I Need A Little Help

[RabHTiD]

Sorry don't know where this topic should go..

I have had a Gourami fish for a few years, hes had friend's but they had died.

So today i went out and bought a Bala shark, and a siamese fighting fish, but the Gourami fish keeps trying to attack the bala shark? the man says they should get on with each other? but the siamese fish is going happy and not bothering with whats happening around him? Bala shark keeps hiding behind the pump because it feels safe there?

this is the fish..

and this is my tank.

I understand the Bala Shark might grow too big in this tank, and that it should have a buddy with it? but the man didnt say anything about it. I had researched these fish after i tryed to get my head round why it was being attacked.

 

[fluttermoth]

Gouramis and Siamese fighters are very closely related and shouldn't be kept together; they see each other as rivals and nearly always fight.

I don't know exactly what kind of gourami you have, but it looks like a three spot/opaline from your pic, and they are a very aggressive fish.

If you remove the bala (which you should, really; they need to be in groups of at least three and get to over a foot long, as well as being active swimmers; you'd be looking a a minimum of a five or six foot tank for that), you'll probably find the gourami attacks the fighter instead.

I don't know why he's decided to pick on the bala first, but that's fish for you; all individuals.

Sorry I can't give you an easy answer, but at least you've learnt two valuable lessons; research your fish before you buy them, not after, and never listen to what 'the man in the shop' tells you

 

[RabHTiD]

I had 3 different shops telling me the fish will be fine together, think il take the Bala Shark back tomorrow, he says he will swap them. Shame really as i was gonna purchase a larger tank for him.

The fighting fish is fine with the Gourami fish, any idea what other one i could get as i can swap the bala?

 

[Aquascaper]

The fighting fish is fine with the Gourami fish

At the moment because the aggression was directed at the Bala, keep an eye on it as it will probably turn on the other one once the Bala is removed.