In this article, we’ll help you figure out exactly how many Dwarf Gourami can fit in your 10 gallon tank.
You’ll also learn about a few care tips for keeping these beautiful fish either alone or in a community tank.
The Dwarf Gourami is a beautiful fish, and many new hobbyists are drawn to the fish because it’s peaceful has bright and colorful and very low-maintenance, which makes it perfect for beginner aquarists.
So let’s get into it!
Equipment You Might Need For Your Dwarf Gourami
- Aqua Clear – Fish Tank Filter
- NICREW Classic LED Aquarium Light
- Fluval M Aquarium Heater
- Python Pro-Clean Gravel Washer and Siphon Kit
- Marina Algae Magnet Cleaner
- API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Learn About The Dwarf Gourami
Can You Put A Dwarf Gourami In A 10 Gallon Tank?
Yes. You can easily put Dwarf Gourami in a 10 gallon tank. Most Dwarf Gouramis grow up to 3.5 inches in the wild. In captivity, their sizes usually stay even smaller, males at about 3 inches and females about 2.5 inches.
A 10 gallon tank with a few floating or tall plants to mimic the dwarf’s natural habitat would be excellent for Dwarf Gourami and a few smaller, compatible tankmates.
Most likely, the Dwarf Gourami won’t be the only fish in your 10 gallons, so make sure you have calculated the bioload. Also, if you are making a 10 gallon community tank with Dwarf Gourami, other tank mates shouldn’t include large and aggressive fish. They will bully the Dwarf Gourami, which, thanks to its docile nature, will not fight back and may get sick due to stress.
Further Reading: Dwarf Gourami Tank Mates
How Many Gallons Does A Dwarf Gourami Need?
If we go by the “one-inch fish per gallon” stocking rule, most Dwarf Gouramis in captivity would just need about three gallons of water. But while this rule does answer the bio-load question, it doesn’t take into account the swimming room a fish needs.
If put in a three-gallon nano tank, even solitary Dwarf Gourami will act out. And while some Dwarf Gouramis have been seen successfully acclimated in five-gallon tanks, most fish keepers agree that Dwarf Gourami is much better off in at least 10 gallons of water.
While a 5 gallon tank might be enough to keep the water parameters steady, even for a few plants to make Dwarf Gourami feel at home, the fish will most likely feel cramped in that tank size.
However, 10 gallons of water will be better. It will help disperse the bioload more effectively, and keep the water parameters steady. But more importantly, it might be able to house more plants and provide enough swimming room to keep your fish happy.
How Many Dwarf Gourami Can Be Kept Together?
In a 10 gallon, ideally none. A 15-gallon tank is recommended for a pair. To keep anymore, you should add five gallons per fish, so if you want to keep five Dwarf Gouramis, a 29/30-gallon tank would be best.
Dwarf gouramis are not schooling fish, so keeping a large group of them is not necessary. Schooling fish, if not kept in a sizeable group, get depressed, and in some cases, aggressive. But fish like Dwarf Gourami do better alone. It’s usually counterproductive to try and keep a group of them, especially in a small tank.
For such a docile fish, males of this species are known to be very territorial, and two or males shouldn’t be kept together unless the tank is large enough for each male’s separate territory. A ten-gallon tank isn’t large enough for even two Dwarf Gourami males together.
Males of the species are much more beautiful and brightly colored than females. So you are likely to find more male Dwarf Gouramis than females in your nearby stores. But in pursuit, if better aesthetics, if you try housing a few males together, your tank might start to display more violence than beauty. A few females can be grouped, but you should watch them closely for any signs of bullying.
For larger tanks, it’s hard to say how many Dwarf Gouramis can live happily together. So it’s a good idea to add one fish at a time and see if’s playing well with the other dwarfs, before introducing another.
Should Dwarf Gouramis Be Kept In Pairs?
Dwarf gourami is usually sold in pairs, but it’s very common to see males bullying females. A pair doesn’t necessarily bring out the best in this fish. Its temperament is more suited to a solitary lifestyle. There is no harm in keeping a couple of females dwarfs in a tank.
If you are keeping a pair, make sure there are plenty of plants in the tank. So if one is harassing or bullying the other, there is plenty of room and places for the more docile one to hide in. Even then, you will have to observe the behavior, and if the bullying is keeping one gourami from feeding and swimming at all, you may need to remove one to another tank. A pair may breed under the right circumstances.
Care Tips For Keeping Dwarf Gourami
Dwarf gourami is a peaceful and hardy fish, perfect for beginner aquarists and community tanks. But that doesn’t mean that you can be lax with their care.
Some simple tips for their care are:
- Too much noise (car horns or loud music) can stress them out, so try keeping them in a quieter part of the house.
- They do enjoy a well-lit aquarium, but it has to be complemented with lots of plants and decorations to hide in.
- The water flow should be slow.
- Weekly water changes of at least one-quarter of the aquarium’s water are recommended. (It will be about 2.5 gallons for a 10 gallon)
- They usually dwell in the middle region and at the top of the tank. As labyrinth fish, they sometimes break out of the surface to gulp air. Floating and tall plants help them feel secure in their preferred swimming region.
- They shouldn’t be housed with large and aggressive fish. Also, different Dwarf Gourami species don’t mix well together. Their preferred tanks mates are Harlequin Rasboras, Mollies, peaceful barbs, bottom-dwelling Kuhli loaches, and some corydoras.
- They are aggressive feeders and might eat anything you offer them. But they need a well-balanced diet to stay perfectly healthy and to show their beautiful colors. You can use a high-quality flake or pellet-based feed as the main course, supplement it with live or frozen feed once or twice a week.
- If the temperature difference between the room and tank is too high, it’s better if you use a lid over the tank. It will prevent them from harming their labyrinth organ when they come out of the surface to the gulp the air.
More Info About 10-Gallon Tanks
- Guide to Setting up Your 10-Gallon Planted Tank
- 12 Hungry Algae Eaters For Small Tanks 10 Gallons & Under
- Stocking A 10 Gallon Tank
- Best Small Catfish for a 10-Gallon Tank Setup
- Bottom Feeder Fish for a 10-Gallon Tank
- How Much Gravel For A 10 Gallon Tank
- How Many Neon Tetras In A 10 Gallon Tank
- How Many Guppies in a 10-Gallon Tank
- How Many Goldfish in a 10-Gallon Tank
- Easy 10-gallon Cichlid Tank Ideas
- Best Powerhead for a 10 Gallon Tank
- What Is The Best Canister Filter For A 10 Gallon Fish Tank?
- Gravel Vacuum For 10 Gallon Tank & Smaller
- Best Stands For 10 Gallon Fish Tanks
