Can Coral Red Pencilfish Live With Pearl Gourami?

Coral Red Pencilfish and Pearl Gourami CAN coexist, but with some risks. Careful setup and monitoring required.

Detailed Analysis

Temperature ✓ Compatible

Good temperature overlap at 77–82°F.

pH ✓ Compatible

Good pH overlap at 6.0–7.0.

Size ⚠ Use Caution

Significant size difference (4.5" vs 1.2"). Pearl Gourami may bully or stress Coral Red Pencilfish.

Temperament ✓ Compatible

Both fish have compatible temperaments.

Swim Level ✓ Compatible

Fish occupy different water levels (Coral Red Pencilfish: middle, Pearl Gourami: top), reducing conflict.

Important Notes

  • Coral Red Pencilfish is a schooling fish and needs at least 6 of its kind.

Tank Requirements

Minimum tank size for this combination: 30 gallons

ParameterCoral Red PencilfishPearl Gourami
Temperature75–82°F77–82°F
pH4.5–76–7.5
Max Size1.2"4.5"
TemperamentPeacefulPeaceful
Swim LevelMiddleTop
Min Tank10 gal30 gal

Check More Combinations

Use our compatibility checker to add more fish and plan your complete tank.