Flaring? et al

[tekknocolor]

The other day I was placing a mirror next to my three spot and he started doing the wavy dance thingy again. He turned this deep blue/gray shade and then puffed his gill like things out. Is he attempting to "flare"? Also, I've noticed this with paradise gouramis. You can tell there's a distinct "flare" when approached by another. Is that what they're trying to do?

Also, another question. For the past few nights, my three spot's been acting out of the ordinary. When I or my fiance approaches the tank he darts off and you can hear him cracking his head or body on the top of the hood. What's going on? It's like all of a sudden he's become skittish and freaks out when there's some sort of movement outside the tank. He also does it when other fish move quickly in the tank. Any ideas or suggestions? (He doesn't appear to be ill. He still hoovers food down his fat lips like it's going out of style. No rapid breathing until after the freak out session. All water parameters are fine - tank's been established for about as long as I've been a member of the forum. No new fish. No idea.)

 

[Gourami Lover88]

Yes he is probably flaring the reflection in the mirior, my gouramies dont flare,but my paradise fish flares when the two golds or kissing gets to close to him.

As for the freakouts try not walking by, or diming the lights and covering the tank so he cant se out side, since he has been flaring the might be more skiddish thean normal

 

[tekknocolor]

Well, like I mentioned, it's not just us, but other fish as well. Even though he's the dominant personality in the tank he still freaks out regardless. At night, when we're in bed, you can still hear him banging around in the living room in his tank. Maybe it's just him. Also, this doesn't occur when he sees his reflection. He just does it regardless. Maybe he's "special"

 

[Inchworm]

Hi tekknocolor

Yes, the color and posture changes your gourami is making would be called "flaring," if he were a betta. Different kinds of gouramis turn different, usually very beautiful colors during this activity.

As for the bumping around, this is not unusual among gouramis. Remember that they, as territorial fish, are always on the lookout for others who might try to usurp them and are a bit on the nervous side because of it. If you are certain that there are no aggressors in the tank with him, and that he is in good health, there is little that you can do about it.

Gouramis are fast swimmers and sometimes it seems that they sort of run out of space before they slow down. To be on the safe side, be sure that there is no open space where he could go flying out of the tank during one of these episodes.

 

[sylvia]

How big is the tank and do you have lots of cover and floating plants for your gourami? Adding these could reduce this skittish behaviour though may not irradicate it. I also agree with dimming the lights for a while to see if there's any change. Also, what tankmates does he have? Are there any realy quick or overly boisterous fish? It doesn't take an aggressive fish to make a gourami act like this, it could just be that little blurrs zipping past him make him nervous. If this is the case, increasing the amount of cover to block the fish from view, occasionaly, and provide a retreat, may help him feel safer.

 

[tekknocolor]

The tank has plants everywhere, so plenty of places to hide. I've accepted the fact that he is going to be doing this for awhile. He is the don of the tank and doesn't fight with anyone anymore. We had a gold gourami previously that he used to beat up, but he's gone to a different home. If I covered the tank I'd never get to see them. As it is currently, I'm either on the road or at work at least 11 hours of the day and then the rest of the time sleeping or going on with regular business so no one bothers the fish. I'm sure he'll be fine, but just wanted to know if anyone else has the same problems. Oh and no way for him to jump out, he's a fatty.

Oh well, thanks for all the advice.