Rainbow Fish Bullying Dwarf Gourami! :(

[annaw123]

Okay, i have a blue rainbow fish, and for the last week he's been chasing my Dwarf Gourami, it wasn't until today that i properly watched and saw my poor little gourami hiding behind a plant pot, with the mean rainbow fish staring at him! Any ideas what i should do? Get rid of the rainbow fish? If so, anyone living near Southend on Sea can come and collect him!

 

[Louiseness]

Sounds like you'll have to rehome the rainbow. They really shouldn't be kept singly anyway, he needs a shoal which will spread the aggression.

Try posting an ad for collection on gumtree/preloved/aquarist classified/freecycle.

 

[Louiseness]

Sorry, double post.

 

[annaw123]

ah okay thankyou, the man in the fish shop didn't tell me that ¬¬

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, they should be kept in schools of 6+, and preferably of 10-15+ individuals. Depending on your tank size, more rainbows might be an option, but if your tank is too small/stocked, then finding one of the fish a new home would be better.

It's not the fault of the shop for not telling you, but your own for not researching the animals you want to keep. Please make sure to read about the species you want to buy before buying them.

 

[annaw123]

Oh yes i do research all of the fish i even consider buying, the problem was that on the tank it said they were Paradise Fish, which i know are different colours to rainbow fish, but i have a bit of trouble with my colour vision so trusted the name on the tank I now realise that he is most definitely a Rainbow Fish, and needs a new home!

 

[KittyKat]

Oh yes i do research all of the fish i even consider buying, the problem was that on the tank it said they were Paradise Fish, which i know are different colours to rainbow fish, but i have a bit of trouble with my colour vision so trusted the name on the tank I now realise that he is most definitely a Rainbow Fish, and needs a new home!

They're in high demand, so you shouldn't have a problem finding it a new home next time, it might be worth making sure you are acquainted with the body shape of the fish, so you can tell it apart from others by that.

On a side note, a paradise fish would probably treat the dwarf gourami about same as the rainbow is doing now, because it is also a gourami and they have quite high aggression towards other gouramis.

 

[annaw123]

Ah brilliant, and yes i think i will just stick with what i have in the tank Thanks for your help!