Two Male Dwarf Gouramis

[Ness]

Hiya
I'm new to this forum, so please be gentle with me . I have recently acquired 2 male "powder blue" gouramis from the lfs. I was told I should have no problem with 2 males if they are introduced to the tank together, which they were. They are in a 12 gallon planted tank with a few other little fish. So far they are fine with the other fish and are ok with each other, just displaying and then avoiding each other no real aggression.
My question is as they get older will they get more agressive and therefore I'll have problems. I've already had to give away 2 fish because of lfs's rum advice so I'm hoping that peace will reign and they will all live happily ever after!
Any help gratefully received!
Ness
Ps I love them soooo much they are so beautiful and graceful!

 

[sylvia]

I agree - they are beautiful little fish.

Unfortunately, it may well be that you encounter problems in teh future. They certainly will become mroe aggressive and territorial as they mature - but it's impossible to say whether or not they'll actualy fight with each other at this point - all you can realy do is watch them closely and re-home one as soon as you notice either becoming stressed.

A downside to dwarf gouramies is that they are susceptible to disease and any amount of stress can end up resulting in their death - so do watch extremely closely.

To reduce aggression when/if you see it getting out of hand, add some more plants - especialy floating ones - to devide up the territories more, lower the temperature (very gradualy though and not below 76 deg F) to reduce activity levels temporarily, re-arange the tank to force the fish to re-establish territories and try feeding the fish at opposite ends of the tank. If your filter current is weak, make it stronger. If it's strong, make it weaker. At the moment though, if they are peaceful, let them be.

 

[Ness]

Excellent advice, thank you. I should have really come on here and asked before I bought them, maybe one would have been a better idea. I will definitely keep a close eye on them, I can't stop staring at them anyway! Sad I know!

 

[sylvia]

Lol - not sad at all (IMO anyway )! I love watching my gouramies - they are some of the most interesting fish behaviour-wise - I love them