[tsunami]

The chocolate gouramis inhabit the same areas as many of the acidic-warer loving Cryptocorynes. I would try those Cryptocorynes coming from the same general area as the chocolate gourami (southeast Asia), including such plants as Cryptocoryne cordata var. blassii, Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia, Cryptocoryne albida, et al. I would pick one or two of the Cryptocorynes for the right side of the tank. As for the left, some plants that may work include Cryptocoryne ciliata, any marginal house plants (like those palm trees they keep seling at the fish store) that don't mind having their feet underwater could be used to good effect.

Carlos

 

[tsunami]

Yes. As always, I suggest to keep the Cryptocoryne species on the /simple/ side since you will need a lot of them.

Raul: you do know one measly little C. keei would cost about 40-50 dollars a plant in the US? Skylsdale would be broke!

Carlos

 

[tsunami]

Did you check one of my favorite stores?:

http://www.aquaticplantdepot.com/cryptocorynes.html

Aquatic Plant Depot offers both cordata var. blassii at 1.85$ each. They are decent sized plants (3-4" tall) and have always come in healthy for me. I think they would look good for the beech litter area.

Don't worry about the intraspecific aggression of the chocolate gouramis too much though. I kept four in my 20g long, and I did not have too many problems in a 'mound' layout shape. My losses at the beginning were more due to them being excellent jumpers...

Carlos

 

[tsunami]

My fish were not shy at all in the community aquarium and were very personable. They were always first in line for food (live and dry). They'd nip at each other on occassion and definitely enjoyed having their own space, but they weren't downright ferocious to each other in this relatively small tank nor were they afraid to actively compete with the various fish they lived with (pencilfish, rummynose tetras, cardinal tetras, otos).

Carlos