Agression Between Sparkling Gouramis

[littlest]

I bought four sparkling gouramis a week and a half ago for a 30L tank (no other tank mates). Tank was fully cycled, heavily planted with floating plants. At first they seemed to get a long great, but then I stupidly left the heater off overnight and the temp dropped. A day or two later I notice a couple of white spots and started treating for ich (details here)

One fish died. Since the death the others aren't getting along at all. One hides in a certain area of the tank all the time. If any of the others go near this area it chases them away and nips at them. I also here croaking when this happens, though I can't be sure who the croaking is coming from.

Of the other two, one chases the other a lot, occasionally nipping. The one doing the chasing has its fins flared whenever it is near the other fish. I have seperated one into a breeding net, though I'm not sure which one (it was very hard to catch any of them). I know it's not the hiding one, as that one still hides. The non-hiding one outside the net is constantly going up to the net and flaring its fins.

I'm not sure of the genders. I've tried looking at the internal bits against the light, and I can see them, just not sure whether they are male or female. I suspect I have either two males and a female or three males.

At the moment I am still treating for ich, so there is nothing I can do in terms of either taking the fish back or adding more, but would like some advice for when I can do this, or anything else. I really don't want to have to return the fish as I really love them. Is there any other way of reducing the agression?

I've read about having 4 or more to reduce agression, but if I add more they too could be males (and they are so hard to sex), so I could just make matters worse.

any advice?

 

[jennybugs]

I am no expert on treating ich as I have never had the misfortune as yet, but I'd carry on as the instructions dictate.

I had 4 intitially very shy sparklers in a 30L tank, then added 4 more and the original 4 did a fair bit of fin nipping for about a week. Then it all stopped and everything is now peaceful again. They've all moved on to a 60L tank now and there were a few squabbles to start off with, but once again they are now all fine.

I know what you mean re sexing the fish, with them being so tiny! Mission Impossible comes to mind!

I would recommend upping the numbers a little once your ich has been sorted out, and expect to see a little fin nipping at the start as they sort out their pecking order. If it's bad, a little melafix added to the water will help the healing process.

 

[littlest]

Thanks Jennybugs.

Things got worse yesterday. The one hiding turned out not to be shy, but really aggresive. He (definite male going by the internal organs) would sit in his cave and whenever a fish or shrimp came into his eye-line he'd swim out and really go for them.

So I thought I would try rearranging the tank. So far things seem a little better, but don't know how long that'll last. I suppose I have removed his territory so he's got nothing to defend, but in time I guess he's likely to establish another territory.

Anyway, I've got one definite male, one definite female, and... another one. The other one looks female to me but acts more male (chasing the other female).

If/when I get more, I'm guessing it might be a good idea to remove the original fish, re-arrange the tank, add the new fish, then add the original ones after.

were your fish fine before you moved them to the 60L? I'm just worried about the size of my tank, did things settle down when they were still in the 30L?

 

[jennybugs]

Yes things did settle down in the 30L before I moved them all I am glad to say. I haven't noticed any aggression between them since, although they hold thier ground with some of the dwarfgourami I have. That's usually when Ihear the odd croak or two!

I hope yours sort themselves out. 30L should be fine for four of them technically. I am wondering if it's like bettas where there are just some who are devils in disguise?