New Dwarf Gouramis

[Notsofab]

I have just purchased 2 Dwarf Gouramis ( 1 male / 1 female I was told ) and introduced them to my tank. I will take some photo's later to make sure they are male & female ( in the shop one looked very silvery with a dash of colour, but seems to have a lot more colour now they are in the tank ).

But I noticed that one of them doesn't have any 'feelers' ( sorry if its not the right word ) at all? Is this a problem or an indication of disease?

Thanks.

 

[sylvia]

Hi

59 litres isn't a lot of gallons - only about 15. That's just to warn you that you shouldn't get any more top-dwelling fish (such as these gouramies) or you'll over-crowd. The pair you have should be ok permanently provided they have plenty of places to hide. Gouramies like these appreciate floating plants and males are territorial so he may chase the female around a bit (which is somewhat stressful for her and another good reason to have plenty of retreats available).

Depending on what kind of molly you have (there are 2 right?), they can easily get to 4". If you go by the 'inch per gallon guideline' - 4" + 4" + 2" + 2" = 12 gallons (which pretty much renders you fully stocked). The extra 3 gallons are best left until you are certain the mollies are fully grown (as some do get to 6") and to allow the tank to mature and stabilize before placing strain on your biological filtration. You probably know all this already but it doesn't hurt to be told twice.

Mollies also don't usualy like gouramies much but, as long as you don't add any more and overcrowd as a result, they should work out ok together.

Anyway, to answer your question. I call the feelers 'feelers' as well (obviously). In reality they are modified ventral fins that are adapted to exploring a murky environment. They are even covered in taste cells which literally allow the fish to taste whatever it touches. Missing feelers are common because their thread-like - almost 'wormy' - appearance seems to make them irrisistably tempting for some fish. They are also easily trapped in ornaments, cut on sharp corners or caught by a powerful filter. Having said that, feelers that have recently come off should be monitored (the wound that is - not the missing feeler ) as this area can sometimes get infected if the fish is stressed or water quality is poor. Usualy the fish is fine and the feeler soon grows back - though not always to the same length as the original one. Provided your tank is cycled, your fish compatible and your water quality good, this fish (as long as it's healthy and stress-free) should grow back its feeler and be perfectly normal again in time.

 

[Notsofab]

59 litres isn't a lot of gallons - only about 15. That's just to warn you that you shouldn't get any more top-dwelling fish (such as these gouramies) or you'll over-crowd.

I wasn't intending any more top dwellers. Maybe look at 3 Peppered Cory's to fill the bottom and that maybe it. ( ... may squeeze in another one or two )

Depending on what kind of molly you have (there are 2 right?), they can easily get to 4".

These are Ballon Molly's and as of today there are 3 again. The male was proving a little too fiesty with only one female companion! Again there seems to be consensus that Ballons are smaller than other Molly's with some web sites saying they only grow to 2.5"?

As long as it's healthy and stress-free) should grow back its feeler and be perfectly normal again in time.

Thanks for this info. There doesn't appear to be any visable wound, but I will take a real close look now when I get the chance.

Can you help to sex the pair? Photo's now posted.

 

[sylvia]

You're lucky your mollies are balloons as you are right in saying that they generaly stay smaller. However, if you want cories, don't go for peppered. Though they are incredibly hardy and beautiful, they are also one of the largest growing. Look into blackfin cories (corydoras leucomelas) which are relatively common, equaly hardy but stay a bit smaller. If you can find any kind of dwarf/pygmy cory, do consider them. Though they are not quite as hardy, no cory is realy fragile by most standards and should be fine provided the tank is stable and relatively mature (c. pygmaeus is a good option and one that is quite hardy). Where did you post the gourami pics? I'll go check in the member's pics section in case they are there. I'll try to help you sex them.

 

[Notsofab]

However, if you want cories, don't go for peppered. Though they are incredibly hardy and beautiful, they are also one of the largest growing.

In the fish index, it says that the Peppered can grow to 3" in captivity. Is that large for a Cory then? I think it actually said 'Dwarf Peppered Cory' on the LFS tank - though I'd have to go back and confirm this. Do you get Dwarf Peppers or am I just getting confused again?

Where did you post the gourami pics? I'll go check in the member's pics section in case they are there. I'll try to help you sex them.

Sorry I had trouble getting the photo's on here. I have posted them now
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=108697

 

[sylvia]

Well 3" is your typical full grown 'cory size' - bronze (another very common one) cories are also labelled as getting that big. However, only a handful of species actualy reach a full 3" (most grow to about 1.5"-2.5" max. - not including tail in any measurements BTW - sex also plays a part as females are larger) and peppered cories are one of these.
I've never heard of a 'dwarf peppered cory' but they come with many weird and wonderful common names attached anyway A lot of cories are also typicaly misidentified. Your best bet would be to get the common name of the fish and look it up. Try www.planetcatfish.com for this.
The reason I suggested going for the smaller ones is because cories are remarkably active and playful - a social fish that hardly ever stops scrounging the substrate for food. If you were to go with a pygmy species, you could even fit a couple more in as they are happiest when kept in as large a group as possible.

On another note, I took a look at your photos (lovely BTW) and they're both male. If you ever come across a female I can assure you the difference is quite obvious and you would know immediately.

 

[Notsofab]

I have another slight concern about one of my new Gourami ( the one without feelers ).

