Tank mates for the meanest gourami...

So my friend has a 20 gallon tank and its only occupant is a spotted, blue or whatever you want to call it gourami. He is about 2 to 3 inches, and everything she puts in there he kills. She asked me what to do, and I suggested she re arrange the tank before adding the next "friend" and maybe add some taller decorations. All there is in the tank is a rock, and a mug the fish likes to hide in. Any other ideas? Or suggestions as to what to put with him?

I think the easiest thing to start with would to get taller decor as you said, some tall fake/real plants would be good. Do you know if the 3-spot is a male or female? Females have a rounded dorsal fin. I'm just trying to think of fish that could handle the bullying from a gourami and none come to mind that could fit comfortably in a 20gal besides another gourami of the opposite gender, maybe one that's bigger then your friends current gourami. Maybe someone else can chime in with their experience. I've had a tank of three spots, a male and four females and they were all chill.

I like the advice of ratlova... I'm pretty sure those "blue" (opaline gouramis) come from the same waters as a lot of barbs in there natural habitat. Most barbs are fast, and more then capible of handeling them selfs. Although a pretty small tank I would think a few small barbs would do well. Perhaps the five banded barb, these are active and attractive I wouldent do less then 5 or more then 8 in a tank that size. They are one of the more "docile" members of the family and useually aren't overly nippy at the fins like some of the others. I am pretty sure fish gallery and pets in renton keeps the largest selction of barbs... although I haven't looked for barbs for a while.. give APFP a call, I bet they have em. Hope this helps.

I think she is going to pick up some plants this weekend. I have no clue if its male or female... But I can ask her to look into it. This fish has taken out a school of fairly large tiger barbs among many other fish so I am not sure if I can convince her to go that route again. But thanks for the suggestion. I will pass it on!

..get her a convict...just one the Females are pretty...and they cant stand up for them selves!