Aggressive Gourami

[andywatkins]

I have a pair of pearl gourami, as well as a few other fish in a 25 gallon tropical tank. Largely they all get on together, EXCEPT one of the pearl gourami. He has always bullied the other pearl gourami and is now bullying the other fish, even though some are larger than him.

I don't have a 2nd tank, and have just caught him in a net and got him trapped in the main tank but where he can't get to the other fish.

I don't really know what to do. Should I get rid of the aggressive fish? Any suggestions

Thanks

Andy Watkins

 

[tekknocolor]

Has the aggressive gourami killed any of the other fish?

Where any of the fish added in after him?

The reason I ask is maybe he is trying to be the "don" of the tank and is establishing a pecking order.

--Leigh Ann

 

[andywatkins]

No fish have been killed.

He was one of the very first fish in the tank,.

The main fish he bothers is the other pearl gourami added at the same time.

I think you are right, though strange as he certainly isn't even nearly the largest fish in the tank. I have a BLue acara and an Angel both 50% larger than him....

Andy

 

[wrs]

mine boths the other as well. Yours is probly a male chasing a female.

 

[mrV]

It is usually recommended to keep only one pearl gourami (Trichogaster leeri) in tank size like you have. If you're going to keep more of them (1 male +2-3 female), you should have larger tank. Especially adult males may fight together all the time until one is dead in someday.

 

[tekknocolor]

Gouramis have a lot of balls (It's ok to say that, right?).

I have a bala shark that's bigger than all the fish, but my gourami bullies him\her too!

--Leigh Ann

 

[andywatkins]

Thanks Guys,

My wife and I are new to this, but tried to research the right fish, there were ones we wanted like Puffers and Red oscars we had to give up on as they would be too violent for other species, but all the advice we got put gourami in the cute and cuddly category.

One is fine, but the bully seems happy to take on all comers. Perhaps I should just get rid of him.

Temporary solution is to trap him in a net, in the tank, for 1-2 hours a day. Did that for first time today, he didn't seem to like it, but all the other fish did! the other gourami could stop hiding and came out and had some food.

Is this a reasonable approach or should I just either

a) let the gourami bully everything
B) give the bullying gourami away?

Thanks for advice

 

[Doggfather]

what other fish do you have in for tank?

Try adjusting the decor of the tank, to break up territories. That may reduce the aggresion.

 

[andywatkins]

Hi,

Small number of guppies and neon tetra that don't seem to be a problem.
2 pearl gourami
1 banded gourami (timid no problem)
1 medium angel (timid no problem)
2 tiny angels - very new one seems to bully the other
1 blue acara - biggest fish in tank doesn't bully anyone, but doesn't take any abuse from anyone else either
2 small catfish who hide and never come out!

The tank is heavily planted. We have rearranged this so that sides and back are heavy plants to hide in etc, plus some big barnacles the catfish hide in

front of the tank is a largish area free of plants for the angels to swim in.

Does anyone think my net idea is very good or very bad? I haven't heard of anyone else ever doing it?

Thanks

Andy

 

[abel]

I have 2 pearl gouramis in a 16 gallon tank and the male is a bit bossy towards the female but he ignores all the other fish (tetras, rainbows). The female tries to keep out of his way and does not seem to flustered. Seems that yours is much more aggressive. It does not sound good that the other fish only relax when he is in a net as the environment seems too stressful.

 

[Origami Gourami]

I had exactly the same situation Andy;

My golden gourami was always a gentle giant, until he realised he was top dog in the tank and the others were all getting in his way! The only time peace was restored was when I put him in solitary confinement for a couple of hours (floating breeding trap). I ended up having to leave him in there for longer periods because the others were stressing. I felt bad because it wasn't much of a life, even though the confinement period was only on-off over a week. Then I made the decision to give him away to a great little lfs near me.

You feel bad at first, like you've failed - but trust me, when you see the lfs guy plop your gourami in his gourami only tank it takes that all away, as mine was instantly happy to be in a species only tank with lots of friends and no pecking order (bit like boot camp!).

I just put it down to experience - I did research too, but sometimes things just don't quite work out - don't feel bad, it happens!

Inchworm, on these very forums gave me some great advice about considering how many fish you have that occupy the different levels (vertically, so bottom dwellers, top feeders, etc) and from my collection I had overstocked the upper level which is why my gourami started to feel compromised and hence, aggressive. (BTW, Cheers Inch once again!)


Hope that helps, I know the predicament you're in!

 

[nene]

I have a pair of Pearl Gouramis in a 29 gallon community tank. I got the Pearls when they were tiny babys. Initially as they matured the male became aggresive towards the female and the other fish- bumping, chasing, no physical damage. He has worked out the dynamics now and he is the dominent fish in the tank and all is peaceful in the tank. He rarely flexs his muscles anymore. While this may be difficult to watch sometimes (Just remember rarely is physical damage done) you should not interfere. If you interfere it will just prolong the situation. Eventually a pecking order will be established and the inhabitants of your tank will all learn their place in this heirarchy and things will go smoothly again. Just be patient and watchful and if he starts inflicting serious damage (which in the case of a Pearl I highly doubt will happen) then you can think about removing him.