Additional Centerpiece Fish?

[Cinnebuns]

I recently got a honey gourami to add some different flare to my 2 note tank. I'm super happy with it but it kinda makes me want more!  I think I wanna get a 2nd centerpiece fish. The top thing I'm looking for is color. I want a statement that stands out. I also don't want it to be shy and hiding all of the time or what's the point of the color?  And ofc the top priority is it has to fit in with the tank.

29 gallon tank currently contains 3 guppies (1 male, 2 females. Hope to eventually seperate the females and maybe have a group of males), 8 panda cories (occasional juveniles will be housed until they are rehomed), 1 honey gourami, 2 mystery snails, 3 nerite snails, 2 Japanese trapdoor snails. PH is 8.2 and GH and KH are consistently high. 

Doing some research I realized that dwarf cichlids would not work with the cories. Some day I will have a dwarf gourami, but not while I have the honey gourami. What I'm considering is a killifish. For some reason, early on in my fish research i fell in love with killifish but thought they were too aggressive to be with my community tank. Research I did today says the opposite. What do you think of this idea? Any issues you can think of?

Any other species you might recommend I look into?

[Widgets]

Any reason you did not go with a pair of honey gourami, or even a group? I have read that they are sometimes timid and shy when kept singly.

I like to keep groups to give the fish a chance to socialize. Pay no attention to the solitary SAE hiding in the corner. 

Are you looking for activity (again groups) or a splash of color (different from the guppies, or the same color)

[Cinnebuns]

A couple reasons I didn't go for more than 1 gourami. Some of my research indicated that they don't really socialize with their own kind anyway. But also, where I got it from only had 1. It was a trade for some guppy fry. 

I don't think I need more activity, just something with some unique coloring that people would go "ooo what's that?"  Maybe I can just wait until I fill the tank with a bunch of male guppies and get that and am just being impatient idk. When it comes to coloring I love neon dwarf gouramis, but those wouldn't work do a substitute I guess lol. 

Idk, maybe patience is a thing too for the male guppies + cheaper cause I'm making them myself. Tbh part of me can't tell if this is just me trying to find another idea or if I should just stay the course lol

Just had an idea along the lines of the multiple honey gouramis. Maybe if I can locate some red ones that might give me some variety. 

Edited March 27, 2022 by Cinnebuns

[Widgets]

It is so frustrating when research gives contradictory information. 

"Whilst they are not outgoing, they do enjoy some company of their own kind (4 to 6 individuals)."

https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/honey-gourami/#h27

"Honey Gourami are not very social and will not even interact with their own kind. Once they pair off, they stay by their partner’s side and ignore everyone and everything else."

https://www.everythingfishkeeping.com/honey-gourami/

[Cinnebuns]

On 3/26/2022 at 7:57 PM, Widgets said:

It is so frustrating when research gives contradictory information

The massive amounts of contradictory info in this hobby has almost made me give up on a few projects and the hobby entirely at one point and I've only been in since Novermber lol. It's helped to realize why there is so much conflicting info and that sometimes both are actually right. It could be that they don't crave species companionship but are ok with it when it's given. Idk that's my guess. 

In regards to my situation, you may still have given me the answer. I think getting 1-2 more honey gouramis would be the best fit if I choose to add rather than the chances of issues with a different species. I do seem to remember to not do 2 but to skip to 3 maybe? I could just be getting mixed up since that's common for almost all species of fish. Getting a red one, although not as striking as a dwarf or killifish, could give me a splash of color. Now it's just the matter of finding one lol. 

Edited March 27, 2022 by Cinnebuns

[Widgets]

On 3/26/2022 at 9:13 PM, Cinnebuns said:

The massive amounts of contradictory info in this hobby has almost made me give up on a few projects and the hobby entirely at one point and I've only been in since Novermber lol. It's helped to realize why there is so much conflicting info and that sometimes both are actually right. It could be that they don't crave species companionship but are ok with it when it's given. Idk that's my guess. 

I also think there is still so much to learn about our little ecosystems. Many schooling fish will mainly school when they feel threatened. A species only tank will show different behaviors than a peaceful community tank or a semi-aggressive community tank. Did the researcher understand all the driving factors and forces when making the observations? Another researcher with different conditions could get different results. I've had plants thrive in one tank and die in another, with water conditions that seem to be identical. 

On 3/26/2022 at 9:13 PM, Cinnebuns said:

In regards to my situation, you may still have given me the answer. I think getting 1-2 more honey gouramis would be the best fit if I choose to add rather than the chances of issues with a different species. Getting a red one, although not as striking as a dwarf or killifish, could give me a splash of color. Now it's just the matter of finding one lol.

I'm glad I could help, but I didn't really give you any answers. I just asked you questions to make you think and come up with your own answer. Once you thought about what you were looking to add to the tank, you had your answer.

[Cinnebuns]

On 3/26/2022 at 8:32 PM, Widgets said:

I'm glad I could help, but I didn't really give you any answers. I just asked you questions to make you think and come up with your own answer.

Exactly what motivational interviewing is!  Idk if you know what that is but I nerd out on stuff like that so much I brought THE book on motivational interviewing with me to vacation once lol. WHO STUDIES FOR FUN LET ALONE ON VACATION?  This girl!

[Widgets]

I never knew it had a formal name, or maybe I just forgot over the years. Is there a name for the reverse? I'm mean the situation where expressing your problem to someone and explaining the alternatives with pros/cons of each will crystallize your answer, even without their input.

[Cinnebuns]

Well motivational interviewing is a technique of deliberately guiding someone towards coming to a solution themselves. 

[BlueLineAquaticsSC]

I’ve definitely seen honey gouramis kept in groups successfully, I’m pretty sure Steamfott has a group of them, so I think you could pull it off without any problems temperate wise, although I do think your pH is higher than they like.

I’ve personally kept my honey gourami in a 10g with a Bolivian Ram and some tetra and never had any issues so I think you could pull of a dwarf cichlid, maybe a GBR.

[JettsPapa]

On 3/27/2022 at 9:59 PM, BlueLineAquaticsSC said:

I’ve definitely seen honey gouramis kept in groups successfully, I’m pretty sure Steamfott has a group of them, so I think you could pull it off without any problems temperate wise, although I do think your pH is higher than they like.

I’ve personally kept my honey gourami in a 10g with a Bolivian Ram and some tetra and never had any issues so I think you could pull of a dwarf cichlid, maybe a GBR.

It's always been my understanding that honey gouramis are best kept in groups.  While I haven't kept them, I do have a good sized group of pearl gouramis in a 40 gallon breeder.

I believe the information about not keeping gouramis in groups is based on dwarf gourami behavior.  They will usually not tolerate other gouramis in the tank, and in fact some won't tolerate tank mates of any species.