Having problems with an angel and gourami.

[Miss darling]

Hi, I would be very grateful for any advice..
I have a 350litre well planted tank with bog wood, and other hiding places. I have had platies/phantom tetra/loaches/plecos and corries living together happily with a golden gourami. Under the advice of the fish shop I got an angel fish. I was careful to try to pick the one at the back of the group!
I have had them all living happily for a year but as she's reaching maturity she seems to be targeting the gourami. She's been slowly picking at him more and more, initially not a problem as he's so quick. But getting worse, then today, every time he came up for air! I was so worried about him i took him out and out him in my quarantine tank... bit he can't stay there.
Any ideas other than rehoming one of them please?
Many thanks

 

[Fishmanic]

Perhaps adding some very tall plants will help as it gives them more hiding areas. You can get some very tall silk plants if you can't find tall natural plants.

If that doesn't work, rehoming may be your only option.

 

[azvictoria]

I'm kind of surprised with that tank size, it wasn't recommended to get several angels. They do best as a pair or with several. Unfortunately I have learned the very hard way (and with lots of of advice on this forum), that once angels get to the point of really damaging another fish, it's unlikely that you can change their minds. I tried gouramis with angels years ago, and I no longer keep gouramis - it didn't go well for them. I'm sure some gourami keepers would never keep angels with their stock. You may have to make a rehoming decision. Best of luck

 

[Itsslucky]

Do you have plants tall enough to break the line of site or are they all shorter plants ? How intent are you on keeping both of them ?

 

[Miss darling]

Hi yes i have several anubis that go from the bog wood at the bottom all the way to the surface. The gouarmi got to the point of hiding behind one and coming up for air, that was when I first noticed a problem. But now the angel is seeking him out... I don't want the gourami to spend his whole life in hiding either.
I have no idea how I'm supposed to choose! Theynare both beautiful fish. I suppose I was wandering, if I got more gourami if that would help. But I'm worried it will inflame the problem? Sounds as if rehoming is my only option. That or persuade my partner i need another tank!

 

[Itsslucky]

I am also surprised with the size that they didn't recommend several angels as Victoria said. Usually fish are less aggressive when there is more of them but I’m not sure that works with angels. You could try getting another angel and see if that will help, do you know if he is a male or female ?

 

[Itsslucky]

I’m honestly surprised he’s targeting a specific fish with how big the tank is. They usually only do that when they are ready to mate and even then it’s a territorial thing not a target attack thing. Can you list your stock with the amounts of each fish ?

 

[Miss darling]

Yes I did wander about that, about perhaps trying to get one of op sex.. I think its a girl (would need to double check) i always refer to her as madam!
I'm just so worried about inflaming the problem and having more fish to rehome. Plus my existing one is a fair size now and presumably I'd only be able to get another little one from the LFS.
Do you think its worth a try?
My quarantine tank is only 60L so I don't want guarmi in there for too long. Though as I explained to him yesterday its better than being attacked.. Gives him a bit of time for r&r.
Oh dear... there was me thinking fish would be relaxing ?

 

[Miss darling]

I have;
3 yoyo loach
7 phantom tetra
14 platies
2 plecos (one lovely stripey and a gold)
4 sterbai corries (sadly just lost one)
Then the angel and gourami
Water changes weekly. Random water testing (roughly week-10 days) always spot on.
Lots of live plants, tho its only the 3 large anubias that go to the surface. Much of the other plants are eaten/pulled out before they get that big. Lots of rocks/caves/tubes.
2 large external filters and an air bubble thing.
Many thanks for advice!

 

[azvictoria]

If you've had the angel for more than a few weeks alone, it won't tolerate other angels easily. Depends on how long it's been a single. If it's been a few weeks, you can isolate it in another tank, get a shoal of angels established and then bring it in as long as they're similar in size, and it's a real maybe. I still think it will go after your gourami but could be distracted by the new order of things - angels just don't let things go. At this point, I don't think that changing plants around would help. I only say that because I've been there. You want to get your group of angels at the same time, or within a couple of days, or decide that the gourami is the one you want. I don't know anything about their shoaling patterns or if you can add more, but others here will! Ugh - so sorry it's a tough time. They're not just fish, they're our water pets.

 

[Miss darling]

I've just been reading about angels and if you are lucky and they pair up nicely, they then want to breed and that causes even more problems, so I'm thinking perhaps not! Also I've had her nearly a year, she's a good size.

I was thinking chicken wire for fish! They can have one side of the tank each and the others can move freely!! (Joke) oh dear, if only you could reason with them.

The only thing the fish shop person suggested was getting more gourami, she said that the angel may be targeting him because he's the only other large fish. What are peoples thoughts? I will go and do more reading...

 

[Essjay]

It is not usually recommended to keep gouramis and angelfish in the same tank for this reason. They are both territorial fish and see each other as rivals for territory.

Rather than get more fish, I would think seriously about rehoming. Or, as you said, persuade your partner to let you get another tank.

 

[Miss darling]

Thank you for your advice. Pretty annoyed that the fish shop staff talked me into it.

 

[Essjay]

Never, ever believe anything a shop worker tells you. Rule #1 of fish keeping. So many shop workers haven't a clue and will make up anything to get a sale. We've all been there, you would expect them to know about fish

 

[Itsslucky]

Yeah sorry that it’s not working. Separation might be best. Having another tank never seems like a bad idea I’m just waiting on my excuse to get a new one ?. If you can’t get a new tank and don’t have someone willing to take him I’m sure the shop you bought him from should take him back. I have a pair of angelfish with some goramis and they have never bothered each other but they also have been together since the tank was cycled.