Spitting out food

[Bling]

I have a pair of Pearls just outside the door, just moved them to a temporary plastic "tank" (29 gal)--- made for ponds. The female is SO sweet and tame, the move was easy for her, and she eats way too much; but the male is the nervous type, and now he hides almost all the time. I haven't seen him eat but once all last week, and after he took it, his favorite, a nice redworm, he spat it out. He couldn't seem to keep it down! What's going on? The water is the same I always use for them, clean rainwater, and about 7 pH, and no nitrates (from the test kit I got). It's a tiny bit cloudy from dirt or clay that came from the plants (quite a few plants, all in pots). The worst condition is that it's kind of cool, upper 60's F to low 70's, but it doesn't bother the female. (We're in Hawaii, and it's a very wet spring.) Sorry this is so long, but I'm wondering if I have to bring him inside again (where it's not any warmer, but I can see him better). He would sure hate to be moved again!

 

[abstract]

he sounds stressed if there are no physical signs of illness....and my guess would be that it is the temperature - these fish really need to be in at least low 70 degree water, but around 78 ideally - why not just purchase a heater for the tank (although i do realize its made for ponds)??

 

[Bling]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a heater, but I hesitated to use it because of all the horror stories, and I'm not always home during the day in case it overheats. It doesn't have a temperature setting, just a screw you turn. (?) I think I'll put it in right now (it's simply storming outside) even though that means I'll have to disconnect the filter. There's only one place I can plug in that is dry. But I don't think that should bother a "swamp fish" too much.

 

[abstract]

well you are going to want to keep that filter going....might i suggest getting some kind of surge protector or extension cord with multiple plugs so you can have them both in


as for the heater...make sure you set it as low as you need to for the light to come on (or whatever indication there is that the heater is actually heating the water) at first - you want to very gradually increase the temperature maybe a few degrees each day til you're in the 75-80 range... hope that helps - let us know how it all goes for you and keep an eye on him for any physical signs of illness/suffering/discomfort

 

[Bling]

I don't think these gouramis are TOO disturbed by normal temperature changes throughout the day. They were recently kept in a 10 gal. by a window, and although most of the tank was blocked off, they got some afternoon sun, which changed the water temperature at least 5 degrees (over an hour or longer). I'd keep checking them, and they were both fine. Is there anything more beautiful than pearl gouramis gliding through sunlight? And the female shows no stress at all. How can they be so different? They came from the same batch in the store. I have the heater in now, but the water is the same. I think it will take days to warm up---maybe the sun will come out by then.
Thanks for the heater hints. First time trying it.

 

[NeveR]

Gouramis, although usually bigger than most common freshwater community fish, have very small mouths.

They also don't really have any noticable teeth inside their mouths (like most community fish) and therefore must soften their food by sucking it in and spitting it out constantly.

My gouramis do this all the time, it just breaks up their food and makes it easier to swallow.

 

[Bling]

Thanks, NeveR. I hadn't noticed that. The female must have a big mouth---she doesn't do that much, but yeah, I saw the male finally swallow something small.
Heater: I guess it was too small, left it in 2 days and didn't heat the water much. Put back the filter. Both fish doing pretty well now! Thanks to all.