Pearl gourami and Angelfish

[Averus]

Got a quick stocking question.  Right now my 55 gallon has Black Neon Tetras, Lemon Tetras, Varitus Platys, Pearl Gourami, and some Salt and Pepper Corys that are going to be joining the main tank soon.  I am slowly building up the number of Pearl Gouramis to four fish.

I was wondering, as my last fish, could I add an Angelfish?  Would it get along okay with the other fish in the tank?  The tanks is heavily planted, so it provides plenty of cover for everybody.

[laritheloud]

I've heard mixed things about angelfish with gouramis; sometimes it's okay, sometimes they get in each other's way. If you want to be extra safe, I'd choose a mild-mannered mid-to-bottom-dwelling fish instead of an angelfish. Keyhole cichlids, a pair of apistogramma, or rams (I'd choose Bolivian over German because they're a bit more hardy) should be okay.

[Keeg]

I would be worried about the gourami and angel becoming aggressive with time. The pearl gourami are generally peaceful but the males can become aggressive during mating season but with a heavy planted tank of that size, I wouldn't be worried about death, maybe some nipped fins. And the angel is more of a toss up, sometimes they're good others bad. I guess you need luck

[Colu]

Angelfish will eat neon tetras when full grown I have kept pearl gourami's before I haven't kept them with angelfish

Edited September 26, 2021 by Colu

[Averus]

Would the Corys be okay with the bottom dwelling cichlids? I don't want the little guys to get stressed out.

Keyhole Cichlids were on my interest list, but I can't seem to find them anywhere these days. I may just go with a Bolivan Ram, my tank's temp is a bit too cool for the German ones, or one of the Apistogrammas.  I am really looking for the most peaceful choice, everyone in the tank gets along great at present.

I was just going to go for the single Angel, but with these choices, it looks like they need a group for them to be happy, so at least I have the room.

[laritheloud]

On 9/27/2021 at 10:01 AM, Averus said:

Would the Corys be okay with the bottom dwelling cichlids? I don't want the little guys to get stressed out.

Keyhole Cichlids were on my interest list, but I can't seem to find them anywhere these days. I may just go with a Bolivan Ram, my tank's temp is a bit too cool for the German ones, or one of the Apistogrammas.  I am really looking for the most peaceful choice, everyone in the tank gets along great at present.

I was just going to go for the single Angel, but with these choices, it looks like they need a group for them to be happy, so at least I have the room.

FWIW I was thinking of a similar community (a pearl gourami community) for my 55 gallon. I changed plans since then because my Thicklip Gourami is no longer getting along with my male honey gourami, so instead of pearls I'm doing a group of thicklips. Because of that trade-off, I'll be going for slightly larger cichlids -- maybe Blue Acaras or even a blood parrot.

As far as I know, Keyholes are extremely peaceful and shy and should do very well with your pearl gouramis. They were at the top of my list for a cichlid possibility, and I think you can find a group of them on AquaBid if you're comfortable ordering online. They also get along just fine with corydoras, especially the rams. Just make sure there's hidey-holes and caves for your cichlids to enjoy and claim as their home territory.