Bolivians And Gouramis

[soybean]

I've recently added two bolivian rams to my tank and my normally peaceful dwarf gourami has had a personality transplant. He's never been territorial before, especially over the pots, caves and driftwood, preferring the top of the tank and floating plants. Never even had a problem with a betta being in there for a few days.

The poor bolivians are crammed into the smallest hidey holes they can find but I swear the gourami is seeking them out for a peck and chase.

I know someone who has rams and some other types of gourami which ignore each other hence me giving it a try.

Any hope for this? Should I set up another tank return them? Starting to feel very guilty!

 

[Fish Guy]

What size is your tank? The rams should be able to hold their own against the gouramis. You could take out the gouramis and the two rams, then move around any pots/caves then introduce all three at the one time.

 

[GShorty1981]

Typical Gouramis, if established in a tank and you add anything of similar size they will harass it non stop.

I have had this issue with a 10" Kissing Gourami and a 8" Gold Severum once, i had to remove the Kisser before it killed the Sev, i and my friend have also had this issue with 3 spot gouramis to..attacking things like Firemouths.

Gouramis and Bettas are very cichlid like with new additions.

 

[soybean]

That's just great! He hasn't bothered the apistos I added (mind you, they're still tiny) but I have noticed just now he's also chasing guppies away from him.

I have a spare 9ish gallon. Do you think if I removed the gourami from the main tank for say a fortnight or so, let the bolivians settle in, then add him back, that might resettle things?

What size is your tank? The rams should be able to hold their own against the gouramis. You could take out the gouramis and the two rams, then move around any pots/caves then introduce all three at the one time.

Tank is 1m, 180 litres. I've reshuffled the decor this afternoon but if anything that's made the gourami more agitated.

 

[KittyKat]

You'll have better luck if you take the gourami out, rearrange the whole tank and add it back a few hours later.

 

[GShorty1981]

I think if you did it for a few hours and rearranged decor it might be ok.

I put my Kisser in a black bucket for a few hours, he calmed down but a week later he was destroying my Severum again to the point it was laying on its side so i gave him back to the shop....shame because it was a nice fish with bags of character.

If all else fails, take him back to the shop and get another one, dwarfs are pretty cheap

 

[soybean]

Thanks, I think I'll try removing him for a while and do another reshuffle. I think if anything is returned it would have to be the rams, despite me wanting them for ages - the gourami is a family favourite, it has a name

 

[GShorty1981]

Whats his name?

 

[soybean]

Whats his name?

...Raymond... Don't judge me, I didn't name him!

 

[hamfist]

Typical Gouramis, if established in a tank and you add anything of similar size they will harass it non stop.

I have had this issue with a 10" Kissing Gourami and a 8" Gold Severum once, i had to remove the Kisser before it killed the Sev, i and my friend have also had this issue with 3 spot gouramis to..attacking things like Firemouths.

Gouramis and Bettas are very cichlid like with new additions.

That is all sooooo true.

Soybean .... I suspect you would need to remove the gourami for more than a few hours, although you might get lucky and it might be enough. Normally, a few days away from a known territory is needed before a fish like that loses it's territorial feelings about it. SOunds like the rams will also need a few days, to recover from the stressful harassment by the gourami. If you return the gourami too soon, the moment the rams start any nervous "victim" behaviour in response to him (as they will clearly remember him chasing them), the gourami will be egged on into chasing them again. So, it's as now much about giving the rams time to settle in, as much as removing the gourami's territorial feelings in the tank.
Good luck.

 

[soybean]

Update...

The gourami was out of the tank in a ten gallon for TWO WEEKS. I rearranged the decor in the main tank for good measure. I added him back...and literally within seconds he was chasing a ram.

Clearly a better memory than I give him credit for.

So unfortunately the rams will have to be rehomed, a shame as they're lovely. They'll have to go in the small tank for now and I'm on the hunt for a good home.