Whats Going On?

[Sandamarly]

My gourami keeps arching his back and flaring his fins to another gourami....any idea whats going on?
Andrea

 

[sylvia]

What species are they? Also, what sex? These are usualy the first signs of aggression in maturing males or males competing for territory. It could be a sign your tank is over-stocked or that the gouramies are crowded. This kind of thing, dependning on species, can easily ecalate and you could end up with a full-blown battle on your hands.
Alternatively, this could possibly be a male displaying to a female (still can lead to a blood-bath dependning on species) or simply a couple of gouramies re-establishing hierarchy.
edit: What size is your tank and what fish are in it?

 

[Sandamarly]

What species are they? Also, what sex? These are usualy the first signs of aggression in maturing males or males competing for territory. It could be a sign your tank is over-stocked or that the gouramies are crowded. This kind of thing, dependning on species, can easily ecalate and you could end up with a full-blown battle on your hands.
Alternatively, this could possibly be a male displaying to a female (still can lead to a blood-bath dependning on species) or simply a couple of gouramies re-establishing hierarchy.
edit: What size is your tank and what fish are in it?

My signeture say's it all

 

[sylvia]

Missed that

Just one warning, the chinese algae eater grows to 10". It will stop eating algae once around 4-6" and will simultaneously become very territorial and turn carnivorous. At this stage, it's not unusual to find them sucking on the slime coats of lateraly compressed (such as gouramies) and slow-moving fish. They have also been known to suck eyes out. You are a little over-stocked anyway so I'd strongly reccomend finding this fish a new home - prefferably alone. They are beautiful fish and full of character, but sadly not good for communities.

What sexes are your gouramies and which gouramies are the ones you've been talking about?