Dwarf Gouramis: A Few Thoughts On My experience With Them

Here's some thoughts about my experience keeping Dwarf Gouramis (DG). This is my Powder Blue with Corydoras and Otocinclus catfish and Neons.

[@xXfrazzzXx]

expert tip: dont spend too much time cleaning the tank after about 5 minutes with my hand in the tank my gourami will take a nibble. I didnt raise that boy right

[@gurinderpreetsingh1256]

Mine just likes to come chill near my hand. He doesn’t really freak out over anything besides his reflection, but that just means I can’t get another Gourami 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@kinglyzard]

Cause of death: Gourami bite :p

[@blockednostril9739]

I have a group of eight thick lipped gourami, very similar to your dwarf or honey gourami, hand in the tank they all come up and have a good nibble on me lol. Eight fish trying to eat you all at once is an odd sensation lil

[@MiraSubieGirl]

Its crazy how kind and gentle some Gourami are, (Honeys, Chocolates) and how angery crazy bad some are. (Paradises, Spots, hell even Dwarfs)

[@smokeheLoN]

@@gurinderpreetsingh1256 mines is a pretty boy he will sit there for hours and stare at himself and as soon as food hits the water HE WILL GO TO TOWN ON THE FOOD and go right back to looking at himself and then he will go swim around and chill and bother the angles but not fighting or anything he just follows them around like a puppy😂

[@missylee3022]

My honey gouramis are sweet to everyone. They're the exception.

[@willisfernandes2366]

Can they live without an air pump, since their a labyrinth organ fish????

[@dmichaelsfishden]

Beautiful Dwarf Gouramis - just love your videos, Dan. Simple, to the point, always informative. Keep up the great work. 👍 💯

[@dragon6irl]

7:16 "Avoid keeping them with fin-nipping tank mates..." **gourami bites corycat**

[@itsgeo752]

My dwarf gourami bites algae

[@reido_dorito]

@@heterodox3251 My Goldie once bit my mom when she tried to feed him, lol.

[@toesy7902]

Elizabeth Ann My dwarf gourami bit my angelfish and the angelfish ripped its tail in half

[@Kazztastrophe]

Biting the corycat will only serve to injure the Gourami anyway, they are sharply plated and release a toxin when stressed.

[@ayoq2daily]

KazzyAngel but the dwarf glutamine bit it’s fin not it’s body

[@dn7096_]

Probably the most beautiful one I've seen.

[@djgarcia1956]

I bought one and was not sure if I should buy another one and I am so glad I watched this video thanks alot brother appreciate it!!

[@matt1275]

Wish I would of seen this before I bought 2!

[@bangcao5537]

Me too. Kill few of my guppies....

[@kassy1976731]

My 2 get along great. They are very calm fish. Maybe we lucked out with ours.

[@adamglltt89]

I just bought 3. Hopefully I have enough plants to calm them down.

[@merchantotin6266]

brought 3, 1 died because of the shock but the other 2 fight all the time ( I am new to them so I’m working on it)

[@Theodosius18]

I had three, one constantly invade other' space, and back fin get torn off, eventually passed away from its wound even i treated it with antibiotics. other two proceed to kill one cherry rasboras, and blind another one. I removed those mf, and plan to send them back to the aquarium who told me they are peaceful fish!

[@richardpreece1199]

I have 2 males and 4 females in my 75g community tank. I have never had any issues with them towards the other fish. Very peaceful. I recommend getting floating plants for them. It's really sweet watching the male building a bubble nest.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I've never seen one build a nest.

[@richardpreece1199]

Unfortunately, all the other fish eat the eggs. Including the male.

[@esteven60]

Dan Hiteshew yeah it’s probably because the plants u have in the video. They prefer floating plants. Mines is always busy making a nest. Trying to find a female for him

[@siobhonphillips2295]

I spent loads of money on dwarf water lettuce and frogbit for my DG and he loved it-for a while until he managed to eat pretty much all of it lol. After watching your vids I decided to try some water sprite and literally within 24 hours my gourami was beavering away like a fish possessed and built the most awesome bubble nest :-)

[@QueendomCome621]

I successfully kept two together in a tank without issue. I love them...beautiful colors.

