View Full Version : Why are dwarf gouramis fighting
DodgeIntrepidV6
12-14-2002, 1:27 PM
Today I noticed one dwarf gourami constantly is chasing and nipping the fin of another. I heard they belong in groups, so why is this happening? It doesn't bother any other fish in my tank...just the other D.G.
wetmanNY
12-14-2002, 1:42 PM
Male Dwarf gouramis are pretty aggressive for their size, aren't they? "Out of sight, out of mind" so adding plenty of floating plants, like Water Sprite, can help cut down the size of each territory, but it may not be enough.
Gourami territory-holding is closely linked to the water surface. If the loser is being crowded down to the bottom, like behind the heater, better get him a home in a friendlier neighborhood.
I dont' think male gouramis are supposed to be kept together.
They are very territorial and can be highly aggressive even towards non-DGs. What size tank do you have them in? Are they both males?
DodgeIntrepidV6
12-14-2002, 4:02 PM
They're in a 55 gallon. I'm not sure the sex of them...they look exactly the same..if coloring determines the sex? The bully is just a little bigger then the other one.
FishmasteR2002
12-14-2002, 4:08 PM
I bought two D. Gouramis at the LFS when I started my putting fish in my 29G tank. They were selling them as male/female pairs only. I had this problem as well. When my tank was gettinga little overcrowded, I boughta 20G long and put them in there. The male doesn't chase the female as much in their new home. Are they like bettas where they don't like the females unless they are spawning? I know I have a male and female because the male is much more colorful than the female. Lots of plants and a tank that is longer than taller is better for them. Check my album in my sig for pics of my D. Gouramis. Good Luck. :)
irishspy
12-14-2002, 5:39 PM
Originally posted by vfrex
I dont' think male gouramis are supposed to be kept together.
I kept male DGs together for years without more than mild chasing, so it puzzles me to read so many reports (here and on other boards/newsgroups) that they're aggressive. Maybe I bought a bunch of pacifists? :D
--Anthony
Serrateeth_2002
12-14-2002, 7:47 PM
They get aggressive when there isn't much space.I've kept 2 blue guoramies or 2 spot guoramies males with little problems.
TeaPea
12-14-2002, 7:58 PM
Oh my God, my two dwarf Gourami's fight all the time. I think they are both male. They get into this weird "Fighting" position--their bodies kind of curl away from each other in a standoff and then let the nippin' begin. One time the larger one nipped a chunk of flesh off of the top of the smaller one's head! They are also very territorial with the other fish--especially the newcomers. My new Gold Ram Cichlids can't go near them without getting scared half to death.
:(
Serrateeth_2002
12-14-2002, 7:59 PM
They must have been hybrids of bettas.:D
DodgeIntrepidV6
12-14-2002, 8:16 PM
55 gallons is more then enough room for them. Plus they don'tbother anyway else or newcomers for that matter. I guess it just depends on your fish, I happened to get the Hitler of gouramis
irishspy
12-14-2002, 8:30 PM
Originally posted by TeaPea
My new Gold Ram Cichlids can't go near them without getting scared half to death.
:(
TeaPea, can you rearrange the tank furnishings a bit? That's a trick used in cichlid tanks to put everyone on an equal footing and let new territories develop. Perhaps that would help here.
--Anthony
1 fish 2 fish
12-14-2002, 9:25 PM
Gouramies look like they would be a peacefull fish, but they can be surprisingly aggresive. I have couple of gold in a 29 and they nip eachother a lot. I can't tell them apart, and they both have great fins so I don't know if its one or both.
my buddy's dwarf gouramies don't just pick on eachother, but anything else in the tank, and it's a 55. they even went after his alligator gar.
A 55g should be more than enough room for 2 Dwarfs. Some are more docile than others but some will become a problem with any tankmates they can push around. I have 1 male with 5 kills and another with 2.
If you're not sure what a female looks like, I've got decent pics of them here http://members.fishprofiles.com/files/~jafo/Gouramies.html . The females have more rounded fins and are thicker in their bellies.
karfixer
12-15-2002, 12:53 PM
Move the furniture around, it throws 'em off and they'll relax for awhile. I just did that this A.M.- I noticed my boys-Gold Gouramis, have been pretty chippy lately and were standing off all morning. HTH Steve
longhorn
12-15-2002, 1:45 PM
Where can you get the female D.G.? Most of the LFS only carry male D.G.
Best,
FZ
irishspy
12-15-2002, 3:35 PM
Originally posted by longhorn
Where can you get the female D.G.? Most of the LFS only carry male D.G.
My LFS carries both, but I suppose you could go through a breeder on Aquabid.com.
--Anthony
rockhead44
12-15-2002, 9:18 PM
The way I see it is you have two choices either separate them of let them find there pecking order.The male have a pointed upper fin the females are curved.Usually they will stop if one gives in but if it doesn't they will keep it up till one dies.When you buy fish you need to keep this in mine .Balance is the key.I once picked up a beautiful angelfish and five minutes after I put him in the tank my other angelfish rip him or her to pieces.The fish eventually died,You live and you learn.With angel fish you can not tell right off the bat if they are male or female.But back then I did not know better.Now days if I was to introduce a new fish that might be chancy I would rearrange the tank,throw some food in there then turn out the lights then the new fish.No mater what you can not predict the out come.Just like some people don't get along with others as do fish.Good luck!