Trouble

[eudielynn]

My husband's cousin passed away last week and his wife is moving back to her
home town. She has given his aquarium to another cousin who wants it for a salt water set up. The other cousin does not want the two golden gouramis that were in the tank. When I came home yesterday they were swimming around in my 20 gal with my two golden grouramis. (No I didn't kill my hubby, yet....) I now have three male and one female in a 20 gal tank. The two larger males (the cousin's) are already terrorizing the smaller male (mine). He keeps hiding in the back of the tank behind the filter. I took him out last night and put him in a small bowl I use for my betta when I do his water changes, but I know I can't keep him in there indefinately. I don't have the funds for a larger set up. What can I do? Is there any hope of them being able to live together. I hate to get rid of them, but I will rather than see any of them die. My hubby thought I would be happy to have them.

 

[Terrorbyte]

Try adding some plants to your 20 gallon tank, specifically floating plants. Gouramis (especially the males) are territorial so adding plants will provide refuge for those fish being bullied and might help resolve territory disputes among the gouramis. If they continue to battle each other, you may have to take further measures such as adding a divider wall (available at most fish stores) to isolate the aggressive fish.

 

[pseud]

I had two male dwarf gourami's in a 20g tank, thinking they'd be fine, but one was very aggressive toward the other. After a couple of weeks of rearranging the tank, spending lots of money on some more plants, it helped the situation slightly, but didn't solve it. Just yesterday I took the aggressive gourami to my local fish shop and asked to donate him to them, and they took him off my hands. So, in my experience, nothing will help short of getting rid of the two gourami's you just received or like Terror suggested, dividing the tank.

p.s. My gourami suffered fin damage and the stress caused him to turn 'black'. I kid you not, here's a pic. His color is already returning after about 12 hours...

 

[eudielynn]

Thanks, I will go to the lfs this afternoon and pick up some more plants. I have them in the bottom, but no floating ones. I will also pick up a divider - just in case. I have been asking around work to see if anyone would like one or two additions, but haven't found another home for them yet. I noticed that the small male seemed darker last night. He is back to his normal color in the small bowl today.

 

[pseud]

How are they doing Eudielynn?

 

[Terrorbyte]

Not that overstocking is the answer to resolving gourami issues, I find that if you diversify your fish community and have enough fish, an aggressive gourami won't pick on any one fish too much. As long as one individual isn't being singled out, everything should be ok. Generally dwarf gouramis are not a problem, but you should keep at least 3 or 4 males (or a mixture of males and females) at a time to prevent the "singled-out" scenario. With 2 males, you're bound to have problems. The 2 males will really go at each other, and one will always dominate the other, possibly killing it in the long run.

 

[JoBodude]

what other fish do u have in the tank with them>? or just the gouramies?

maybe(i dont know if this works for gouramies) u can get dithers? or some sort of distraction fish? i dont have any gouramies so sorry if it sounds stupid

 

[Mr Miagi]

I dont like the idea of adding fish to "distract" the gouramis. Its mean to them if it works, but i highly dought it would in the first place.

The problem is your little on has already established his territory, the whole tank, and now hes gonna be beaten up.

It would be wise to add floating plants and more refuges like the others have said above, but fail this, the lfs is looking mighty fine...lol

 

[eudielynn]

I had to get the two new gouramis out of the tank and took them to the lfs. The plants did not seem to help. I thought about a divider, but then the two new ones started to fight with each other. I had seen kissing gouramis go at it before, but not golden ones, I didn't know they would "kiss" too. I hate to get rid of any creature. I love them all so much, but it broke my heart to see my little one chewed up and hiding in a corner. I traded them for a dwarf neon blue and a dwarf flame. I was told they were much more peaceful. My little one is back in the tank now, but he still just hides in the corner. He comes out to eat so I guess he is okay, he's just still scared. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[pseud]

Awwww, I hope he's ok! Don't worry little man, you'll be alright!!!