Agressive Fish

[newfishaddict]

Hi , in my 55g (fresh water community, w live plants) I had a angel fish that is "half grown", about 4-5 inches high including fins. He was in my 55g when I added a full grown (5 inches) rainbow shark. The shark bullied my 3 corries and my angel fish; so I moved them out of my 55g into my 29g.

Now in the 29g my angel fish is "grupmy" and attacks my platies and gourami if they come into her corner of the tank. No damage has been seen on the platies or the gourami but I wonder if the stress of the angel chasing them is something to be concered about?

Also, my dwarf gourami acts the same way as the angel, in "his" corner of the tank; he chases almost any fish that comes into his corner. again, no significant damage has been seen on any fish. The angel only chases the gourami and platies; the gourami will chase all of my fish....

Is this "minor" aggression anything to be concerned about?

29g tank, fresh w, lots of live plants with co2 injection. The tank has:3 cories, 5 denisons barbs (half grown and moving to the 55g soon), 3 platies, 1 dwarf gourami, 3 blood fin tetras, one grumpy angel fish (half grown)
-->I know the tank will be overstocked when all the fish are full grown but I have lots of room in my 55g to move fish around.

-->I surmise that the angel fish and gourami dont have enough room for territory, is this right?

-->also, is a dwarf gourami ok with no other gouramis in the tank? (is he social)

Thanks for anyone’s time and help....

 

[Dubby]

What type of dwarf gourami do you have? Some species are more aggresive than others and ofcourse you do get the occasional grumpy ones

Try giving an old pot for your Gourami to hide in. It might reduce his aggression.

 

[newfishaddict]

What type of dwarf gourami do you have? Some species are more aggresive than others and ofcourse you do get the occasional grumpy ones

Try giving an old pot for your Gourami to hide in. It might reduce his aggression.

He is a "dwarf honey gourami"

 

[sylvia]

Your problem is not the gourami - it's tthe angel.

First of all, 'dwarf gourami' usualy reffers to colisa lalia. Your 'honey dwarf gourami', however, is more likely to be colisa chuna/sota. Both are harmless towards most tankmates and are nothing to concern yourself over. If it's male, it'll be fine on it's own.

Angels, however, can become real terrors when kept alone, just as they can be very aggressive once paired up. They also make terrible tankmates for smaller gouramies as both species occupy the same area in the tank and angels then start posing a threat for the gouramies. Once a gourami feals threatened, it turns aggressive. This territoriality can only serve to provoke the angel even more. Obviously, keeping them together is not a good idea and, yes, it's all to do with competition over space.

I would move the angel back into the larger tank and simply return or re-home the shark instead. Keeping this single angel in a 29 gallon (which has the same surface area as a 20 typicaly) with a male gourami and small, peaceful, community fish is a bad idea. Adding more angels isn't an option due to the tank's size and, even if adding more suppressed aggression temporarily, once paired, the breeding angels would cause chaos in the tank all over again.

One more thing I noted, you say you have torpedo barbs you plan to move to the 55 gallon. What are you going to do about the shark then? Torpedo barbs look similar to sharks in body shape and are also quite closely related to them. If the shark could not deal with an angel in his/her territory, consider how it'll react towards the barbs...

 

[Genesis]

i have an angelfish and a neon blue dwarf guorami in a 15 gal and theyve never touched each other, they're quite good buddies actually

 

[Dwarfs]

I'm a little late but, stress is a serious problem for fish, it leaves them open to ich and many other diseases. Sometimes stress alone can kill a fish, I've had it happen.

 

[newfishaddict]

Your problem is not the gourami - it's tthe angel.

First of all, 'dwarf gourami' usualy reffers to colisa lalia. Your 'honey dwarf gourami', however, is more likely to be colisa chuna/sota. Both are harmless towards most tankmates and are nothing to concern yourself over. If it's male, it'll be fine on it's own.

Angels, however, can become real terrors when kept alone, just as they can be very aggressive once paired up. They also make terrible tankmates for smaller gouramies as both species occupy the same area in the tank and angels then start posing a threat for the gouramies. Once a gourami feals threatened, it turns aggressive. This territoriality can only serve to provoke the angel even more. Obviously, keeping them together is not a good idea and, yes, it's all to do with competition over space.

I would move the angel back into the larger tank and simply return or re-home the shark instead. Keeping this single angel in a 29 gallon (which has the same surface area as a 20 typicaly) with a male gourami and small, peaceful, community fish is a bad idea. Adding more angels isn't an option due to the tank's size and, even if adding more suppressed aggression temporarily, once paired, the breeding angels would cause chaos in the tank all over again.

One more thing I noted, you say you have torpedo barbs you plan to move to the 55 gallon. What are you going to do about the shark then? Torpedo barbs look similar to sharks in body shape and are also quite closely related to them. If the shark could not deal with an angel in his/her territory, consider how it'll react towards the barbs...

I agree I thought the barbs act and look like the shark but an experienced member here said he thought they would be fine. One thing I have learnt is that fish are not predictable. My shark sleeps ON my pleco, seriously, literally on him sometimes. And My rummy nose tetras that are small and not full grown are right beside my shark all the time and he doesn’t mind them at all.

Regarding the angel and gourami, I am pretty sure if I remove the angel the gourami still is grumpy with all the fish in the tank, he is actually much more agressive than the angel at this point...I am going to re ajust my tanks now. I am going to repost and ask for help and advice...


I found the post that said "
kat and james Nov 28 2005, 10:07 AM Post #4


Fishaholic


Group: Members
Posts: 415
Joined: 22-August 05
From: plymouth, devon, uk!
Member No.: 15416



we have our torpedos in the tank with an rtbs, thye have no interest in each other what so ever. they totally don't disturb each other. however like lateral line said, each fish is different. if i were you i'd just keep a close eye on the goings on in teh tank! feels a little mean to put the rainbow shark in a nice big 55 gal and then move him to a smaller tank though!

kat
"
I am now confused about where to place my fish.....