Can oscars live with pearl gouramis?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and pearl gouramis should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pearl gouramis do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pearl gouramis do.
- Watch outOscars are much bigger and pushier than pearl gouramis, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
What works
- Both are fine at 77–81°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, pearl gouramis the top.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Pearl gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 77–82 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 5.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Top |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for pearl gouramis
Questions
Can oscars live with pearl gouramis?
No. Oscars and pearl gouramis should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pearl gouramis do.
What temperature suits both oscars and pearl gouramis?
77–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, pearl gouramis need 77–82 °F.
What size tank do oscars and pearl gouramis need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.