Can i keep a red dwarf gourami in my tank?

[Journeyman]

I've got a 125-litre aquarium that I think is pretty much fully stocked. My current stock includes 6 black phantom tetras, 10 harlequin rasboras, 10 green neon tetras, and 8 glowlight tetras. I've also got 3 otocinclus for some algae control. I was thinking of adding a small gourami - either a red dwarf or a blue dwarf gourami would be nice.

[kokomo]

Adding a dwarf gourami could introduce some aggression towards your tetras, so it's worth considering. Your setup does seem well-balanced, but a centerpiece fish with a gentle nature can really make a difference - it all comes down to the gourami's temperament, though.

I've always been skeptical about the size claims for dwarf gouramis; many sites say they grow to around 2.5 inches, but in my experience, they can get bigger. If you're looking to minimize disruption to your current pecking order, adding more otocinclus might be a good option to boost your cleaning power.

[sSjey]

You also have to consider the risk of disease with dwarf gouramis. A lot of them, especially those bred in farms in the far east, are infected with dwarf gourami iridovirus. It's an incurable disease that often kills the fish within a few months. If you can find ones bred elsewhere, the risk of disease is lower.

[Journeyman]

Thanks for the heads up, I think I'll leave it for now. I might just add a couple more otos instead, I picked up three on Friday but that's all the shop had at the time.

[graye]

Even if you did manage to get a healthy one, which is unlikely, lalius gouramis require warmer water than what your other fish are used to. Changing the environment for the sake of one fish just isn't worth it.