Compatibility questions

[Carla G]

Has anyone here kept Clowns and Sids together? What was the social structure like? Did they hang out together, or ignore each other?

Also, I'd like to know if rainbow fish and dwarf gourami's would be good tankmates for each other and some loaches, either Sids, Clowns, or both.

Can dwarf gourami's be mixed with honey gourami's without a problem, or would I need to stick to just one pair of gourami's and the rest rainbow fish?

Carla

[Martin Thoene]

I've never kept sids Carla so I can't comment on that. I would suspect that they would tend to live in separate groups.

Gouramis are from still or very slow moving, weed clogged waters which is in direct opposition to the conditions required by Botiid loaches. I do however know of someone who kept Dwarf Gouramis in a heavily planted 120 gallon tank with Clowns and the Gouramis successfully bred and raised fry. However, the conditions were not what we would call optimal for the Clowns.

Rainbows are excellent companions to loaches, but thier lively dispositions would be a bit much for Gouramis I believe.

I'll let someone else answer the Dwarf/Honey compatability question as I don't know the answer. However, it's a moot point if your main focus is on keeping Clowns, sids and Rainbows which ought to work IMO.

Gouramis need a separate, specialized tank to suit thier needs.

Martin.

[mickthefish]

as long as the tank is large enough i can't see a problem keeping the 2 types of gourami's, they might at times sparr-off but with them being so different i should imagine that would be a rare occurence.

sid's are what i call ankle biters, small but they pack a punch, i think one of the best lads to give you a good answer will be mad duff when he gets online.
i keep mine in a sp tank.

mick

[cybermeez]

The only time I've ever seen either of these loaches agressive toward another species is if the other fish initiated the agression. I've kept Clowns, Sids and other Botia together with no problems. Clowns are very good natured fish. Like most loaches, Sids are very active and curious. You'll see them cruising around the tank in "packs" playing and looking for food. I never had a problem with them and at times they would even play with my small school of Kubotai. I doubt the loaches and gouramis will interact much, though you may see the loaches "whisker" the gouramis out of curiosity.

[Diana]

Gouramis are not good tank mates for other Anabantoids. The whole family does not play well with others.

These fish claim a surface territory that they will defend against all other surface dwelling fish.

These are the Gouramis generally thought of as the hardest to keep in any sort of combination. Most of the time they are fine with fish in the lower parts of the tank, and individual fish personality will vary:
Dwarf Gouramis are pugnacious little guys and will highly likely end up killing the Honey Gouramis, which are milder little guys.
The 3-Spot and its color variations (Gold, Cosby and others) are also rather feisty, not to be mixed with other surface fish.
Paradise Fish (Sometimes labeled Paradise Gouramis) are also very aggressive. Best bet is to keep one fish ONLY in a tank, no other tankmates.
Bettas are unpredictable: some are OK as a community fish as long as there are no other top dwellers, others will attack all the other fish in the tank.

More peaceful Gouramis include several species that might be kept in a small group, such as several females, but even here the males are not going to want to share their tank space:
Pearls
Moonlights
Honey

Ways to help the Gouramis include separating the tank surface, for example with tall plants, rocks and driftwood to provide some sort of markers so the fish are more aware of where their territory stops. Does not always work, though.

I have one male Cosby that has claimed all of a 6' long tank.
I have had a Dwarf Gourami attack all the other fish in the tank.
Conversely, I have kept some Gouramis together and not had problems:
1M + 1F Pearl
1M + 1F Moonlight
4 Honeys that are juveniles, just starting to show their sexes.
Several young Bettas, but they are starting to spar, so I have been separating them.
I currently have 1M + 1F Dwarf in a 15 gallon, but the tank is very heavily planted.

Male and female pairings are not a 'better' choice with these fish. Their breeding habits are similar:
The male claims and defends the territory, builds a bubble nest. The female enters his territory, and is there just long enough to breed, then he chases her off. If she is not ready to breed he chases her off. Females eat eggs. The male takes care of the eggs and young fry.
If you want to try several Gouramis get several females. You will have the best possible chance for things to work out. If you end up with a male he might be fine as a juvenile, but as soon as the hormones hit he can become territorial, and aggressive.

[mickthefish]

diana, i have kept and bred these two anabatids in a 48x15x12 luv as long as there are enough floating plants in they were alright,
and as to leeri being peaceful ha!, you must have had a fish that had had a lobotomy.

mick

[MoonPye]

It's very true Bettas are unpredictable. I have had good luck with them. I keep a male in my tropical community tank without any issues. I do keep floating plants for him, in the part of the tank with low current.

As far as gouramis go, I will only tell you my recent experience. I am no expert.. but with gouramis you don't know what you're going to get! LOL I have a 3 spot blue that is WONDERFUL (female) gets along with everyone in her tank. Occasionally will chase a smaller fish for a moment, but it never seems malicious.

I also had a gold which after studying his dorsal I'm pretty sure was a male. He fought with EVERYONE. I tried him in 5 different tanks and he worked out in NONE. I ended up returning him to the store from which he came.

[Carla G]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys! Perhaps a heavily planted corner of the tank with Honey/Sunset gourami's might work, if these are less aggressive. That will give them their own space without compromising the environment of the loaches and rainbowfish.

It's funny, I had fishtanks decades ago, and I kept dwarf, kissing and moonlight gourami's together with absolutely no problem. I'm beginning to think it may be a personality thing, whether they are aggressive or not.

Carla

[Diana]

I would set up separate tanks: One with plenty of water movement for the Loaches, the other with quieter water for the Gouramis.