended up have 4 more. *sigh*.

I think I will probably only get 2 pearls then... it worries me that I won't be able to tell the males from females if they are young. If I get two males that would suck. Is there any way to tell other than the orange spot?