Opaline Gourami Problem.

[Spanerman]

Right, I bought a pair (M,F) of opaline gouramis today, i put them into my tank (27G) and they appeard to be fine, they were fine together and with the other fish for several hours, but just now the male started bullying the femal, chasing her around and nipping her. She is now sitting amongst my plants at an awkward angle and now not moving much, her fins are moving but she appears to be in distress.

What could be the problem? Do you think she will be ok?

I baught them from Maidenhead Aquatics in Cardiff and the gent who sold me them told me to call them if there are any problems, should i return them?

Sam.

 

[indigoj]

are you certain it's not 2 males?

 

[Spanerman]

Yes the fins are very different.

The males dorsal fin is much more pointed and he is more slender.

Sam.

 

[coldcazzie]

you might need a higher ratio of females to male, ie. buying 2 more females might spread the bullying out between them and so spread the stress..?

sounds very similar to what happened to me a few years back - my male dwarf gourami killed the female he came home with, then the replacement I bought him, so I bought 2 more males and then he was happy. go figure...

 

[Spanerman]

Thanks for the replys, they have appeard to have calmed down, and now seem to be courting, they are twisting together and folowing eachother around, i doubt theres anyway they would be breeding/making a buble nest (theres no floating plants).

Sam.