Readers Respond: Have you kept a Dwarf Gourami?

Responses: 47

By Shirlie Sharpe, About.com Guide

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i have 5 dwarf gourami(2 dwarf,2 powered blue,1 neon red and all male they are ok
—Guest yao

I have kept a number of Dwarf Gouramis in the past. As an inexperienced fishkeeper I had a naturally coloured pair for eighteen months, they spawned but the eggs were eaten. The femal died about two and a half years after I got them. I never had much luck with the red variety, losing four or five to wasting disease at various points during the last thirty years or so, when there was clearly a problem with far east imports (angels went the same way for a while). There are some brilliantly coloured males around at the moment but my guess would be that not only are they intensively farmed, possibly with the use of hormones but that they are also at least a year old at the size I see them. I am sorely tempted to try one as they are beautiful but male to male aggression is pretty obvious in the shops and the lager females don't make it to the shops. My most long lived pair were naturally coloured and were with me for two and a half years. After two years they appeared to age quickly.
—Guest Joe Mersey

Had him for 2 weeks now, mix well with platies! Should I add another dwarf gourami?
—Guest Cool

i have 2 males they get on ok. getting a few tank mates for them tomorrow - can anyone recommend a suitable species? thanks!
—Guest bob7

I just got one yesterday any when I put him in he was scared of my sisters platies today when I feed them he went to the top and is not shy. I love this fish!:)
—Guest Cool

I absolutely love my dwarf gourami, he has a beautiful blue and orange coloring and swims around actively. At first he always hid in the corner where there were tall, dense plants. He never came out and I considered returning him. But when I woke up I was surprised to find him eating and swimming actively. Awesome, beautiful, fishies
—Guest Joe

I have recently purchased two male gourami's and added them to my 120 litre tank. They share it with 3 guppies 10 fry and 2 tetra's. They were fine for first couple of days and now all of a sudden the flame gourami has started bullying my blue one. Should I return one of them or see if he settles down?
—Guest Rachee

I had a perfect tank... until the weather changed and I wasn't home to help combat the heat. Tank crashed, all fish died, even my "pet" dwarf. Restarted tank, added powder blue dwarf this time and a few tetras and guppies. Added in fine, in the morning, the dwarf was the lone survivor. I returned the deceased, replaced them, and the same result was achieved, lone dwarf. I upgraded to hardier barbs and they seemed just fine...then, overnight when I'm not looking, bam, they're all dead in the am. I've had my water checked, all normal. The fishstore 'experts' think my tank needs more time to restart, and yet, the dwarf is happy as a clam to be by himself! Not a care in the world as he swims alone! While I like him just fine, I'm kind of bummed I can't seem to ramp up some variety in the tank. I don't dare add anything else for quite some time... I'm convinced he's a killer fish... wether he's on the attack or he's simply 'emitting an air of death'! lol!
—Guest frustrated

I currently have my male powder blue DG in his own tank now because after his fins were sucked off my my algae eater he got very sick hes doing well now but i am weary to add any females for him to swim with because DG adenovirus seems to have plagued them :( Be careful with these fish because when you buy them they seem healthy and they will be dead within a few days!
—Guest laren

1. Males should NOT be kept together, unless you have a very large tank and multiple females per male. 2. Males are colorful (powder blue, neon red, flame); females are silver to olive green. 3. 20+ gallons is the optimal tank size. 4. To reduce stress, they should be kept in a tank with LIVE floating plants (such as hornwort) 5. Never believe the kid at the LFS. Do your research before you get to the store!
—Guest Robert

I don't know why everyone on this page is having bad luck with them but I have had my 4 dwarf gouramis for almost 2 years now and they are doing grate. I have a 30 gallon tank with allot of plants and other tetra fish ( dimond,blood tetra ex) there hasn't bin any fighting or deaths must be something right I'm doing I also foun them very hardy fish to :(
—Guest Bryan

I just got a new Blue Powder Gourami with 2 Balloon Belly Mollies and a Micky Mouse. They are doinh great and none are territorial. DOING GREAT!
—Guest Tazz

I have purchased 4 of these beautiful fish, 1 red and 2 blue - they have all died. 1st to die had an ulcer on its head so purchased frozen brine shrimp which is supposed to keep them from getting ulcers. The other 3 that died had no signs of ulcers or any other illness. They just up and died. Very reluctant to buy more now.
—Guest Fish mom

I bought a blue powder boy and then a blue and red one..thought it was a boy too but I was wrong. We now have eggs!! I have 60Litres tank set with 26 C and lots of plants
—Guest Crissy

Shirlie Sharpe
Freshwater Aquariums Guide