If you’re looking to add some vibrant color and personality to your aquarium, Dwarf Gouramis are a great choice. These peaceful and hardy fish are easy to care for and come in various stunning colors. However, choosing the right Dwarf Gourami tank mates can be a challenge.
In this article, not only will you learn about the best tank mates for dwarf gouramis, you’ll also learn what to look for and what to avoid as well!
What Are The Best Dwarf Gourami Tank Mates?
When selecting tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis, it’s important to consider their temperament and size to ensure a harmonious environment. Here are some of the best tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis:
1. Neon Tetras
Both Neon Tetras and Dwarf Gouramis are peaceful, relatively small, and prefer similar water parameters. This makes them a great combination for a community aquarium, as they can coexist without any aggression or stress. Additionally, their vibrant colors can create a visually stunning display that can enhance the beauty of any aquarium.
- pH: 4.0 – 7.5
- Temperature: 72 – 78°F
- Tank Size: 15 gallons for a small school of 6-8
- Fish Size: 1.5 inches
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
2. Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras Catfish are excellent tank mates for Dwarf Gourami’s due to their peaceful nature, social behavior, and bottom-dwelling habits. They are well-suited for community aquariums and can live without issues with other peaceful fish. Also, Corydoras are going to be great cleaners for your aquariums substrate, helping to keep the tank clean and healthy.
- pH: 6.0 – 8.0
- Temperature: 68 – 82°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Fish Size: 2.5 inches
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Interested In Corydoras?
3. Harlequin Rasboras
Harlequin Rasboras are also relatively small that prefer similar water parameters to Dwarf Gouramis, making them a great addition to any community tank. Their active and social nature can add an additional layer of liveliness and activity to the aquarium, while their vibrant colors can create a beautiful contrast to the more subdued colors of the Dwarf Gouramis.
- pH: 6.0 – 7.8
- Temperature: 72 – 81°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons for a small school of 5-6
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Interested To Know More About Rasboras?
4. Guppies
Guppies and dwarf gouramis are some of the best tank mates because of their needs for similar water requirements, their temperaments, and their diets. As well as this you’ll know if you’ve ever kept guppies before, just how great they’re going to look in your tank as well.
However, it’s still important to monitor their behavior and provide adequate space and hiding spots to prevent any potential aggression or stress.
- pH: 6.8 – 7.8
- Temperature: 74 – 82°F
- Tank Size: 5 gallons
- Fish Size: 1.5 – 2.5 inches
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
5. Platies
Both Platies and Dwarf Gouramis are small, peaceful, and non-aggressive, so they won’t fight or bully each other. In addition, platies prefer to swim near the middle of the tank, while dwarf gouramis tend to stay closer to the top. As a result, they won’t compete for territory in your tank.
- pH: 6.8-8.5
- Temperature: 70-80°F
- Tank size: 15 gallons or more
- Fish size: 3 inches
- Lifespan: 2-3 years
- Difficulty keeping: Easy
6. Cherry shrimp
Cherry Shrimp enjoy foraging around plants and decorations in your tank. And while your dwarf gouramis will be near the top of your tank, cherry shrimp will stay near the bottom! Also, since Cherry Shrimps thrive in warmer water temperatures than most other fish, it is easier for hobbyists to maintain a compatible habitat for both species simultaneously.
- pH: 6.5 to 8.0
- Temperature: 72-82°F
- Tank size: 5 gallons or more
- Fish size: 1.25 inches
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
- Difficulty keeping: Easy
7. Siamese Algae Eaters
Siamese algae eaters and dwarf gourami’s can make good tank mates thanks to their different dietary and territorial preferences, which reduces the likelihood of aggression and competition between them. One thing to note however, is that Siamese algae eaters can grow quite large, so if you plan on keeping them with your gouramis, make sure the tank is big enough.
- pH: 6.5 to 8.0
- Temperature: 75-79°F
- Tank size: 30 gallons
- Fish size: 6 inches
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Difficulty keeping: Moderate
8. White Cloud Mountain Minnows
Bear in mind that white clouds are active swimmers, while Dwarf Gouramis tend to be more slow-moving, In addition, White Clouds are small enough to avoid bothering Dwarf Gouramis but active enough to provide some interesting movement in the tank.
Overall, if their needs are met, these two species can coexist peacefully and make for a visually appealing and interesting community aquarium.
Just make sure that you’re keeping the tank at the bottom of your gouramis temperature requirements, and the top of the minnows temperature requirements to make this work.
If you do raise the temperature a little above 72°F, it won’t be a problem, however, be warned that it could cause your minnows to start trying to breed.
