We have a bully!

[Bear]

One of our kissing gourami's is bullying the other. He always nips at the others tail and makes him stay in the corner.

I don't know if they are male or female, and I honestly don't even think they are gourami's now that I know what I'm talking about - darn Pet stores. They look too pointed to be gouramis.

We secluded him in our "maternity" net yesterday for 2 hours. He was nicer when he got out, but he was back to nipping again this morning.

The victim of the nipper has developed a black spot from, we're guessing, the constant nipping.

He doesn't bug anyone else though - only the same kind.

Any ideas? We're just about ready to give him back!!!

 

[nightlife20]

i had the smae problem with mine so i put them in a bigger tank... seemed to solve it for a while but now its started up again so im thinkin of takin one or both of them back an gettin somthin else

 

[ryan]

Kissing Gouramis can become highly aggressive to the same sex fish in a confined space, more so males than females. You will often see them lip locking, however, when a weaker fish is in the tank he will back down from such battles and will usually get chased and harassed sometimes ending in death. If I were you I would try to split them up or put them in a bigger tank. How big are the fish in question and when were they introduced to the tank?

 

[Bear]

Thanks for your quick responses!

It's a 30 gal and we just can't get another tank just yet - we're still beginners!

They were in the first group of fish introduced, so they've been in the tank for a little over a month.

But, here's the thing - I've seen a bunch of pictures of kissing gouramis and my guys looking nothing like the picture. Plus, I have 3 other gouramis (REAL gouramis) and seem as though gouramis in general pretty much have the same body shape, regardless of species.

These guys are white as could be and have really pointed body curves, fin, tail, etc. But they have long feelers too. Hmmmmmmmmm.

ETA - they never "liplock", which I figured was a good thing b/c I know that the liplocking is aggressive behavior. But, it sounds like I have a bully and a wimp.

 

[ryan]

Here is my Kisser. If this isn't your Gourami than you have another type, post back and we will identify it if this is the case, maybe a Moonlight Gourami.

 

[guppymonkey]

These guys are white as could be and have really pointed body curves, fin, tail, etc. But they have long feelers too. Hmmmmmmmmm.

I don't think kissing gouramis have feelers. It sounds like they may be something else and were mislabeled at the pet store. Many gouramis are aggressive to members of their own sex and even sometimes to females of their species. I have had kissing gouramis that have harassed all the other fish in their tanks to death. Also kissing gouramis get quite large (over 8 inchs) so that tank would be pretty full. I find it best to keep only one gourami in each tank because of the aggression issues.

 

[Bear]

They're moonlight gouramis.

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[ryan]

They're moonlight gouramis.

Thanks for the pictures.

Thats alright mate, in that case they are probably both males, is one smaller that the other? I'm glad to hear of another Moonlight owner like myself.

 

[Bear]

One is a LITTLE bit smaller than the other - obviously the bully is the bigger one.

So is there no solution?

I can't believe they get so big - I got them when I was just starting out and trusting pet stores - dumb me.

I really like them though - at least I really like the nice one.

 

[ryan]

So they are full grown or near full grown? I know what you mean mine grow like lighting. Now the smaller one is probably not getting as much food because he is being bullied. Males have an extended dorsal fin and red/orange feelers. Have they always been like this?

 

[Bear]

They "bully" has always been dominant, but the nipping, unless the submissive one stays in the corner, just started about 2 weeks ago.

They aren't full grown just yet - probably about 3" or 3.5" but they are growing REALLY fast.

Not sure about the fin, but both of them have white feelers. But again, they aren't full grown so maybe that's something that happens with growth? I noticed an orange tint a few weeks ago on the bigger ones back fin, but I thought it might have something to do with the brown algea on the rocks and plants.

The smaller one doesn't have problems eating - we just feed him in his little corner. You could tell how happy he was when we secluded the bully yesterday - he was happily swimming all over the tank - then back in the corner when the bully was released - poor guy!