Can Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) and Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) Live Together?

Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) is a generally mild-mannered species (4/10), while Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) is moderately assertive (6/10). This modest difference means Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) may occasionally assert dominance over Cigar Shark (Mad Barb).

Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) and Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) both frequent the Middle (Open Water) and Top (Surface) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

To improve the chances of a peaceful coexistence in this community tank: Provide a significantly larger tank (at least 50% more volume than the minimum) to allow both Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) and Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) to establish separate territories. Add plenty of line-of-sight breaks using driftwood, rocks, and dense planting to reduce territorial confrontations. Keep fin nippers in larger groups to distribute nipping behaviour among conspecifics rather than tank mates.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 23°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.5°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6 and 8. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) and Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) together, plan for an aquarium of at least 1000 litres with a minimum length of 240 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline)'s requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) prefers High (River/Stream) flow while Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) needs Low (Still Water) flow. Consider positioning filter outlets and using baffles to create zones of different current intensity within the same tank.

This pairing usually fails when the tank is treated like a standard mixed community and the caution flags are ignored. Cigar Shark (Mad Barb) and Three Spot Gourami (Blue/Gold/Opaline) need extra room, more cover, and closer observation during the first few weeks so small aggression, feeding, or territory issues do not snowball into a long-term problem.