Gourami's - Do I have two males instead of two females?

[Sprizmo]

Afternoon All,

Looking for some help. Last weekend I got 3 Blue/Three Spot Gourami's from Tisbury's aquatics in Romford, Essex. I asked the man in there for two females and one male as I thought it would reduce the chances of aggression but now after a week I think that I might have two males and one female. I have attached pictures. The first is 95% certain a male due to the longer top fin. The second I'm 95% sure its a female as its rounder but the third fish is neither short and round or longer.
The male is being aggressive mainly towards the female but I'm not convinced the third is a female either as this is sometimes aggressive towards the female.

Water parameters are all 0. and pH is 7.4 from day one so don't believe this to be an issue.

First question is, can anyone confirm what gender of the third fish?
If its a female, do I need another female to make it 3/1 ratio? Will this make the male less aggressive?
If I do have two males, what can I do? Do I ask the fish store to take one male back? Do I get 3 more females to make it 2/4?
First tank so have some questions as this is all new to me. Any help welcome!

 

[Slaphppy7]

Looks like 3 females, to me...dorsal fins are all rounded, not pointed, see here: https://www.thesprucepets.com/how-do-i-sex-a-gourami-1380970

What size tank are they in? What other fish are in the tank?

Also, this type of gourami can be quite nippy and aggressive as they mature, see "Behavior and Compatibility" here: https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trichopodus-trichopterus

 

[Essjay]

Aggressive females are known. There was one member a few years ago who has a female of this species. She killed every tank mate tried and ended up having to be kept alone.

 

[Sprizmo]

Tank is Fluval Roma 125.
Have two really small albino bristlenose in it as well. There’s loads of room so they can stay out of each others way but one is relentlessly following the smaller finned female and trying to nip and ram her sometimes.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Aggressive females are known. There was one member a few years ago who has a female of this species. She killed every tank mate tried and ended up having to be kept alone.

I had a (rescue) male that killed some of my fish, as well...including a pearl gourami...should have done more research before the rescue

 

[Slaphppy7]

Tank is Fluval Roma 125.
Have two really small albino bristlenose in it as well. There’s loads of room so they can stay out of each others way but one is relentlessly following the smaller finned female and trying to nip and ram her sometimes.

Typical behavior with these fish...if possible, I would return or rehome them...for peaceful gouramis, have a look at honeys or pearls

 

[Essjay]

A Roma 125 is really too small for these gouramis. It is 80 cm long while Seriously Fish recommends a minimum tank length of 90 cm long. The tank minimum sizes on SF are for fish are kept in a species only tank; add other species and the minimum size is bigger still.

 

[Sprizmo]

Wow. Didn’t expect that.
So I have no choice but to get rid of them all?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Wow. Didn’t expect that.
So I have no choice but to get rid of them all?

That would be best, unfortunately...the less than adequate space will only heighten the aggression, more than likely

 

[Byron]

Agreeing with what other members have posted here. This species, Trichopodus trichopterus (which includes several varieties such as blue, gold, 3-spot, cosby, marble, opaline), is one of if not the most feisty and aggressive gourami among the small and medium-sized species. From the information as to their interactions, they should be separated at the least, but given that one of them in the tank alone is hardly going to be enjoyable for you, re-homing the three is best.

 

[itiwhetu]

To start with I would be putting a whole lot of floating plants in your tank, and see if that doesn't settle things down. All Gourami's need floating plants to make them feel at home in your tank.