Aggression?

[blackbat]

are all blue gourami/3-spot/opaline aggressive as my fish don't appear to show aggression at all, is it just the males?
I know my gourami chase each other but not nastily just sort of play chase...they can be swimming alone and the one will go up nudge the other the swim after each other then stop after a few seconds and switch then the next minute they are going up for air together and then back down to search for food or to chill out together. They never actually attack each other or hurt each other.

when I first put the two new females in my 3spot blue was really happy to see them. there was about 2 hrs where the two large females then did what can only be discribed as mating behaviour....weird dominance thing maybe... they did the dance and even folded around each other (no eggs were released btw) they nipped each others sides and tail but did not hurt each other and this stopped after a few hrs.

the little fish however was being awfully bullied at the fish store and her fin was torn by one of the 3 other adult females and male that were attacking her also a tiger barb was in with the mix and being aggressive to all the females in the tank at the store.

she is now a really happy little fish and swims with the others and joins in the play chasing.

I was just really wondering if they could become aggressive with each other or any other fish I put in even tho they are not at the moment?

 

[sylvia]

Three-spot males are territorial fish so any fish that are added later are usualy chased around. If the new additions are female, he may chase them a bit at first and then ignore them until such time as he feels like spawning (whether or not the females share his enthusiasm). When they do spawn, male three-spots become very aggressive indeed. They are capeable of killing non-gourami fish at this time (which normaly they'll largeley ignore except to get them out of their territory).

Female three-spots are a different story. If kept in a large enough group (3-4 minnimum) or with a male, they get along great as they are actualy relatively social. They are not particularly territorial either. Aggression occurs only when working out hierarchy and to show dominance. Having said that, if you have an established gorup of females in a tank and then go and add a new one, they will suualy treat it as an intruder until the hierarchy is re-established (that's why I always say to add 2 at a time so attention is devided).

The occasional nipping that you've described is normal three-spot aggression. The chasing, also, is aggressive - not playful. As long as there are enough individuals to spread out the aggression, everyone gets along fine. The only problem you could encounter is if your fish are still immature. Sexualy mature gouramies become more aggressive than young ones. If they are fully grown, they are deffinately mature but they could be from as early as when they are about 4".

The size of the tank and the setup over-all also plays an important role. Obviously, the larger the tank, the less threatened fish feel by 'intruders'. Also, a gentle current and lots of plants (especialy floating plants) may be all that's needed for three-spots (particularly males) to become far more placid than previously. This is because there are now many more appropriate areas to use as territory - making them far less protective and competitive.

Their tankmates are also important - large, aggressive or overly-active fish tempt aggressive behaviour. Especialy fish like angels that occupy the same area and grow to a good size. The same can be said of many lower-dwelling cichlids if they breed and of some species that simply don't get the message even having been chased away for the upteenth time (like mollies ).

In terms of new fish being added, with more gouramies, there is always a risk of aggression but adding females of about the same size as the existing fish and ensuring the tank has been re-aranged just before and isn't over-crowded can make the addition easier. Once again, it's best to add two or more at a time (though with more you have the risk of a re-cycle occuring) as a single addition usualy gets all aggression focused on it and it doesn't get a chance to settle in. This can be extremely stressful for new fish and can lead to serious diseases taking hold.

If you add non-gourami fish, most are alright if they are being added in groups (say tetras - a full shoal should be added) and, again, avoid things that compete for space or are territorial/aggressive themselves (like angelfish, sahrks if the tank is small - otherwise they are ok, danios - again, only if the tank is small etc).

I should point out that many smaller gourami species (dwarfs, honeys, paradisefish, pearls - to an extent - and so on) can be bullied and killed if added to a tank containing established, adult three-spots.
Things like moonlights and kissers are, however, usualy fine (if anything, the tables will probably turn). Though keep in midn that these fish grow large and need lots of space for themselves (particularly the kissers as they grow to 10" or more).

 

[JackoUK]

In terms of new fish being added, with more gouramies, there is always a risk of aggression but adding females of about the same size as the existing fish and ensuring the tank has been re-aranged just before and isn't over-crowded can make the addition easier. Once again, it's best to add two or more at a time (though with more you have the risk of a re-cycle occuring) as a single addition usualy gets all aggression focused on it and it doesn't get a chance to settle in. This can be extremely stressful for new fish and can lead to serious diseases taking hold.

If you add non-gourami fish, most are alright if they are being added in groups (say tetras - a full shoal should be added) and, again, avoid things that compete for space or are territorial/aggressive themselves (like angelfish, sahrks if the tank is small - otherwise they are ok, danios - again, only if the tank is small etc).

After reading your post I was wondering if it wasn't the best idea to add a pair of Angelfish to my tank because of the possible aggression from the 3-spots? I've always wanted Angelfish, as I guess do all new aquarium enthusiasts, but if means unrest in my tank i'll leave it for now until i've talked the missus in to a 2nd or 3rd tank.

 

[sylvia]

How large is your tank and what other fish to you have?
The big problem with angels is that they are also aggressive - particularly if they pair up and breed. This provokes gouramies even more. Young angels are also generaly bullied when first introduced.

The other thing to note is that angels cannot be sexed when young. Most people by 6 or so and let a pair form. Afterwards they return the extra 4 fish to their LFS. This works out better for the angels but, like I said, breeding angels are aggressive (they are cichlids after all).
Buying a couple from the start means there is less chance that you'll have a male/female pair but this isn't as good for the angels even if it does mean the tank will, over-all, remain more peaceful.
As for the single-angel option - I don't consider it an option at all. Besides making the angel more likely to be bullied, I've found single angels to be even more aggressive than those kept as pairs or in groups (excluding breeding angels).

Like I hinted at with my opening question, a lot will depend on your tank's size and other inhabitants. The one thing I will tell you is that you need to look for nearly fully grown angels if you want to add them to a tank containing established three-spots.