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I have a recently cycled 29 gallon tank that I've just begun to stock. Right now the only inhabitants are 7 Harlequin Rasboras. I have always admired the Pearl Gourami, and have always wanted to try them, but never have. Would these two species work together? Would I be best going with only a pair (male/female?). My pH is a little around 7.8, and like I said, the tank is cycled. Should these be the next fish I should add to the tank? My full plans are probably going to be:

7 Harlequin Rasboras (maybe add an 8th for a nice round number)
2 Pearl Gouramis
1-3 of some type of loach for the bottom (haven't decided)

Would that leave room for anything else? I don't want to overstock, and don't really want to push the stocking limit much at all. Any help is appreciated.

yea it should be fine.

Thanks for the reply!

KoN_mkII,

Yes, they will be fine together.

I have 100 Harlequin rasbora espei (smaller, slightly different species than the standard rasbora) and 2 pearls in my 125G.

I would be a little worried about 2 pearls in a 29G in general though. It just might be that one will chase the other one into a corner in which that fish would have to hang out all day. Something like this happened to my 2 pearls in the 20G Long QT. But, it doesn't have to be that way, just be prepared.

Ingo

EDIT: oh - and just in case you don't know that, here is how to sex them:

Juvenile pearls can be sexed by looking at their dorsal fin. The males is a little longer and more pointy towards the back, the females is rounder and shorter. Adult Pearls are easily sexed as the male develops a yellow to orange throat.

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Thank you for the help! Hopefully I won't have a problem with them chasing each other. The tank does have some nice cover though just in case.

A pair of Pearl Gourami will be fine in a 29 gal. tank.


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Like Little_Fish mentioned, a male pearl may chase the female around and the female may take to hiding all the time. This is currently the case in my 30 gal. with one male pearl and 2 females. I'm considering getting more females to disperse the bullying, but I may well end up with a lot of hiding females and a big bully male patrolling the front of the tank. They are beautiful gouramis, social and active, but not as aggressive as some other varieties. Mine do fine with tiny rasboras, tetras, and sparkling gouramis.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

illustrae,

Not an expert on many females to male Gourami here, but I doubt that this would work. Your tank size is limited and too many may conclude in even the females going after each other with serious results. The male will claim his territory and it will be the question if he permits the female into it.

I would think that there is a medium chance that one of your existing females will eventually be "booted".

Let's hope I am wrong,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What about Moonlights instead? They do get a little bigger (inch or so) longer than the Pearls, so that would restrict my stocking capabilities. Would they be aggressive toward each other in this size tank?

Stock would then be
7 Harlequin Rasboras
2 Moonlights (or only 1)?

I probably wouldn't have much room for anything else would I? Maybe a few Khuli Loaches, or Oto's?

Hey Little_Fish,
You're right, Adding more fish is probably not the right answer (if only that weren't true!) My male has been quarrantined since I did my replanting, and the females are still hiding pretty much all the time except to come out and grab a bit to eat before disappearing behind the filter again. I'm not sure if there's anything I can do.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

IMO Moonlights get too big for a 29.

How About
7 Harlequin Rasbora
1 Pearl Gourami
4 Kuhlis

Would that work do you think????
(i said the loach because i am assuming you have an asian theme going here)

a sinble moonbeam with no other gouramie, would ptrobaby be maxed. but i dont think it would ness, outgrow a 29.