- pH: 6.0-8.0
- Temperature: 64-72°F
- Tank Size: 15 gallons
- Fish Size: 1.5-inches
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
9. Otocinclus Catfish
- pH: 5.3-7.8
- Temperature: 73-81°F
- Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Fish Size: 1-2 inches
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy to moderate
Otocinclus are small and known for their algae-eating abilities, which can help keep the tank clean. They are also active swimmers that tend to stay near the bottom of the tank, while Dwarf Gouramis prefer to stay near the top or mid-levels of the tank.
So as you can see the biggest benefit of keeping these two in the tank together is that they won’t compete for the same space in the aquarium.
10. Bolivian Rams
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Temperature: 77-82°F
- Tank Size: 30 gallons for a pair
- Fish Size: 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm)
- Lifespan: 4 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy to moderate
Bolivia Rams bottom-dwellers, where as gourami as you know are not which automatically reduces the chances of aggression happening between these two. They are also similar in size, with Bolivia Rams growing up to 3 inches in length, which makes them suitable tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis that typically reach the same size.
11. Zebra Danios
Zebra Danios are known for their lively and peaceful temperament, which complements the calm and docile nature of Dwarf Gouramis. And the best part is they’re rarely aggressive; instead, they can help bring out the best in Dwarf Gouramis by encouraging them to become more active and social in the aquarium.
- pH: 6.5 – 7.5
- Temperature: 64 – 78°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
12. Celestial Pearl Danios
Just like Zebra Danios, Celestial Pearl Danios are small, active schooling fish that typically grow to around 1 inch in length, making them an excellent companion for the smaller Dwarf Gouramis. They are not aggressive toward other fish and are unlikely to compete for territory or resources.
- pH: 6.6 – 7.5
- Temperature: 72 – 78°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons for a small school of 6
- Fish Size: 0.8 inch
- Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
13. Bristlenose Plecos
Bristlenose Plecos are some of my favourite fish, and they’re best known for their ability to clean up algae and other debris in the aquarium. They are also peaceful in nature and are unlikely to cause any problems for Dwarf Gouramis. In fact, the presence of Bristlenose Plecos in the aquarium can help to maintain water quality and prevent the accumulation of harmful waste.
- pH: 6.5 – 7.5
- Temperature: 70 – 80°F
- Tank Size: 29 gallons for a single fish
- Fish Size: 5 inches
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
14. Kuhli Loaches
- pH: 5.5 – 6.5
- Temperature: 75 – 86°F
- Tank Size: 20 gallons for a small school of 6
- Fish Size: 3 – 4 inches
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Moderate
Kuhli Loaches are peaceful and non-aggressive in nature, making them unlikely to cause any problems for Dwarf Gouramis. They are also known for their interesting and entertaining behavior, as they are active and like to burrow in the aquarium substrate.
15. Endler’s Livebearers
- pH: 6.5 – 8.5
- Temperature: 68 – 82°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons for a small school of 6
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 2 – 3 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Endler’s Livebearers are small and active fish, which means they won’t bother the slower-moving Dwarf Gouramis. This is important because Dwarf Gouramis can be easily stressed by fast-moving or aggressive fish. Also, Endler’s Livebearers are great for adding color and movement to the aquarium, making a more exciting and dynamic display.
One thing to note about Endler’s livebearers is that they’re prolific breeders (as you can guess by the name). If you plan on keeping them in the tank, bare in mind that the chances are you’re going to end up with more than you bargained for.
What Tank Mates Should You Avoid With Dwarf Gouramis?
Choosing the right tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis can be challenging. While some fish species can live harmoniously with dwarf gouramis, others may become aggressive or cause stress, leading to health problems or even death. So let’s go over some of the tank mates you should avoid when keeping dwarf gouramis.
Bettas and Dwarf Gouramis are both members of the labyrinth fish family and have similar aggressive and territorial behaviors, especially among males. When housed together, they may view each other as rivals and can become aggressive, leading to fin damage and infection.
(If you’re planning on keeping bettas, check out the 31 best tank mates for them!)
- Angelfish
Angelfish require a larger tank than Dwarf Gouramis, which can create competition for space and resources. Dwarf Gouramis also have long and flowing fins, making them particularly vulnerable to fin nipping and damage from aggressive tank mates like Angelfish.
The aggressive behavior of Tiger Barbs toward Dwarf Gouramis can create stress and result in health problems for the Gouramis. Tiger Barbs are generally fast-moving fish that can outcompete Dwarf Gouramis for food, leading to malnutrition and other health issues.
(If you wanted to keep tiger barbs, there are plenty of tank mates that can fit well with them however!)
- Cichlids
Cichlids have different water requirements than Dwarf Gouramis, making it challenging to maintain a suitable environment for both species in the same tank. They also tend to be larger and a lot more aggressive than Dwarf Gouramis, which can create competition for space and resources.
