Gouramy Tank

[debiasir]

I have 2 gouramies in my tank and over the last few days around the brim and filter there is load of bubbles almost like fairy liquid bublles and the gouramy have turned darker with one turning blckish around the bottom and mouth area. one fish (the bigger) seems to chase the other loads so the smaller one hides in a pot or under the plants.

water stats are spot on as expected.

anyone know whats going on

they are honey G's

 

[sylvia]

What you are describing is the behaviour of a male gourami that has built a bubblenest and is now gaurding it. If you have females in the tank, they may even have spawned so look carefuly at the bubbles and see if you can spot eggs or little wriggling fry between them. You won't be able to raise the fry without the right set-up and foods but it's worth watching this breeding behaviour anyway. If the male gets too aggressive, it's fine to destroy the nest and, though he may re-build it and start chasing other fish away again, it will temporarily calm him down.

 

[debiasir]

thank you

what i think is the male floats right near the bubbles tilllights out then goes for a swim.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Gosh, must be the season for it. Mine are producing alot of fry right now. Am having to get another few females in the relieve the one in there, although she is a massive egg producer I'd like to let her have a little rest. Now I have a fry tank almost ready to go too am hoping to have some grow up.
You'll find, apparently, that, if they do have fry, more often the not they will get eaten by other tank mates. I have to say 'apparently' because mine haven't done this. Goodness only knows why.
Hugs,
P.
P.S:You can buy food for the fry at most decent lfs's if you want to try and grow some of them but you will need a grow out tank eventually, if not almost immediatly, depending on the temperaments of the fish in the tank.

 

[sylvia]

Speaking of which, I know this is kind of hijacking so excuse me for that, but Miss Dib Dabs, what do you have in with your gouramies? Unless all you have is bottom-dwellers like cories or otos, it realy is a wonder you still have fry!

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

The only other members are a young syno eupterus and a female bristlenose. Neither of them go near the young, more, I think, due to the gouramies reaction if they try. The syno will be moved out soon and am hoping to get a male to join the female b.n. I wouldn't try and put anything else in there now. The gouramies simply won't put up with anything. They killed my oto's very early on, well before they were sexually active (an unfortunate mistake on my part). And even larger fish would be bullied mercilessly I suspect. A recent new female has been picked on, poor thing, more due to not yet being ready or happy enough to be producing eggs and the dominant female made it very clear who is boss of the tank, despite the 2 males. Things seem to have settled down now thankfully but I am having to keep a close ete at any rate. Fry will be moved out in about a week to a grow out tank, or before, if there's trouble. Trouble is the active female is a major egg producer and there's already more young fry in the tank. Am hoping to take her out for a lil holiday once the other two females are producing. Fish eh.
Hugs,
P.

 

[debiasir]

should the gouramies turn really dark almost black in places

 

[sylvia]

Yep, male honeys turn a dark blue-black on their underside/throat area and also sometimes at the base of the dorsal fin and head area. It's breeding coloration.

 

[debiasir]

brilliant thank you