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

QueendomCome same! Im thinking of adding a 3rd but idk

[@emilymoazen124]

@@lljohnnyboyll3067 i know this was 2 years ago but i still wouldn’t recommend because 2 of them would bully 1 out it happened with mine

[@TunedRAMS]

You are 100% correct, I have 4 of them in a 40 gal and they chase each other quite often, very territorial and have bullied/killed one of my hatchet fish, guppie and my betta. They’re mildly aggressive.

[@laniehutchison239]

Gotta love dwarf gouramis!

[@kristinajofish8209]

Thank you for telling us your experience on dwarf gourami

[@CJ480_R3AP3R.]

I have 3 male baby Gouramis w/ three Neon Tetras in a 10G tank currently. They are all extremely calm and communal! Already bought a 125 gallon for when they grow!

[@danielasselin9289]

Awesome video I'm new the the aquarium and this was very informative and I'm getting me one of these fish!!! TODAY!!!!

[@Silver_Creek_Aquatics]

Dwarf Gourami, Powder Blue, Honey, and Flame Gourami are like happy little puppies in my 40! They have multiple areas to hide with Pothos running all along the top. It gives them so many hiding places, and different territories to claim. Very seldom do they even chase each other. I have 2 Dawrf, 2 Powder Blue, 4 Honey(regular, fire, and the very pale variant that my ignorance won't allow me to remember), 1 Pearl, 1 Flame, with some serpae tetra, and white skirts. A smaller Pleco, and 4 small corydoras. Without skipping a beat, every time I get my hand near the tank, they go absolutely nuts. I feed them by hand, and they will swim and rub against my hand. I can even chase them with my hand, and they don't even swim away. Total trust, and total love. Do it right, and these are water puppies. The serpae are notorious fin nippers, but I have had zero issues in 6 months of them settled. But, they have massive amounts of live plants and rock cave area. It's like my 37 gallon community tank. Fun, active and water puppies!! Gouramis=Love

[@Silver_Creek_Aquatics]

This tank IS on a sump as well, so don't worry ..lol

[@Leo-g7o1d]

Good info. thanks

[@SCHEY101]

You don't need a big tank to enjoy this hobby. This is a nice selection.

[@matthewsands1453]

Thanks Dan. Gouramis are my favourite feature fish too. I'm considering buying some dwarfs for my 30 gallon so I was grateful for your insights into male aggression. Thanks

[@joeschneider8025]

I have 5 in my tank with no problem. Along with 20 tiger bars. Six Dennison barbs 5 albino Cory dories. All is good.

[@roxannat89]

YAY loved this video, I just purchased a powdered blue dwarf gourami, that I’m loving he already knows when I’m going to feed it at the surface. He’s also in a 10G and I have him by himself for now, I want to add a few harlequin rasboras in there and a few peppered Cory catfish

[@FionaclarkClark]

My honey gourami is in with 6 harlequin rasbora,and there's no issues, peaceful together.

[@raff5604]

I have all kinds of Dwarf Gouramis in the same tank and they get along great.

[@ericqian461]

Like the setup of you're 10 gallon tank.

[@johncameron4194]

Looks great

[@anthonysfishtank9800]

love your set up I just bought a dwarf gourami for my 20 gallon which lives with 2 white skirt tetra , 2 Buenos Aires tetra and an African dwarf frog 🐸

[@VelvetKisses1986]

Hey, how does your gourami get on with the ADF? Are they ok together? Only asking as I’m thinking of getting a gourami and a couple of ADF’s 😊

[@anthonysfishtank9800]

Domini Finch I have two ADF in my tank now and they don’t get bothered by my dwarf Gourami ... I heard the full grown gouramis are more aggressive than the dwarf ones but I’m not to sure but they will do fine just make sure ADF has hiding places

[@lauracorrigan9604]

Very informative and well said

[@johncameron4194]

Great video

[@clearegtower9468]

Great video, man! I appreciate the info! Gouramis are definitely entertaining fish. So much personality. :)

[@EpicExpeditions889]

In the fish shop the gouramis are sold in pair from a tank full of gouramis.

