freshwater tank

Question
QUESTION: Hi, this is Ryan.  I asked you the question about the Oscar, then about the
assortment of other fish.  I was going to post a follow-up, but the website
would not let me post more than two.  My question this time is: 2 Blue
Paradise Gouramis and two blue dwarf gouramis work in that tank, in place
of the rainbow fish?  Also, what type of tetras would you recommend?  
Cardinal, rummynose, or another?  

Thanks for all the help,
Ryan

ANSWER: Hi Ryan,
The Paradise Gourami is quite aggressive.  With a female, he would rip her apart much like the Betta.  The Blue Gourami or three spotted gourami is a better choice.  He comes to 4 inches too.  There is no problem with the blue dwarf gourami.  Most "Characins" are peaceful, and need to be with peaceful fish.  They are all schooling fish.  The emperor tetra is a beauty, and grows to 2 inches, but you would have to put at least 4-5 of them in your tank.  The bleeding heart is another pretty tetra.  The Head-and-Tail Light is another one, the Silver Tip, Cardinal, and Lemon Tetra.
All tetras must be kept in groups of 4 or more.  They all like the same PH 6.5 6.8 as the fish you had on your list.
Hope this helps
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Allright, that makes sense.  What do you think of this (revised) combination:

7x rummy nose, emperor, OR cardinal tetras
2x ram cichlid
2x angel fish
1x blue dwarf gourami
1x flame dwarf gourami
1x kissing gourami (too aggressive?)
3x false julii cory cat

Are the gouramis ok alone, or should they be in pairs?  Is the kissing
gourami too aggressive?  Is there any type of snail or invertebrate i can
include?

Best regards,
Ryan

Answer
The Kissing Gourami grows to 12" and needs a big tank.
The gouramis do not have to be kept in pairs, as long as there are other gouramis in the tank.  Most are very timid.   As for the invertebrate, I am really not for putting them in a community tank.  The reason is that they may bring in disease, and they may be eaten.  If it dies in your aquarium, and you don't notice it right away, it poisons your whole tank, and you lose all your fish.  The little rams might do a number on an invertebrate!
If you put a pleco in your tank, it counts as a fish too.  You will have to feed him.  People think that they don't have to, but you do, everyday.  If you don't feed it, it will starve to death. There is special food for him at the Pet Store.  I have had so many letters concerning this, that I thought I would mention it.
Hope this helps
Lynda