Can oscars live with sparkling gouramis?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and sparkling gouramis should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches sparkling gouramis do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches sparkling gouramis do.
- Watch outOscars grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for sparkling gouramis.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–81°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, sparkling gouramis the top.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Sparkling gourami | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 72–82 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 5 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Top |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 4+ |
| 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 sparkling gouramis
All sparkling gourami tank mates
Questions
Can oscars live with sparkling gouramis?
No. Oscars and sparkling gouramis should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches sparkling gouramis do.
What temperature suits both oscars and sparkling gouramis?
74–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, sparkling gouramis need 72–82 °F.
What size tank do oscars and sparkling gouramis need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.