[@BeeKayCee911]

Thank You I'm just about Done cycling 👍

[@julierawlins5984]

I have a 40 gallon breeder. I bought a dwarf gourami, liked him so much I went back and bought the last one left in the tank at Petco. I thought that since there were several in the Petco tank that it would be ok to have 2 of them in a 40 gallon. I do see that one is hanging at the top of the tank and the other is cowering in the plants and rocks. I will keep an eye on them for aggression.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

40 gallons should be big enough that they can stay separated, but make sure there's plenty of stuff to break up lines of sight, so the bullied one can hide.

[@ICE-Man-187]

Like your vids, good approach to fish keeping. Keep up the good work!

[@StoneAquatics]

Have mine in a 20 tall planted tank… have some cherry barbs and white cloud minows with mine! Love him one of my favorites I build him his own tank when all my other community tanks nipped his barbels

[@aldeeezyy930]

I have two guormis in a ten gallon. They get along real well

[@declanlawson4515]

Aldeeezyy are they same sex or opposite sex?

[@aldeeezyy930]

Declan Lawson I believe they’re the same but I have them in a 20 gallon now and forgot to mention they’re dwarf guormis

[@lindaford8513]

I had purchased 4- 2 blue and 2reddish. The salesman told me they were very gentle and his Mom loved them. HA!!! These llittle guys will kill each other and now I know why my cats are acting freaky! Thanks Dan!

[@christianmaurice5082]

One of my favorite fish! I have three right now

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

CJ Maurice all in the same tank? Howd it go? I have 2 in my 13gallon and im thinking of adding a 3rd

[@MarkusGehlhaar]

Great informative video. Thanks

[@ffejkk37]

Yeap, you're correct. The new honey Gourami is not playing with others.

[@madScientist99]

I have 3 red dwarft gouramis in 20gallon tank and they never fought ,& they are very peaceful 🥺

[@bonniebiancardi1829]

Glad I found your video on these fish. I was thinking about them for a 40b.

[@TalesByAJ]

I have two males along with 6 sunset platies, 6 bronze corys, 2 otos and 16 neon tetras in my 35 gal. At first the platies were ganging up on the gouramis, as every fish tend to bully new ones, but they have all calmed down and going well with each other.

[@rev.jesseabelchristianlife6693]

I have 2 males in my 20 gallon and there is no aggression seen. However they came from a store where they were in a tank with about 15 of them together. Maybe my batch was raised that way not sure. In any case, I'm fortunate with my pair.

[@kimuseni]

Thanks

[@pkrail]

Sadly one of my two blue dwarfs bullied the other and it died.. and that was in a 75 gal well planted tank with lots of cover and and hiding spaces. It was like the aggressor was always stalking him.

[@alscritters156]

Yeah, they are basically like male bettas, I wouldn't suggest keeping multiple unless in a minimum tank size of 75, and heavily planted(jungle type).

[@skerbotch]

i have a dwarf and i just added a blue gourami to my pond you think that was a bad idea

[@alscritters156]

@@skerbotch How big is the pond?

[@patriknovak9551]

I have two males in my 15 gallon and they get along pretty good. They sometimes try to fight but mostly they swim around together.

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

Patrik Novák same! Been thinking of adding a 3rd but idk

[@FallGuy-68]

I have a male with 4 guppies and they get along great.

[@sharonletchford9375]

I have 3 dwarf gouamis the larger of them powder blue is a little bossy but the others are OK yet much smaller. My water is well aireated so very rarely go on the surface. I love your tank set up its awesome, I have alot of plants & hiding places for my fish, I ve a community tank. & I am really surprised just how big my powder blue gouami.is. Blood worm seems to make them a little aggressive..I give them varied diet, my guppies are all over the place & I have tiger barbs they all appear to get along OK. I was worried hearing about their feelers I would not want any thing tto cause them to be unhappy. Thanks for sharing this advise. 🙌

[@Kobibear1]

I'm a little late to the party🎉 but thank you for this video, very helpful. I have a 10 gal that I plan on trying these with, after it cycles ofcourse

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Good luck!

