Dwarf Gourami's

[malakye]

My male powder blue dwarf gourami has started building a huge nest in the corner of my community tank, he is frantically tearing up bits of plants to stuff into it along with every bit of riccia he can gather up, he's now busy trying to entice a female up there. He seems to be a gigalo though because he has had both the female blue and honey female up there. So far unsuccessfully.
My questions are.....will he actually breed with both? Also would it be better to move him and one of the females into a seperate tank just incase he can encourage someone to spawn?
I have 6 dwarfs in the tank, 2 red robins (youngsters), 2 powder blue and 2 honey coloured, I knew the male was a definate male but I was never sure what the others were, I now assume I have 2 females (blue and honey coloured) and a honey male because he is attacking the other honey coloured one quite badly if it goes anywhere near his corner. Where he is getting rather fruity with the 2 females.
I had 2 dwarfs previously to these guys for a few year who never showed any interest what so ever in each other so this is all new to me, live bearers I know what I am doing, as in nothing, just catch fry and put them in the smaller tank or breeder net. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Reesy1989]

Definately take him outta the tank and put him in another one. let him build his nest in that tank then place your chosen female in there.

That way the community tank will stay peaceful and the other gouramis he is attacking will have some peace lol.

I have had them breed before. When the male is aiming to breed then they do become a little aggressive but still not very agressive at all they will chase off other males that are in their teritory but with more vigour purely because of the competition for breeding.

Another tank should see the blue gourami breed and the community tank become peacefull again!

But make sure you read up on the internet alot about how to care for the fry of gouramis. Also once they have bred take the female out

 

[malakye]

Thanks Reesy, right after posting my male starting mating with both females, they were at it for a good while, we watched her spawn her eggs, him pick up any stragglers who missed the nest and put them back in. So we thought well its too late now we will have to let them hatch then try to catch and move any young.
Yesterday he was like a pitbull guarding that nest and the eggs, got up this morning and his nest had been ransacked, one of the cory cats was having a whale of a time going through it too. Poor blue boy looked dejected lol. 3 hours later and hes decided to build another nest. I am going to take out all the floating plants set up another tank and let them try again in a couple of months time. I have done loads and loads of reading the last 2 days about them and would love to give it a try.

 

[Reesy1989]

Ye that possibly the best idea. Make them a breeding tank. Make sure you do as much research as possible so that when the times comes again that he starts making a nest that the tank is cycled and the male can be put in straight away. That way it shouldn't disrupt him too much. Rather than getting him out once it is fully built.

Good luck