1 Male Apisto in a 29G community with Honey Gourami?

[Christopher Barbas]

Hello all. This is my first post on this site. My 29 Gallon is about to be finished cycling. It has lots of plants, driftwood, rocks, etc with black sand as substrate. But during this cycling period, the more I research, the more I can't decide on a "centerpiece" fish.

AqAdvisor link

Stocking:
6-8 Panda Corydoras
10-15 Cardinal Tetras

This is where it gets tricky. Honey Gourami are known to be more peaceful than their counterparts.

For Apistos I was looking at Cacatuoides or Agassizii. I didn't want a pair or harem because I've heard they can be quite aggressive during breeding, and that the Panda corys don't know what 'no' means.

So here were possibilities

A) 1M Apisto + 1M Honey Gourami
B) 1M Apisto + 1M 2F Honey Gourami
C) or just get either one and not mix

 

[Mike Wise]

I'd get the Honey Dwarf Gouramies. With 6-8 corys the bottom will be crowded without an apisto. Honey Dwarfs tend to stay at the upper level of the tank, so they will fill this part of the tank.

 

[Christopher Barbas]

I'd get the Honey Dwarf Gouramies. With 6-8 corys the bottom will be crowded without an apisto. Honey Dwarfs tend to stay at the upper level of the tank, so they will fill this part of the tank.

The 29 gallon has a footprint of 30.25" x 12.5". You'd think it could either be the corys or 1 Apisto but not both?

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes a 29High has the same footprint as a 20Long. It will be fine for either a schooling species like corys or 2, maybe 3 territorial species like apistos (depending how it is decorated). Choose which you want most.

 

[Christopher Barbas]

Yes a 29High has the same footprint as a 20Long. It will be fine for either a schooling species like corys or 2, maybe 3 territorial species like apistos (depending how it is decorated). Choose which you want most.

Okay thanks

If I didn't get the Corydoras, and just decided on 2-3 Apistos, what combination do you think would work best?

1 Male 1 Female
1 Male 2 Female to spread the aggression
Or 2-3 males each of a different species/appearance? i.e. such as Cacatuoides/Agassizii/Hoingsloi/Macmesteri/etc ?

 

[Mike Wise]

Personally, 2 males of different species with different body shapes and finnage, + 2 territories with well defined visual boundaries.