[@robinsinger86]

I had to learn the hard way that they don't get along with dwarf ram cichlids either, I had my fire dwarf kill one of mine recently. A single one will also be killed if it's put into a tank with larger gouramis such as the three spot and opaline. Edit: I would also recommend duckweed for a good surface plant for them, the two I currently have love it, it's easy to cultivate, and multiplies quickly to form a colony and looks great!

[@SusanforSLCAquatics]

Dan I appreciate the info on the dwarf gouramis. I will do more research before buying one since I have guppies in most of my tanks. I am still hoping to get that 37tall soon and would love to see a beautiful blue dwarf gourami in that tank. :D

[@nathanlovato5703]

I have 25 of them in one 55 gal and I have no problems

[@FionaclarkClark]

Iv a dwarf gourami ( had 2 but one died,think faulty tank heater, came with new tetra 54 litre tank and it was set at 24 degrees, ) bought adjustable heater and tank fine at 26 ,so remaining gourami in tank with 7 harlequin rasboras,4 glowlight tetras ,and he is a character ! Will spit water at you ! Think easier to keep than Bettas ? Had a Betta for 4 years who did well on Hikari Betta food.

[@adrians6902]

Thank Your For Information

[@morganross6399]

I have 2 neon blue males, 8 cobalt blue (2 males, 6 females), and 10 honey (all males) gouramis in the same tank. They seem to get along really well. No sign of aggression at all.

[@lementime]

I watch your channel all the time for cray fish stuff now I look up a certain fish and again this guy has it geez keep it up!

[@kinziemahlstede9813]

I had two dwarf Guoramis in my tank along with two mollies, and the two guoramis were perfect with eachother, they were best buds and followed eachother everywhere. I guess I just got lucky lol. Never nipped or got aggressive.

[@joecooper2263]

I have 3 in a 15 gallon and had no knowledge of this. I have enough real plants and wood to keep them happy I suppose. They don’t bug my white skirts so it’s a happy tank glad it works! Might not work for everyone so I’d be careful

[@Pat2296]

I kept my dwarf gourami with Cherry barbs, which are one of the very few barbs that will not bother any other fish, ever. In fact they're quite timid. I had a much bigger tank - 30 gals - and would not recommend the cherry barbs/gourami in a small tank, only because the barbs are very active and may disturb the gourami.

[@rayreggie03]

Like all things about fish, it varies by fish. I've had 2 males in a 36 for months with no issues. Theyre now In a 55 with 3 more pearl gouramis and no issues.

[@krista604]

I’ve got 4 guppies with a dwarf gourami and they seem to get along fine

[@Cdamian17]

Guppies and gouramis always get along, the problem happens with other gouramis sometimes

[@Desminique09]

I bought female and Male from my pet store. They was in the same tank. I put them in the tank with electric blue johanni. They are peaceful together

[@nunyabiz.fofffoff]

My flame gourami pair get along very well and recently bred. A 29 gallon is perfect for a pair . Heavily plant the tank and use hornwort floating. Everyone has a different experience sometimes but gourami can be kept together but you should always have more females in the tank than males, If you are getting more than one or a pair. Peaceful fish only. I made a mistake and put two female betta in the tank and they were fine until breeding began and they tried to eat all the eggs, so I had to get rid of the betta fyi. Enjoy!!

[@AutoSpaceCo]

I have 4 male dwarf gaurami in my tank and they get along just fine!

