Dwarf Gourami Is Too Shy To Eat

[big_fire]

I need some help getting a Dwarf Gourami to eat. He won't leave his protective corner of the tank and join the others when it is meal time. I see him eating the algae off the fake plants but it has been a month and the algae can't be enough to sustain him can it?

 

[Nosnibor]

I need some help getting a Dwarf Gourami to eat. He won't leave his protective corner of the tank and join the others when it is meal time. I see him eating the algae off the fake plants but it has been a month and the algae can't be enough to sustain him can it?

Hello BF,

I had the same issue with my Pearl Gourami 'Bobby'. Basically it's time, patience and moving slowly around the aquarium.

Hopefully your tank isn't near a loud area like a passageway or near the TV/HiFi. So what I did was sat in front of the tank with my laptop and stayed there for a good few hours whilst working and replying to many posts on here where I was asking a billion questions Eventually he would come out even if only to show his head and pop back down again. Then after another 30 minutes he would come up and if I did anything more than lift my head up he would be gone again. At the end of the session he would let me lift my head and right hand slowly before hiding again ) That was session 3

I also fed the fish in small doses about 3 times a day staying around near the tank for about 10 minutes after. I even managed to get the other Gouramis to eat from my fingers. I found after about a week he would come out and shoot back behind the wood when he even saw me looking at him (amazing eyesight).

I think there is a flaw with tanks like mine that bow at the front, it doesn't help with frightened fish as I believe it gives off an exaggerated warped image of you. So if you even move slightly they see it in greater detail

Anyway, I not only spent more time in front of the tank but also walked passed a lot slower and would creep up on the tank when I did see him out, would take about 10 minutes to get there at that speed but it was worth it if only for 30 seconds before he spotted me.

I maybe wrong here and it may just be my imagination, but I think that fish are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.

One last thing, I have found that Bobby is mad on Daphnia more than any of the others, so when I put that in the tank I can stand there and do cartwheels and he just ignores me and scoffs away

How long have you had the Gourami for? What's your set up?

Martin

 

[community begginer]

your not alone on this one. i had the same problem with my 2 in my 3t community. just takes time. soooooo relax and watch the little guys. no probs.
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