New To Breeding... Do I Need To Thin Out My Tank

[vinnypeewee]

Hi,
Im new to the forum (from Wales UK), but i've been told if by a friend that if i ask nicely on here you guys would be able to help!!

So here's my pridiciment :

I have an established (all levels are good) very mixed 4ft community tank.. 140ltrs with a Fluval 204 Filter

2 males + 4 recently added female - Sword Tails (hoping to breed)
4 Silver dollars (young + small)
1 Plec (big)
1 Red Tail black Shark (small but a little aggressive)
2 Dwarf Gouramis ( hoping to breed)
1 Kissing gouramis
1 Lonely Angel!

oh and a Baby Blue Lobster!!

Now i was given the majority of this setup a while back, and although most of the fish get on peacefully, there is the odd scuffle (mainly from either the kissing gouramis or the red tail).

I want to try and breed my 2 dwarf gouramis and also my sowrdtails (should have no problem with them now i've added 4 females!!), but will the gouramis still build the nest and breed in a mixed community tank with other fish in the vacinity??

Im tempted to give the Angel, Kissing gouramis and the Red tail to my pet shop as i think these fish will cause the most problems during breeding, do you think i am right in doing this??

Also the gouramis have found them self's 'thier patch' in the tank over to one side, would it be worth my while putting a divider in the tank and letting them do there own thing in there bit??

Now 'the fluval'... the outlet from the pump is on the surface (right above were the pair of gouramis seem to like) and this causes a little current and also disturbs the surface. Now surely the gouramis wont be able to build a nest in a current or in water were there are ripples on the surface?? again am i right in saying this... and if so what should i do ??

I reall want to begin breeding the gouramis as it seems like a 'worth while challenge' if it goes well.

Your help would be greatly appriciated and I've heard that this place is the 'Karma Sutra' as far as info on fish breeding is concerned!! lol

Cheers

Look forward to hearing from you all !!

forgot to mention:

3x 5cm silver sharks

 

[dwarfgourami]

I reall want to begin breeding the gouramis as it seems like a 'worth while challenge' if it goes well.

Your help would be greatly appriciated and I've heard that this place is the 'Karma Sutra' as far as info on fish breeding is concerned!! lol

Oh we are, we are The big experts on what gets a gourami going hang out in the anabantoid subforum below though. Sylvia, in particular, will be able to fill you in on amorous gouramis.

My own ignorant tuppenceworth- for what it is worth:

I think you are right that they really need their own space to breed in. Also the other fish would simply eat their eggs. Have never bred dwarf gouramis myself but what I have heard is: the fry are very small and difficult to keep alive. They must not be chilled, they must be fed tiny baby food, and they must be protected from all other fish- including their own parents as soon as they become free-swimming. So that really means a separate tank.

and that they won't do it in current

also that this tank will need thinning out. Kissing gouramis get quite big, silver sharks get very big- you'd really need a 6 foot tank for the latter, and the pleco will probably outgrow the tank too. So there is quite a bit of general sorting work to be done on this. Unless you can set up another tank, I would look at rehoming these.

The swordtails will probably breed whether you want them too or not. It's not a bad place to start if you want to breed, a lot easier than gouramis.

 

[fishkers]

I don't know much about gourami's but I would say with the redtail black shark i would be worried because they will go after the fry/eggs. Thats about all I can help with. Sorry, i know not much...

Goodluck

 

[dwarfgourami]

I don't know much about gourami's but I would say with the redtail black shark i would be worried because they will go after the fry/eggs. Thats about all I can help with. Sorry, i know not much...

Goodluck

I'd go even further and say every single fish in the tank will go after the fry.

 

[archamfr]

the red tailed shark will could be a problem in the future, not just to fry but to the other adult fish. they can be very agressive and territorial, keep an eye on it

 

[@ombomb]

I'd go even further and say every single fish in the tank will go after the fry.

Agreed, the fishie equivalent of fast food.

 

[vinnypeewee]

Cheers Guys

well the Angel, redtail and the Kissing gouramis are going .. but all for the good of the other fish + and there Fry (when i finaly get some)!! And the fry wont be a problem as im going to set up a small 'rearing tank' to seperate them from the other fish. good idea??

Anyone got any good tips for breeding and rearing swod tails ot gouramis??

 

[poopsydrew]

Cheers Guys

well the Angel, redtail and the Kissing gouramis are going .. but all for the good of the other fish + and there Fry (when i finaly get some)!! And the fry wont be a problem as im going to set up a small 'rearing tank' to seperate them from the other fish. good idea??

Anyone got any good tips for breeding and rearing swod tails ot gouramis??

Check the livebearer section for breeding swordtails. Check gouramis for the dwarf. Cheers mate