In the wild, dwarf gouramis live in groups of 10 to 12. But can they live in a tank together without getting territorial? How many should you put in a tank to avoid any squabbles? Keep reading for answers to these questions and more!
Dwarf Gourami Background and Behavior
The dwarf gourami (Colisa lalia) is a peaceful and beautiful fish. Native to South Asia, its natural range is along the muddy bottoms of slow-moving rivers and ponds. But because dwarf gouramis are so readily available at pet stores, people often place them in aquariums.
Dwarf gouramis are one of the few gourami species that can breathe air. They spend much of their time in the water column, their bodies angled downward with their faces poking out above the surface. They occasionally will hover in place against the current, their fins waving to stay in place. It’s one of the few gourami species that is suitable for community tanks.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 5 Gallon Tank?
If you’re wondering how many dwarf gouramis can live in a 5 gallon tank, the answer is three. Males may fight with one another when they are in small groups, so even if you have two males and one female in your tank, another dwarf may still become belligerent. The best way to avoid the fighting is to limit them to small groups.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 10 Gallon Tank?
A 10 gallon tank can house up to six dwarf gouramis. Males will sometimes fight over females, but they’re less likely to fight over territory in larger tanks. If you have a lot of plants and driftwood in your tank, they’ll have more nooks and crannies to retreat to when they feel threatened.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 15 Gallon Tank?
A 15 gallon tank can house up to nine dwarf gouramis. Again, the more nooks and crannies you have in your aquarium, the less likely they are to fight.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 20 Gallon Tank?
A 20 gallon tank can house up to 12 dwarf gouramis. By this point you have a pretty big shoal, so males will be less likely to fight each other for females.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 30 Gallon Tank?
A 30 gallon tank can house up to 18 dwarf gouramis. At this point, your shoal will be pretty large.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 36 Gallon Tank?
A 36 gallon tank can house up to 24 dwarf gouramis. As long as you keep plenty of plants and wood in your tank, they should be peaceful and happy. You can even keep a 36 gallon tank stocked with just dwarf gouramis as long as you have other tank mates that aren’t as gregarious. This will ensure that the more aggressive tank mates don’t pick on the dwarves too much.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 40 Gallon Tank?
A 40 gallon aquarium can hold up to 30 dwarf gouramis. At this point, your tank will be teeming with life and you’ll have a nice big shoal.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 55 Gallon Tank?
A 55 gallon tank can house up to 36 dwarf gouramis. By this point, your tank will be teeming with life and you’ll have a nice big shoal.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 75 Gallon Tank?
A 75 gallon tank can house up to 54 dwarf gouramis. By this point, your shoal will be ginormous.
How Many Dwarf Gouramis in a 125 Gallon Tank?
A 125 gallon tank can hold up to 72 dwarf gouramis. By this point, your tank will be absolutely teeming with life and you’ll have a shoal so large it would put Finding Nemo to shame.
Dwarf gouramis are big fans of open swimming spaces, so they can easily swim around one another in a large aquarium. They will also have lots of nooks and crannies to retreat to when they feel threatened.
Recommended Tank Setup for Dwarf Gouramis
Dwarf gouramis are one of the hardier freshwater fish species, so they can live in a variety of aquarium setups. However, they prefer freshwater setups with the following parameters: pH – 6.8 to 7.4 temperature – 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (22-28 degrees Celsius) hardness – 2 to 12°
Dwarf Gourami Natural Habitat
As mentioned above, the natural habitat of the dwarf gourami is on the open rivers and lakes. Here he can be found in slow-moving waters with plenty of plants and driftwood. The water in this region is typically alkaline.
Final Thoughts
Dwarf gouramis are peaceful fish, but they are best kept in small groups. Males can sometimes become belligerent to one another when kept in groups of three, so keep them in small groups. They prefer a lot of open swimming space and a variety of plants in their environment.