He's been in my tank for 2 days now and I'm worried that he is stressing. I have a hex shaped tank. This particular Gourami seems obsessed by going to one particularly clear corner, then swimming vertically up and down in the corner very quickly.

He doesn't ever go right to the surface or to the bottom - gets about 1" away from both. So he's not going up for air or anything like that. I think he's away from the glass as well so I don't think he is rubbing himself on the glass at all.

I was worried that it was something to do with lighting and reflections, so I turned off all the lights and tried watching him in the dark. He did stop for a while but soon went back to the corner.

It you go close to the glass then he will stop and seems to be very calm, just swims around 'normally' and must more slowly. But give it a minute after you move away and he's back in the same corner doing more lengths?

Could it be noise thats upsetting him?

Or is he not upset - just a bit of a fitness fanatic???

The 3 Balloon Mollies are fine and the other Gourami is also fine. Do you think this is something I need to be concerned about? Do I need to take any actions?

 

[Clairel]

My Male blue Dwarf Gourami does this also, i dont think he appears stressed, he looks very happy, but i am upgrading to a bigger tank (180 juwel) and am moving him in there when its cycled with 2 female gouramis (yet to buy).

I also have a hexagon tank, 90 litres, and i was given 6 baby mollies, which have grown LOADS, so its time for me to upgrade, and move my 2 clown loach, 2 angel fish etc....

Im sure your Gourami is ok Has he got a g/f ?? He might be a bit lonely?? I had a female with mine, but she died a few weeks ago, and i didnt want to get anymore fish just yet, as i am fully stocked..

Claire xx

 

[Notsofab]

Im sure your Gourami is ok Has he got a g/f ?? He might be a bit lonely??

No. My LFS assured me that I was buying one male and one female though I found out here since that they were telling me lies. I wasn't too keen to have 2 males. I hoped having a M/F combination that they may have swam together a bit more.

I'm actualy a bit pee'd off that my LFS lied to me so blatently. I did do research, I did ask for a M/F pair. Maybe it is really obvious to tell M/F apart especially as they couldn't of had any females in the shop as they were all colourful like the 2 I got. Guess I know better now.

Still - I have them now. Lets hope he calms down a little. I feel a little better knowing that someone else has had one doing a similar thing. I just thought they were generally quite quiet fish and never thought they'd be darting around like this little fella.

 

[annka5]

Am not surprised your narked with the LFS, as when you see a female dwarf you'll know there's no way you can mistake which sex is which! You could take one back and tell them they mis-sold you it, and look around for a female to add later.
However, I had a male and a female in a well planted tank, and to be honest, it was a disaster as the male chased the female around constantly -basically every time she came out of hiding. There were LOADS of hiding places and this didn't help. I've heard that this is not typical behaviour, and wanted a m/f couple after doing plenty research, so it could be I was just unlucky.
I've now got the male on his own, which might not be ideal but he seems perfectly OK with it.
Dunno if that helps any.

 

[Notsofab]

You could take one back and tell them they mis-sold you it, and look around for a female to add later.

I guess you never can tell how things will turn out despite the best made plans. I won't take one back as I kind of feel that once I take a fish home I have an obligation to them. So I'll stick with them both and hopefully I won't get any problems with them both as they mature.

I'll certainly bring the matter up with the LFS manager when I next go in there. They are a dedicated Aquarium shop, so they should know a lot better!

 

[Clairel]

Ive heard, if you have 2 females to 1 male, they will get along alot better....i am planning on introducing 2 females into my new tank, when i have had it cycled for a few weeks, as he used to get along fine with the female that i did have, but she mysteriously died a few weeks ago...

Claire x

 

[annka5]

I agree, once a fish is yours it's your responsibility - however, I do feel bad that I kept my female dwarf when the male chased her so much. She died after about 6 months, which i'd imagine was basically due to the stress of being chased so much of the time. Personally, I think in retrospect it would've been better to have returned her or otherwise re-homed her. Totally different situation though!

 

[sylvia]

As annka5 has already demonstrated, keeping a pair of dwarfs is not always a good idea. You are probably lucky you got 2 males instead. Male dwarf gouramies are territorial fish and do absolutely fine, if not better, when kept entirely alone. They don't require the company of their own kind and will chase females constantly. As such, they should only realy be kept with females for breeding purposes or if you have several males and want to reduce aggression. Regardless, you should have at least a 20 gallon (standard - as hex tanks and other fancy shapes have much less surface area- therefor reducing territory space - dwarfs preffer to stay near the upper layers and claim a territory there) and 2 females to every male is much better as it means the attention is split between the two - meaning no single female is being constantly harassed. Anyway, the up and down swimming you are describing is a sign of stress and boredom. It probably comes from being in what it feels is a crowded environment. You often see this with new fish or when a fish is just becoming sexualy mature and its tankmates are also beggining to reach full size. You can help improve the situation by adding a few plants, a ceramic pot or cave or some other hiding places. He should eventualy settle down but make sure his gourami tankmate is not bullying him (as the other gourami has probably claimed the top and this one doesn't have a territory it likes yet - this is because your tank is not the standard shape and thus has a smaller surface area).

 

[Clairel]

Im moving my Male Gourami to my 180 litre Juwel tank, when its set up and cycled (Approx 3 weeks) I was thinking about getting 2 females for him, do you think this is a bad idea??

Claire x