Update On My Honeys

[PrairieSunflower]

I have been treating them with anti-parasite meds and that has been making a difference, so that is good.
 
My females (2 of them) still aren't getting along though.  Since starting the parasite meds, there has been a change in the shy girl's behavior for the better.
 
I have re-arranged my existing plants so the front portion wasn't completely open and to block off some line of sight.  I moved my planted bogwood to the center and that has helped too.  The bogwood made them change their "territories".  The male has taken up on the right side and bossy girl has taken up half of the left side leaving Shy girl the back corner.
 
Then I decided to add water sprite like a sort of curtain to divide things up a bit more.... all the honey's avoid the water sprite entirely!  Shy girl has stopped hiding in her corner and now goes and hides in 3 different places on the male's side... he is perfectly ok with that he seems to like her slow and cautious nature.  He rarely let's Bossy girl on his side, she tends to go quicker and he doesn't like that.  The only time the male gets upset is when Bossy chases Shy and they go flying across the tank and then he sets them both straight.
 
So... that is where we are for behavior.... I'm hoping that evens out more as I feel bad that Shy feels the need to hide.

 

[Shelster]

How big is your tank again?

Could you up your number of females?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Yes, I could.  Would that make a big difference?  I don't want to introduce more bickering. 
 
My tank has the 3 honeys, assassin snails and 4 amanos.  It is 20 USgallons

 

[Shelster]

If I were you, I would be inclined to add a couple more females.

Bossy will have too many to boss around and shy girl should get a chance

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Should they be the same color?  Or is it ok to pick gold females?

 

[DreamertK]

Gold as in, the 3 spot gourami variant, that is a completely different species and she could turn into a male over time or cause havoc overall.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

No, I mean the gold colored honey gourami.  My two females are natural color (brown) but my male is the gold variant.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

ANOTHER UPDATE:  So, I was thinking this week to finally add some more females.... only.... I think my fish have now worked out their problems.  More or less one female keeps to the left and the other keeps to the right (male's side) and the male now goes all over wherever he pleases... there isn't much hiding going on.  The shy girl has worked out how to move around nicely on the right as not to upset the male (he doesn't like any quick movements)... and bossy girl doesn't usually come to that side as she is quicker and the male usually chases her back.
 
So... is that good behavior for them now or do they still need another female or two?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

A new update... my honeys officially now all disagree with each other equally and in a normal and balanced way.  LOL  So, I think all adjustments are now over.
 
They also have names now.
 
boy:  Mr Jelly (named by my son)
shy girl:  Amelia (named by my daughter)
bossy girl:  Miss Pickle (named by me)
 
 
So... Miss Pickle also has gotten sick in the last few days and in on day 2 of meds and already is showing signs of recovering so a full recovery is expected.  The other two seem completely unaffected.