[@marksguitars5617]

you're right on, they are betta's cousin, only gourami I was able to keep that were pretty peaceful amongst themselves were Pearl gouramis and Dwarf honey. Never kept those sparkling or chocolates but hear they can be kept in a group

[@RedrumTV5150]

My blue dwarf looks just like yours. I had him with a few other fish in a 45gl. The tank went down hill and he was the last fish barley surviving so I quarenteened him in a 5gl for a couple weeks to recover. Now he is back in the 45gl with 2, 3 spot gauramis. He chased the 2, 3 spot gauramis around for a hr or so when I first introduced them into the tank, but their like best buddies now, and dont fight at all.

[@Slickpuller921]

I just purchased two of them,they were already together,also purchased some buddies for them mollies. But they have plenty of room in 55 gallon tank

[@nathanieljohnston9868]

Great looking tank man!

[@loganleduc]

After my gold opaline gourami lily died I haven’t owned gourami’s in awhile so it’s gonna be fun

[@michaelamitchell2146]

I have two dwarfs gouramis they are perfect together they are also with guppies, mollys, barbs and tetras all good together 😁

[@willisfernandes2366]

Neon blue gourami lives without oxygen??

[@mattl3086]

My dwarf gourami (pretty sure it’s a female from a local fish store) didn’t try to go up to get food for at least a month. And just overnight it started going to the top for flakes, pellets and bug bites.

[@kjeldlarsen912]

Just waiting for you to say : mmkaay 😉 thanks for the video👍 love it

[@MasterAquatics]

great video dan.

[@ratboy240sx]

I have 2 boy dwarf gourmies in a 20g with 6 neons and there all chill together and I don’t see much aggression from the gourmies and probably going to throw another 6 to 10 more neon in the tank but nice tank love the set up

[@mollychrisa1]

Thanks 💓🤩WOW 💓

[@finleycarr9313]

Dang that is a thiccccc dwarf gourami

[@julia27bonita]

i have a male and a female and they are in a 10 gallon with other fish and they do pretty well.

[@lucianogarza7036]

Both my gourami fish are swimming buddies.. in a 20gal

[@yanilparedes]

My LPS said 2 Gouramis would be okay with my molly community... Next time I will do my own research! Now my Gouramis are beat up I'm trying to heal them in another tank.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Yeah, gouramis usually don't get along.

[@danruben1735]

I have two males and they do good in 10 gal

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

Dee Money same! Been thinking of getting a 3rd but idk

[@codysatterfield9541]

I have 3 male dwarfs and they all get along with no problems.

[@nicksteele1611]

I have a 75 and upgraded from a 29 and even then my 2 dwarfs have always hung out together...both are males and have never even fought or kissed

[@jagadishp1249]

Very apt information. Sadly i just lost one of my male gourami to a bully

[@JesusGomez-qg8kd]

I have four of them in my 36 gallon tall aquarium 👍

[@maggiemcnamara918]

I have a 250L tank and I went to buy a dwarf gourami and the guy told me that they don’t like being alone (meaning I had to buy two). I did some research before buying the fish (as you should do with anything you buy) and knew they were semi aggressive and didn’t think they should be kept together. Anyway I ended up buying two (powder blue and flame) and they got along fine but don’t believe everything a pet store employee tells you

[@mtbt0mmy656]

I got 2 Gouramis in my 10 gallon tank with 3 guppies and there fine there best mates

[@TunedRAMS]

My DG attacks and destroys my plants, like violently. I thought it was my Pleco. I have two DG’s in my semi aggressive community tank. They’re small but they can handle their own. And I just saw my peacock eel attacking the same plant smh Cool video man

[@Thiago4Jazz]

Dwarf Gouramies are naturally prone to have constipation very easily! People in their native countries (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) know it well. It is imperative to give them very small flakes in small amounts twice a day. Those guys eat zooplankton in their natural habitat. It is craziness to give them those enormous flakes! These fish are vicious with food. They eat everything before other fish get their share. Many people lose them very soon because of excessive/bad quality food. And don't keep them in pH above 8,0!!! There are scientific studies about this species showing that the proper pH range is 6,5 to 7,5. It is ok to give them high protein diet (especially during breeding stage for both male and female), balanced with algae material of course. Or just keep natural plants in the tank, in which will naturally grow some algae that those fish love to eat. In this way You'll have a balanced diet.

