Another For Sylvia I Think

[doresy]

Ok, so all is well in my slightly over stocked but very calm 155ltr. As I said in another post, just started out in Gourami world. Have 1 male Dwarf Neon Blue and 2 female D. N. B. The second female (which was bought 1 day later and from different shop that the other 2) spends a lot of her time swiming on the bottom, almost 'walking' on her feelers. She can, and does, swim mid tank, feeds and seems quite happy but for the most she is as I said. The other 2 just swim all over. So is this behaviour 'her just being different' or signs of something sinister?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How planted is the tank and what sort of planting do you have?

 

[sylvia]

Have you ever seen what happens if she tries to swim further up?

Though she was only added one day late, she may still have been forced into the least dominant position by her belated arrival. Rearanging the tank just a tad might help (as would adding more plants as Tokis-Phoenix has implied).

Were you considering adding more dwarfs? If you do, she'll probably become more social.

As long as she isn't actualy resting her body on the bottom, there is no need to worry about illness. Her feeling the bottom may indicate she is searching for food. If the others are being aggressive towards her, perhaps she isn't eating quite as much as she'd like (maybe try feeding at opposite ends or else try a catfish pellet - don't feed extra though).

In time, all three should get along. Particularly if the male becomes interested in breeding, the females will start to hang out together more

 

[doresy]

Thank you both. The tank is heavily planted (artificial) including a small patch of floating. There is also plenty of shelter in artificial mango roots. Nothing happens when she swims up (ignored by the other 2) As I said she seems happy it's just that she spends quite a bit of time gently bumbling along the bottom (completely upright) I would dearly love to get more but I am slightly over stocked with other species already (and I need to get a few pals for my 3 n. tetras a well) and I do not like to return fish.