Just Got Two Gouramis

[IovaykInD]

I just got two dwarf gouramis yesterday and they acclimated fine. They are now swimming actively but it seems that they have already established their territories. Is it possible in such a short period of time? The reason I say this is because I see one of them hanging around the left and the other on the right, never going to the other side. There are already some semi bubble nests I have been seeing. I just don't know if it is possible that they have already established a territory and are already defending it. Is it possible?

Isaac

 

[IovaykInD]

Well, they are definately territorial now because they won't let the other fish get near their nest of else they start fighting them. They have a pretty big nest already, I might get some females soon.

How can I feed them? Everytime I open up the top and put in food, they always just stare at it and run away. After I move away, they go back to building their nest. Is there something special that I need to feed them, and do they eat off the surface or will they eat flakes that are sinking?

 

[severina]

Mine are like that too. They'll only eat while you're not watching for first couple of weeks.

 

[IovaykInD]

How much food do they need? Is there a way of telling whether or not they are full..I can't see where their belly gets larger? It looks the same to me before and after I feed them. Should I give them one big meal to see where the belly gets larger? What should I do
'

 

[sylvia]

You need to feed them just a pinch. Don't try to feed them more if you don't see them eating. It may take a while for them to settle in at first and you don't want extra food rotting in the tank and messing with your water quality. And yes, they will eat from the surface but they'll also take sinking foods and all my gouramies happily scavenge off the bottom if there's food lying around (I often feed them catfish pellets, algae wafers and pleco pellets in fact!). If you're realy getting worried, try feeding some frozen (or, even better, live) brine shrimp. Blood worm is also taken with gusto