Active Dwarf Gourami

[Platinumpete]

My new Dwarf Gourami Is not shy at all, is this normal? he's fearless and even eats out of my hand. He swims everywhere and is rarely still. He's more active then I expected. The thing is that he picks on my platy, but ignore the other fishes, Can I lower his temper by giving him a female dwarf Gourami? Or should I just exchange him for a shy one?

 

[Platinumpete]

And yes I am sure he is Dwarf Gourami!

 

[sylvia]

What size tank? You are best off exchanging him if you don't want him - adding a single female could result in him killing her by chasing her too much and stressing her out. If your tank is 20 gallons or more, however, you can add 2-3 females. That could help and the females won't be as stressed since aggression will be spread between them. IMO, though, I think you should just add some more plants and hiding places to your tank to help your other fish hide. It's rare to get such an apparently healthy, active dwarf gourami so I'd hang on to him and try, instead, to fix the problem at hand without replacing him.

 

[Platinumpete]

I have plants in the tank put most covers the bottom of the tank.... and a dwift wood that covers the bottom of the tanks. They both swim above them so they see each other all the time.... The platy is clearly being picked on but he stills follow the Gourami around. So my idea was to get both of them a females, to keep them at peace. I always thought it was best to keep dwarf gourami in pairs so in this case, it's not a good idea?
I am not sure if my LFS do exchanges because they are prudes!

 

[fishwatcher]

Instead of getting a female (if you can even find one... alot of lfs don't stock them), I'd get some taller growing plants. That way it will break up the eye-line and hopefully give the platy some peace. Of course, if the platy is intentionally following the gourami around, then maybe he's enjoying it!
I certainly wouldn't give the gourami back. As was said earlier, it's hard to find a healthy active one.

 

[Platinumpete]

all my LFS's plants look like crap and they are expensive too... Once in a blue moon walmart has really good plants and they are all 3.45 each. so I have been keep my eye out on plants.... so would the female make him even worst? would he attack her or just annoy her? ( follow her around) should I try both? I don,t really want to exchange him since it sounds like he's pretty special..... he even lets me pet him when i feed him, like he knows me, I only had him a couple of days ....

thanks for the replies guyS!

 

[Ethos]

Um......in a 10G tank, I think that your dwarf is over stressed being inclose qurters with all thiose other fish....
Just a thought...

 

[fishwatcher]

If you're not set on keeping the platy, maybe you could trade it in at the lfs... get some food or something. I wouldn't add any more fish though bc 1. it will overcrowd your tank, and 2. it probably will lead to more harrassment.
My 10-gal (see sig) is pretty stocked, but I don't have much problem with the gourami being irritated or irritating the others. Maybe it's the platy/gourami combo... maybe their personalities are clashing.
Have you tried the local Petsmart/Superpets places? That's where I get most of my plants. They usually have a good variety for $2-3 a bunch. You could try ebay too. There's always somebody selling plants on there.
I'd try adding a few tall plants first, then maybe move someone out. Otherwise they may keep bothering each other until they get stressed, sick, etc.

 

[sylvia]

I only just noticed the 10 gallon in your signature - which is rather overstocked - and undoubtedly the cause of your problems. Without returning fish, the only thing you can do is plant it heavily. Also, adding another gourami will just result in trouble. Whether he will just 'annoy' her or 'kill' her is irrelevant - either way she will get stressed and the end result will be disease that may then be passed on to the other fish and can ultimately end with your whole tank being wiped out. You also need to keep platies at a ratio of 2 females for every male or just one sex - so adding a female platy is not an option. In fact, adding any more fish is not an option as you are over-stocked. If you want to do something with this tank, either return fish (though it's difficult to find healthy dwarf gouramies, it may actualy be best for him and your other fish in the long run to return him after all) or incoroporate more live plants - particularly tall ones - into your set-up. Do keep in mind that the gourami needs access to the air or he will drown.

 

[fishwatcher]

I myself would return the platy and add some taller plants. Gouramis like to have some surfce plants to hang out under (at least mine does), but like Sylvia said, make sure you keep plenty of open surface for him, too.