Help Needed !

[scoobyandy]

I have just purcahsed a new kissing guarmi as one of my old pair died, and the new one seems to be chasing the other now all the time and is bothering me a little.
The new one is a female and the older one male. or so lfs told me

Please can someone advise me on what is wrong ASAP!!!

Thanks
Andy

 

[mellowserra]

Could it be the fish are just settling in? Was the tank arrangement changed up on the addition of the new fish? If not it may help to do so, so that new territories can be "explored" and staked out. I hope this helps, good luck.

 

[scoobyandy]

No, nothing was changed with the tank at all. To be honest I am not sure which one is doing the chasing. It may be the newer one chasing or the older one. I can't tell and I cant remember how big the older one was before I added the new one. Previously when I added a guarmi to a lone one, they got on straight away but this time one is constantly chasing the other. I hope they will get used to each other beacuse the shop says we can take it back if they carry on, but then we have the problem of not knowing which is which and my wife is moaning because she says she will feel guilty if we accidently send the older one back

I will change the set out of the tank and see if that helps. Are there any more suggestions out there. Thanx in advance

 

[mellowserra]

Have you read this?

From what I gather overall, this species is nearly impossible to sex, and that males may engage in territorial disputes. It is usually best to have the fish relatively the same size so the playing field is a bit more even. It may evan help to add some extra decor/plants to create more territory if it is lacking.

 

[grumpymole]

No, nothing was changed with the tank at all. To be honest I am not sure which one is doing the chasing. It may be the newer one chasing or the older one. I can't tell and I cant remember how big the older one was before I added the new one. Previously when I added a guarmi to a lone one, they got on straight away but this time one is constantly chasing the other. I hope they will get used to each other beacuse the shop says we can take it back if they carry on, but then we have the problem of not knowing which is which and my wife is moaning because she says she will feel guilty if we accidently send the older one back

I will change the set out of the tank and see if that helps. Are there any more suggestions out there. Thanx in advance

hmmmmmm..... sounds to me like the old one is fighting for its terotory...
please tell us a full tank list includingg the tank size and weather or not is planted with tall plants.
at the moment there are lots of explanations.

 

[scoobyandy]

The tank is 37 litres, with lots of tall plants. The tank is tall rather than wide. It has a few ornamental items. We have two guarmis a V small loach and 2 little red with black stripe worm type loach things lol. I dont know what their name is, sorry. We never see them only in the morning when the light goes on. We have had water proplems (which is now sorted) so the tank isnt stocked much at all.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Well, there you go. 37 litres is only, what, 7,8 gallons? Kissing gouramis can get up to 12", the small loach could possibly grow to 11" (if its a sucking loach), and the others, well, who knows. But the tank is far too small.

 

[grumpymole]

seems fine to me..........
hmmm maybe the old one is just telling the new one where hes teritory is-if this is what is happening then the new one should just settle down.
there could still be a lot of explanations though.
edit: oh litres! i thought you said gallons! sorry....
kissing gourami can reach 30cm in sive and in a 7g tank......
move them into a bigger tank asap!

 

[scoobyandy]

Yeah we know, we are planning on getting a larger tank in the next few months, we have a 40 gallon one on its way. So the size of the tank isnt going to be a huge problem. The loach will stay they same size as will the red and black ones. We have been reliably informed

So never fear the guarmis aren't staying in the small tank

We just have this problem at present with the scrapping thats all. We had two of the same size in the tank a few months back and they seemed to get on fine until one died

 

[grumpymole]

they are probably just fighting because there is not enough room to have 2 teritorys.

 

[kris-b-]

Is the new tank on its way or coming in a few months?

 

[scoobyandy]

We have had two in there before and not had this you see which is why i dont think its to do with the room. When I had a tank years ago i also had two guarmis and that tank was a little smaller than this one (they seemed fine in that also, with no fighting), which is when I decided to get my 40 gallon tank. I just havent had it moved to my new home yet.

I think it may just be the older one telling the new one that this is his home first. He has had it to himself for quite a few weeks, so hopefully that is why and they will calm down.

Is the new tank on its way or coming in a few months?

I already own the tank (40 gallon), its just at my old address. I am in the process of getting it down here. Its a big bugger to move and wont go in the car lol