Gourami Fin Nipped?

[Jonno]

Hi there,

I bought 2 female gouramis 3 days ago now and they don't seem to be very active at all. One is constantly sitting behind a rock near the substrate, the other behind all of my java fern seemingly hiding. Upon further inspection it seems that their whiskers have been nipped and are now very short, so i think they could be being bullied.

Is this normal or should i consider returning the fish back to my lfs? Tank stocking is below. I have however read that tetra/barbs are ok with gouramis?

my rosy barbs are quote boystress, perhaps these are to blame!?

Jonno.

 

[WILDER]

Have you seen the fish fin nipping or chasing them.
They can get bacterial infection in there whiskers forgot what you call them now.
They shouldn't be hiding away as you say it can be stress it bullying or ill health.

 

[Jonno]

their fins were intact when i bought them a few days ago so they must have been nipped! The rosys have a bit of a go in the day but i assume most of the bullying happens at night.

had a word with the LFS who agreed about it could be bullying and i'm returning them today. he says most of the time they are ok with barbs, but then in another tank at another time there are problems.

thanks for your help anyway