Bully Fish

[helenx0x0]

Hi everyone,

I have quite a problem in my tank at the moment. I have two fish which are real bullies to two of the others. My 180 litre tank only consists of 2 Platys, 2 Pearl Danios, and 2 Gouramis. One of the Pearl Danios (the larger one) is ALWAYS chasing the smaller one around the tank - he never leaves his tank'mate' alone. The other problem is the Pearl Gourami chases the honey gourami around in the same manner. It is horrible to watch, and I really feel for the two fish that get bullied, I hate seeing them being chased around all day. The gourami actually bullied a former tankmate - a fellow gourami - to death a while ago. the two bullies do not bully any other fish apart from their own species.

So what do I do? Anyone got any suggestions, or has anyone had this problem before?

We had this with a couple of goldfish a few years back, and the larger one bullied the small one to death...

Thanks for any help, comments or suggestions in advance

Helz

 

[celaeno]

most fish (except cichlid breeding pairs) are no good in pairs. the bullying will lessen most likely if you get more danios and get rid of one of the gouramis.

 

[helenx0x0]

Thank you!

I was thinking about getting a few more danios next week; they are pretty hardy and hopefully it will lessen the chasing around if there are more of them....safety in numbers?

About getting rid of the gourami... what do you suggest I do with it? I don't think I'd have the heart to kill it, however humanely done...

 

[PlecMama]

I have bully fish, there's not really a lot you can do. I got more like them, I split them up, I kept them with no one like them - in the end I had to leave them to deal with it.

The problem was, when I took one out, another one would take over the roll of bully. If I took spot and smudge out, Ghost would become the bully, if I put them back, he settled down and spot or smudge started up again.

I guess some fish need asbo's too.