Sunny is NOT HAPPY

[Debo]

Well, we loved Sunny our Gourami so much we thought we'd get him some buddies. RIGHT...............he was NOT IMPRESSED. I went to the fish store today and couldn't resist the Blue and Pearl Gourami's. I bought 2 of each, thinking I would put 1 of each in with Sunny and 1 of each in my smaller tank upstairs in our family room. HE ATTACKED THEM SO BAD THAT THE BLUE GOURAMI JUMPED OUT OF THE TANK!!
So now I have 4 gouramis in a 15 gallon tank along with the rest of what's in there. I know this tank is over stocked at the moment, but we are getting a new tank next week so it won't be a problem..just temporary. Should I put Sunny in the 15 gallon as a time out and put the other 4 in the big tank until he settles down? I really wanted them all in the new big tank eventually and I am bummed he's being such a jerk.
Suggestions?
Deb

 

[Eelzor]

Fish act a lot like humans sometimes - I hate that. But yes, it is definatly better to move the gourami for now, because it seems that Sunny has territorialised (not sure on that word ) you tank. That's the reason I don't always like putting in fish over periods of weeks. Whenever I add a fish my angels start following and stalking it until they are bored, unless it's a crazy fish like my clowns just decked my angels to stop following (same with my bgk). So they would all live happily ever after if you put your gouramis all at once in the new tank.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Debo

Sunny is just being a gourami. They are territorial; that's their nature. You added new gouramis to the tank and in his mind he saw them as invaders. What he did was to be expected. (Imagine if two strange couples decided to move into your house with you. You'd probably attack, too!)

Since you plan to move them all to another tank in the near future, it's possible that the situation might correct itself. Try adding the females first, then the other males, then, after they have picked their territories, (give it a few days) add Sunny.

In the meantime, put Sunny in the little tank and the others in the big one. But, don't think of it as "time out," because he won't understand the concept of punishment.

By the way, don't be surprised if the blue male turns out to be just as bad as Sunny. They are color variations of the same fish, after all.

 

[Debo]

I am not sure if I know who's male or who's female.
What do you mean the blue iis a color variation of the gold? Do you think they will all live in peace together at some point?

deb

 

[Losi]

Are'nt all Gouramis supposed to be kept in pairs and could sunny have been competing for the females attention??

 

[Debo]

He didn't seem to be competing at all. More like BEATING them up.
Deb

 

[Losi]

Waht kind of Gourami is he??

 

[Inchworm]

I am not sure if I know who's male or who's female.
What do you mean the blue iis a color variation of the gold? Do you think they will all live in peace together at some point?

deb

Hi Debo

Peace is a relative concept. With gouramis it is more like an armed truce. They will never be friendly companions to each other like schooling fish are, and they will never ignore each other, either.

Gouramis are territorial and if your tank is large enough, with plenty of surface area, there may be enough room for each male to stake out his own territory. Lots of tall plants will make this easier.

In nature, gouramis build bubble nests and the eggs are defended and protected by the male. For the eggs to survive he needs to be tough enough to keep other fish away from them. So, your fish is just doing the right thing by establishing a territory that he will defend from outsiders for the good of his offspring. While breeding is not likely to happen in a community tank, your gourami does not know this. What you see as hostility, he thinks of as responsibility. He's being a good gourami!

Females, on the other hand, seem to get along well enough together. Since my blue male jumped out of the tank and died, my two female pearls and the female blue hang out in a group in one corner of my 55 gallon tank.

I also have reason to believe that without females in the tank, the males will get along better, although I have not had the opportunity to test that for myself.

Keeping the gouramis in male/female pairs is no guarantee that you will find the peace you are seeking. The male will chase the female, too, and while he will not usually hurt her, if he feels his territory is threatened, he might. Usually, if there are plants that she can escape to, she will be alright.

In most cases, gouramis chase each other, and while this might be alarming, no harm is done. If one does actual damage to another, the only thing to do is to separate them.

To tell the males from the females, look down at them from the top of the tank. You will see that the males taper smoothly from front to back while the females have rounded bodies in the front that tapers toward the tail. If you have both in the tank, you will easily see the difference. Also, the male will have longer and more pointy anal and dorsal fins than the female whose fins will be shorter and rounded at the end.

Gold, blue, opaline, and platinum gouramis are all the same fish--just different colors. They have the same characteristics and disposition.