Peacock Gudgeon- Bullied?

[OohFeeshy]

I currently have 2 P. gudgeons in the 15g, plans are to get some more and give them their own tank.... Anyway, one has grown quite a bit and is nice and heathy looking, the other one hasn't grown and is... runty looking. I'm not sure what sex they are because with this species its a bit hard (for me), but mainly I was wondering whether I should take out the smaller one for a while or not.... Any ideas?

 

[lucky62]

I never kept just 2 , so any aggressive was spread out , maybe take it out and/or get a few more [ 2 or 3 more ]

Do you have any plants , or hiding places ?
that could help too .

I have 5 in a 15 gal now , with a whole lotta java moss .........

 

[Pyranha]

Is the smaller one being harassed by the other? If it is being constantly harassed then I would recommend moving it until it grows up a bit more. My two males don't really bother each other, but when I had both males and females in the tank the females got no rest and the males would get into "arguments". Not serious fighting, but they would get into it. Ideally I think it would be best to keep at least two females for every male, but that's only if you can buy them already sexed.

Sexing is quite easy by the way - the males have a much more blunt forehead, while the females have more of a sloping head. It might not be easy to tell which sex they are if you have two of the same sex, but once you've seen both sexes it's very simple. The one in lucky's avatar is a male, for example.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I never kept just 2 , so any aggressive was spread out , maybe take it out and/or get a few more [ 2 or 3 more ]

Do you have any plants , or hiding places ?
that could help too .

I have 5 in a 15 gal now , with a whole lotta java moss .........

Oh yes, more than enough hiding places, the tank is themed on a cave so there's lots of hidey holes in the rocks. I don't think the other is picking on it specificaly, but all the fish in there like to have a bit of a go at each other if they get too close....

 

[lucky62]

Hey Feeshy , what else you keeping with them ?

 

[OohFeeshy]

Currently a honey gourami, some cories and a couple of tetras, the latter two seemingly the main culprits. The dominant one has taken a dislike to both of them, the smaller one in particular... If I can get another large plastic container then I'll move both the gudgeons and get some more, half term is soon so shouldn't be a problem. NB, yes, tetras = schooling, but these pair are the survivors of a fun fun plauge of gill flukes, the shop doesn't stock this type any more and I'm pretty sure they won't take kindly to other species...

 

[lucky62]

tetras , I think you're right ...........I would get more gudgeons if you can swing it .......

 

[STEVIE]

You've been given different advice to me then.
I went back to the store to buy another one, as mine is doing so good and will eat practically anything,and was told not to unless it was going into a different tank.The owner said, as they grow they do fine with other community big fish, but other peacock gudgeons in the same tank are dead meat.