Betta and Gourami as friends? Any thoughts?

[Orchidlover]

I'm planning a new tank for the new year. I'm considering 30 or 45 gallon, haven't decided yet. At first I was planning it around my Betta and was researching to see if he was compatible with any other fish.

I purchased the book "Your Happy Healthy Pet - Betta 2nd Edition" by John H. Tullock. He lists several types of freshwater fish he claims are compatible with Bettas: Coolie Loach, Glass Catfish, and Rasboras. He also listed several types of Gourami (Blue, Croaking, Dwarf and Pearl) which surprised me. In all the research I've done on this, John Tullock is the only source I've found that thinks the Gourami and the Betta can live peacefully together. He states, "makes a great companion to the Betta in a sufficiently large aquarium." Is that because of the size of the tank? I don't think I want to take the chance. Does anyone in the forum know for sure whether they can cohabitate in the same tank?

I have two Corys in his tank now. The only problem they have together is at meal time for the the Corys. I feed them one sinking wafer a day. I feed the Betta 3 Hikari Betta pellets twice a day. Every time I put a wafer in the tank, my Betta wants that too! He has an incredible appetite!

[lariboo]

I have no idea /:

But I would love to know, also. :)

[Lupin]

It depends on the personality of bettas. Actually, some gouramis and bettas can get along together such as the Betta coccina and Parosphromenus deissneri but with Betta splendens, you'll have to rely on trial and error. Most female bettas can actually work with honey, pearl and female dwarf gouramis. I wouldn't consider using male anabantids with each other. There is too much rivalry in their blood to permit such mix.

[Orchidlover]

Thanks, Lupin!

[iamntbatman]

I agree with Lupin - even though you've got a pretty big tank, I wouldn't try to mix a male betta with any other anabantid, let alone another male.

[s72450]

What about females with blue gouramis? I currently have a 29g high with four blue gouramis in it. They are not aggresive to the other fish in the tank, but can be to one another at times.

[Lupin]

Originally Posted by s72450

What about females with blue gouramis? I currently have a 29g high with four blue gouramis in it. They are not aggresive to the other fish in the tank, but can be to one another at times.

Blue gouramis often tend to be nasty tempered, I wouldn't recommend it.

[Cody]

I had a Female Betta with a Dwarf Honey for a while, untill the Honey went suicidal.

They did great; no problems after the introduction whatsoever unless one came into the other's territory.

[iamntbatman]

Honey gouramis are pretty docile and Cody must have had a pretty docile female betta. It would definitely be a worthwhile experiment. I agree about the blue gouramis - blues and golds tend to be some of the nastier gouramis, so mixing them with a betta, even a female, could be problematic, especially since the gouramis are much larger.