Sparkling Gourami And Bristlenose

[b3cca]

Well always before adding anything I try to reasearch as much as I can to ensure a nice peaceful friendly community and recently aded a small (maybe 2 inch) Bristlenose plec.
I have plenty of live plants, plenty of cover and caves, hiding places etc.
 
Tank is 125 litre with 3 sparkling Gourami, 8 harlequin rasbora, 6 Cherry barbs and that 1 Bristlenose so i don't think it's crowded or anything
 
Now since he (the pleco) has been in there (around 3 weeks) My 3 sparkling gouramis seems to be constantly freaked out, scared and very skittish even crashing against the glass and i also caught one trying to bury under the substrate fairy violently really like he was running (swimming) scared.
this morning I noticed 1 Gourami has like eye pop seems he damaged it on something
 
Until I added the Bristlenose the Gouramis were always shy but were always really calm and chilled, has anybody ever experienced anything like that ?  Or could it be something else and just coincidence it happened around the same time that I added the bristlenose
 
 
P.S I have now issolated the Gouramis in their own tank as tbh they were scaring me just how frightened they seemed.

 

[ncguppy830]

the tank is to small for the two britlenoses but im sure they didnt scare the gouramis

 

[b3cca]

I only have 1 bristlenose, 2 inches long lol  

 

[ncguppy830]

oops sorry but its not the brittlenose that did it

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Was there anything else that you added to the tank around the same time as the Bristlenose? Any chemicals?
 
I would recommend that you perform daily water changes or 50% in the tank the Gouramis are in to help heal the one with popeye. Remember to use a dechlorinater and use warm water.
 
Hopefully everything will work out

 

[Shelster]

I didn't have much luck with my sparklers either:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421211-naughty-sparklers/

Do you think the bristlenose is a red herring, and they are just becoming territorial with each other?

 

[b3cca]

Thanx, Yeah everything I read said that they would get along fine with the bristlenose. So Who knows ?
 
I have 2 sparklers in their own 70 litre tank now and the one with popeye is in a small (20 litre I think) hospital tank until I figure what's wrong with him or he gets better/worse.
 
was intending making this 70 litre into a sparklers only tank anyways so if everything settles down I'll probablly get another 2-3 and just have them all in a species only tank

 

[Shelster]

Yes I think number increase will work.

Good luck, and keep us informed. I do love sparklers, but like I said I was getting no enjoyment out of my tank. A lfs I go to has a 90 litre or so tank full of sparklers and they all swim together

 

[b3cca]

Well I got these 3 a few months ago when they were just born/hatched or whatever you call it, so maybe you're right and they are are now getting territorial as they are maturing.
They've always been shy though , honestly I very rarely see them even when feeding but luckily i live in a place with very soft and acidic tap water so won't have any problems with that, should just need a few roots/wood get around 6 sparklers in total and they may then feel more at home

 

[Shelster]

If you speak to MBOU she can sex them/tell you how to do it.