Scared Fish!

[foolinwho]

i've recently set up my tank again, and i bought 3 guppies and two balloon mollies to start with.

yesturday i bought 2 gold rams and a dwarf gourami.

i was assured when i bought them that they're peaceful fish and would do well in a community tank, but ever since i added them, my guppies seem to be scared!
they're usually very lively and swimming around, but for the last couple of days they've stayed at the very top of the tank...
are they scared of the dwarf gourami? and what can i do to help them!?

worried fish owner x

 

[rachael.chesnutt]

I've heard that guppies make great gourami snacks...

ditch the guppies. They are boring, anyway. =]

 

[Gilli]

It shouldnt be a problem as these fish will all live together peacefully. i have a male dwarf flame gourami a pair of bredding rams and guppies in my tank with no problems.

I take it that your tank is already fully cycled before you added the fish?

 

[foolinwho]

yes of course!
they seem to have cheered up a bit since saturday actually, but they're still not as happy as they were before
maybe they're just getting used to the gourami (who my mum named fletcher)

and i will never ditch my guppies!
they're too pretty
x

 

[Gilli]

You will find that the gourami will 'claim' a section of the tank as his own territory. My Gourami is in charge of the tank and every so often reminds everyone of it! The only time things do get a bit hairy for a while is when the rams lay their eggs in his end of the tank then they dont want anyone to be near and of course the gourami wont be chased off! - but he is a darling. I love his cheeky face and the way he sometimes patrols up and down. His name is Mr Banana as he loves them and he also feeds from my hand!

And you are quite right to love your guppies - I think they are a very underated fish and I love my male called Mr Wobble!