Honey Gourami Nipping?

[Johnlenham]

I was under the impression honeys where peaceful unless its a m/f or multiple males but atm I have only one in my tank with 4 corys, 9 diamond neons and a Bolivian.

Ive noticed one that he dosent seem to be feeding where as the tetras I got the same day ravage the flake food and my Bolivian eats the corys sinking waffers.

Ive also seen him follow the corys and Im pretty sure he trys to nip them as he gets really close then they dart off a million miles an hours.


Is this normal behaviour? would removing the corys and replacing them with two females help?

 

[sylvia]

When you say 'honey' do you mean the dwarf color morph (Colisa lalia) or an actual honey gourami (Colisa chuna)? It is a little unusual for the honey to be going after cories but otherwise the males are territorial so you should expect some chasing. How big is your tank? I would add some kind of plant cover - floating is best - and reduce the current near the top of the water column. This should encourage him to establish a territory there and thus ensure he finds himself at odds with the cories less often.

 

[Johnlenham]

Im pretty sure its just a normal Honey as the other dwarfs where labled as such and at the pother end of the shop.
*spitting image of mine

He seems to have made his territory the area around the filter but gos all over the tank. Ill get a pic up to show. Ive added a floating plant but the current pushes it to the opposite corner .

Im thinking of re homing the 3 corys as there are going to grow to be the largest in the tank as I foolishly thought all Corys remained small like pygmys

 

[Miah002]

They're timid fish so i think he's exploring.

 

[Johnlenham]

They're timid fish so i think he's exploring.

Yeah its fine if hes exploring but if hes being an aggressive little sod well that wont do!

I have a feeling hes scaring off the tetras aswell as they are all gathered in one corner while he has free reign of the tank

Arghhh I really like him aswell when hes not being a bully

Maybe I just need to re arrange my stocking, swapping out 3 corys for an oto and the gourami for another Bolivian perhaps.

 

[Miah002]

If you get otos then buy 6. I bought 4 and one died off.

Those 3 have lived for a quit long. I bought another one two weeks ago which has been living for two weeks.

 

[Johnlenham]

Well everything seems to have righted itself.

I returned my corys as they where abit too hyper for the other tank mates and got an oto (last one in the shop, woman spent abotu 10mins trying to catch it ) and two female gouris (much more rounded, duller in colour) and after about 10mins of being introduced the male was following them around and much more relaxed can see them now with the light off going around in a trio so hopefully hes nice and happy now