Pearl Gouramis

[fish_face]

Does anyone know how to combat major shyness in fish???

I have two pearl gouramis, a male and female, and they're really reclusive, staying at the back of the tank behind the rocks all the time. I think that pearls are like this in general, but i'm worried that they're not getting anything at feeding time.

 

[sylvia]

It all depends on what's in your tank

If you want them to feel safe and come out you need a lot of plant cover (especialy floating) always near by. The plants need not be real and usualy they need not even be plants - just a lot of cover.

The other thing that helps is to not have any large, boisterous or very active species in the same tank. Pearls usualy shy away from other gouramies - especialy larger ones - or larger fish.
Active shoaling fish can also be a problem as they may intimidate the pearls. Peaceful shoaling species help encourage pearls to show themselves as they are a sign of a secure environment. Fish like harlequin rasboras or peaceful tetras would fall into this category.
In a large tank, bottom-dwellers don't realy matter provided they don't come near the nervous pearls at the surface.

Usualy, even the most nervous and shy fish will get used to their new environment and eventualy grow to be a lot more outgoing and confident. Changing the inhabitants and adding new, unfamiliar fish species, will cause the pearls to be even more nervous.

For food, try feeding all the other fish on one end and the pearls on the other. Tempt them with live or frozen foods.

 

[Doggfather]

How long have you had them?

When i first got my pearls they were exactly the same, but after about 2 weeks they were out and about all the time, it was difficult seeing all the other fish because they wanted the attention!

Your tank seems ok, but i would watch out/remove some fish in the intrest of your gourami...

2 dwarf neon-blue gouramis - I wouldn't go near any dwarf gourami now, it's like a game of russian roulette with some of these fish, due to mass interbreeding in fish farms, not enough 'wild' blood has been introduced, in the intrest of new colour forms, so the immune systems of the fish have been significantly reduced weakened leaving the fish prove to disease such as TB...These fish also share the same area of the tank as the pearl gourami which couls be one cause of their shyness

1 male betta - One of the worst tankmates for gourami, they share the same level of the tank and can become very aggresive to fish they believe are in competition with them. Another possible cause of their shyness

Hope that helps a bit




Edit: Spelling )

 

[fish_face]

I had only had them a few days then. They're still shy, but i've put a huge leafy plant at the back of the tank and I think they are slowly getting braver