Do some fish ( gouramis ) get belligerent, as they age???

[Magnum Man]

So I now have a medium sized Kisser fish ( Helostoma temminckii ) with in my Hillstream tank… he’s pretty much a perfect gentleman… Mrs. likes having him there… they do get pretty big, I’m just curious how long he’ll be good in that tank, before he starts harassing some of the smaller varieties of Hillstream’s, and I need to relocate him??? Mine is currently approaching 6 inches long, and he doesn’t bother anyone, but some of the smaller Hillstream’s are only about 1 inch, so as the Gourami grows it would seem likely, for an omnivore, to start “tasting” some of the smaller tank mates… anyone have a larger one???

 

[anewbie]

Many fishes get belligerent as they sexually mature and as they age in general. Just like the grumpy old man on the corner.

 

[Colin_T]

Kissing gouramis can reach 10 inches maybe a little more.

As mentioned by anewbie, the males get grumpier as they get older. This is the same for most gouramis and the bigger and older the male, generally the worse they are. However, kissing gouramis aren't as bad as many of the smaller ones and a blue or gold gourami will get much worse than a kissing gourami.

If the fish is well fed it should be fine with the loaches. The gourami has a small mouth and won't normally go after fish on the bottom. But there are always exceptions so monitor them and if it starts tasting the other fish, it will need to be moved.

 

[Back in the fold]

Like a rogue elephant Man . Like a crotchety old man as has been mentioned . A guy , or a fish , reaches a certain age and cynicism sets in . Eventually the cynic becomes resentful of the stupidity surrounding him and he blows a gasket . You’ll get there .

 

[Magnum Man]

kind of a funny memory of the Tin Foils in that tank... Like I said, the Gourami has "almost always" been a perfect gentleman... but occasionally ( about once a month ) if the Tin Foils, who were pretty aggressive eaters, got "too piggy", the Gourami would chase around the Tin Foils for a few laps around the tank, trying to kiss them... Mrs. got the biggest kick out of watching it chase them around trying to kiss them... it never resulted in a problem, & his temper was short lived, but the Tin's looked like 8 year old boys in the playground, running from a girl that was trying to kiss them...

 

[Colin_T]

kind of a funny memory of the Tin Foils in that tank... Like I said, the Gourami has "almost always" been a perfect gentleman... but occasionally ( about once a month ) if the Tin Foils, who were pretty aggressive eaters, got "too piggy", the Gourami would chase around the Tin Foils for a few laps around the tank, trying to kiss them... Mrs. got the biggest kick out of watching it chase them around trying to kiss them... it never resulted in a problem, & his temper was short lived, but the Tin's looked like 8 year old boys in the playground, running from a girl that was trying to kiss them...

The kissing part is territorial aggression.

Although my aunt chased me around the house when I was about 8 and she had her false teeth half out of her mouth going "give us a kiss love". It was horrible and I ran to my room and fell down some stairs and broke most of my toes. I stayed in my room till she went home some hours later.

 

[Back in the fold]

The kissing part is territorial aggression.

Although my aunt chased me around the house when I was about 8 and she had her false teeth half out of her mouth going "give us a kiss love". It was horrible and I ran to my room and fell down some stairs and broke most of my toes. I stayed in my room till she went home some hours later.

Geez Man , some guys have all the luck !

 

[Colin_T]

The kissing part reminds me of Miss Piggy off the Muppet Show when she was chasing Kermit. Kissy Kissy Kissy

 

[anewbie]

Sigh my two female a. wolli were kissing one day - i hope they aren't reported to the anti-woke department

 

[sharkweek178]

The kissing part reminds me of Miss Piggy off the Muppet Show when she was chasing Kermit. Kissy Kissy Kissy

Nowadays Kermit would file a complaint with HR.