[@MiraSubieGirl]

I have a Male Paradise Fish, Male Dwarf Gourami, 3 unknown gender Chocolate Gourami, and a Juvenile orange Dwarf Gourami Male. 60gal, Long. Its very possible! But I dareday its tricky to setup... trial and error. I get zero aggression :) just about.

[@marthanewsome6375]

I have a huge paludarium and getting 8 flames. I have plenty of plants and spaces and it is dim lit, full of low light plants so hoping a bigger group in a big tank will be okay. If not I have some other options if need be.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

A big tank should be ok.

[@beckiel3211]

I didn't know that Gourami are not friendly. I just bought 5 of them and the pet shop didn't tell me that they might among each other. Oh dear

[@bruhbliq]

I have two males and I just saw them establish territory in my plants

[@d.5497]

I have this color Dwarf Gourami and 2 male Platy in my tank. They get along well and don't bother eachother, but sometime the dwarf will charge at the Platys when they are in his purview and the Platys swim away quickly and things are fine again. lol

[@donovanwisdom310]

I actually have five gouramis in a heavily planted 55, but only two are dwarfs. I have a pearl and two golds. I know it's unusual, but the golds are inseparable. I have found that growing some pathos plants out of the top of the tank with the roots dangling makes a great hang out for them.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I've had social 3 spot gouramis, but it's definitely the exception, not the rule. Lol

[@donovanwisdom310]

Dan Hiteshew I really like the Paradise and the Licorice Gouramis as well. I’m also thinking of doing a nano tank with Sparkling Gouramis. They are for sure my favorite! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqq7lHmCat9-ic0

[@mellewedin8221]

I should have watched this video before I saved 4 of them. They where all in a 10 gallon tank. Now they are in my 40breeder that is a lil heavy with live plants. They have destroyed my lilies, and a few other big leafed plants in my tank. They have stripped the wood of the moss ball that I glued to it. One of them has a pretty big wound on his left side ans few holes in fins. I am guessing it all from fighting. They have all chilled out a bit. But I think that one male is going to have to him In his own tank.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Probably. I know some people claim to have successfully kept multiple DG in a tank, but I never did.

[@Bigbully88]

There the most calm fish in my tank. I have 2 in my tank they get along fine but that's because they are brothers 😂😂

[@carsandquads7253]

Drips Avill my brother has two dwarf gouramis that chill together I only bought one because my tank is a little smaller but I went and bought another dwarf and a powder blue because I’m about to upgrade to a bigger tank I hope mine stay chill and my girlfriend just got three three spot gouramis for her huge tank so I hope they are ok in there too I’m new to the hobby but my current gourami has been awesome with my danios so far

[@benjaminwild9713]

How big is your tank?

[@panik8867]

It's true though for all what you said. But, I have a 36 gallon tank, and they seem just fine. A couple gouramis, pair of mollies, guppies, goldfish, angelfish, etc. It's true that they're always in the food lol. 1 thing in mind for most fish: - females are more simpel & less vibrant colors - males are more vibrant colors & shows more beauty If you want a playful fish, get a female, if you want a fish of it's beauty, get a male.

[@KingOfScipii_Online]

I've got two Powder Blues in my 75gal they chase each other from time to time but they actually school...and they don't flare their fins or act aggressive. They usually stick pretty close to one another and seem like good buds. But when they chase you'd need a 55+ so they don't get stressed.

[@Thomas.T8]

I have sliding glass to prevent my ropefish and butterfly fish from jumping out. I dont think its dry air. Between the glass braces and glass there are gaps. I have a snakeskin in my tank too. Maybe a pearl or moonlight might work. My tank is 378lt

[@adriannaskenadore1961]

Me watching this with three dwarfs that are constantly fighting in my 20 gallon & planning on breeding guppies to put with them : 👁👄👁

[@sr-hd3bz]

they build such a cool nest