- Goldfish
Goldfish are cold-water fish, while dwarf gouramis prefer warmer water temperatures. This means they have different environmental needs and cannot thrive in the same tank. Additionally, goldfish are notorious for their large appetites and can outcompete dwarf gouramis for food, which may lead to malnutrition and stunted growth in the latter.
- Rainbow Sharks
Rainbow Sharks are known for their territorial and aggressive behavior, particularly towards fish that resemble them or have similar body shapes. The elongated body and pointed dorsal fin of Dwarf Gouramis can trigger this aggressive behavior in Rainbow Sharks, leading to harassment, stress, and even physical harm.
- Silver Dollar Fish
Silver Dollar Fish can be quite aggressive towards smaller fish, including Dwarf Gouramis, and may nip at their fins or attack them outright. Therefore, it is generally recommended to avoid keeping Silver Dollar Fish and Dwarf Gouramis together in the same aquarium unless the tank is sufficiently large and well-stocked with appropriate hiding places and decor.
- African Cichlids
African Cichlids can be quite large and robust, making them capable of causing serious harm to Dwarf Gouramis, which are smaller and more delicate in comparison. Moreover, African Cichlids require different water chemistry and temperature than Dwarf Gouramis, which makes it challenging to maintain a suitable environment for both species in the same tank.
What To Look For When Choosing Tank Mates For Dwarf Gouramis?
Choosing suitable tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis can be a tedious task, as not all fish species are compatible with them. So, here are some things to consider when making your selection:
Compatibility
Dwarf Gouramis can be aggressive toward other fish of the same species, especially males, so it is best to avoid keeping multiple Dwarf Gouramis in the same tank unless you have a large aquarium with plenty of hiding places and territories.
In addition to that, you should also avoid keeping aggressive or territorial fish species with them, such as cichlids, barbs, and large tetras. They may stress out your Dwarf Gouramis and even cause physical harm or death.
Swimming Behavior
Another essential factor to consider when selecting tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis is swimming behavior. As mentioned earlier, Dwarf Gouramis are slow swimmers who prefer to swim in the middle and upper levels of the aquarium. Therefore, it is best to avoid fast-swimming fish species that may outcompete them for food and cause stress.
On the other hand, bottom-dwelling fish species such as corydoras and loaches may not be the best companions for Dwarf Gouramis, as they occupy the lower levels of the aquarium.
Size
The size of the fish species you choose to keep with your Dwarf Gouramis is also important. Dwarf Gouramis are small fish, and they may be intimidated or even eaten by larger fish species. Therefore, it is best to choose tank mates that are of similar size and temperament.
Diet
Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores, and their diet consists of both plant and animal matter. That’s why it is essential to choose tank mates with similar dietary needs to Dwarf Gouramis. Fish species with vastly different dietary requirements may cause nutritional imbalances or conflicts over food. Small rasboras, tetras, or guppies are excellent choices for tank mates as they share similar dietary requirements with Dwarf Gouramis.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions people have about dwarf gourami tank mates.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis Should Be Kept Together?
Keeping swarf gouramis in groups of 3 or more is ideal for keeping them happy and reducing aggression in the tank. Moreover, this can also prevent a single individual from being targeted by other fish species in the aquarium.
However, it is essential to consider the tank size when keeping Dwarf Gouramis in groups and ensure that there is enough space for each individual to establish their territory and swim comfortably.
Are Dwarf Gourami Good Community Fish?
Dwarf Gouramis are generally considered to be good community fish as they are peaceful and relatively easy to care for. They can coexist with a variety of other peaceful fish species.
However, it is important to choose suitable tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis, taking into consideration factors such as size compatibility, temperament, water parameters, swimming behavior, and dietary needs.
What Fish Should You Avoid Keeping With Dwarf Gouramis?
Aggressive or territorial fish, such as cichlids, should not be kept with Dwarf Gouramis as they may compete and engage in conflict or predation. Fin-nipping fish, such as tetras or barbs, should also be avoided as they can cause stress and injury to Dwarf Gouramis.
Also, fish species with vastly different water parameter requirements should be avoided, which can cause stress and health issues for both species.
Why Is Your Dwarf Gourami Chasing Other Fish?
If your Dwarf Gourami is chasing other fish in the aquarium, it may be a sign of territorial behavior. This behavior is more common in male Dwarf Gouramis during breeding season or when establishing dominance within a community aquarium.
Furthermore, if the aquarium is too small or lacks adequate hiding spots, Dwarf Gouramis may become territorial to protect their space.
Conclusion
In conclusion, suitable tank mates for Dwarf Gouramis include peaceful fish species. On the other hand, aggressive or territorial fish species, fin-nipping fish, and fish species with vastly different water parameter requirements should be avoided. By selecting compatible tank mates and providing a suitable aquarium environment, Dwarf Gouramis can happily thrive and add beauty to your aquarium.