Angel problem

[BucJason]

So I did my homework and decided to add an Angel to my tank. According to everything I read Gouramis are compatible with Angels. Well my Opaline Gourami is attacking the Angel and the Angel is reduced to hiding in a cave.

What's the deal?? Do i just have a bad apple Gourami or did I pick up false info ?? As my Angel grows up will he learn to defend himself (although he's already bigger than the Gourami)???

I figured if anything would give me a problem it'd be the Redtail shark but he has no problem with the ANgel. I'm so sick of the Gourami or Redtail screwing with the compatiblity of my tank, nothing but trouble. I'm about ready to euthanize them both ...

[joander123]

the gourami is probably just being territorial, the angel is still young and trust me they can defend for them selfs once they get used to there new home gouramis and angels go very well together i personally have had them together...just keep an eye out and watch for nipped fins on the angel as they do tend to get nipped quite often. But in the long run everything should be fine

[joander123]

oh, and the gourami might be less agressive if you throw in a playmate 8) gouramis will not nessicarly school, but will "hang-out" together

[Star_Rider]

I believe opaline gourami's are a color morph of a blue gourami(also a gold color morph is available)
they seem to be okay when small but as they reach adulthood..they tend to be territorial. is the angel small?

the angle at full size may be able to fend off the gourami..but generally this species is not usually recommended to house with an angel.
it can and does work for some.
it's one reason I don't keep gouramis . I like angels and they have not mixed well for me in the past.

[cohazard]

Some important factors in whether or not you'll achieve success with "compatible" fish is (as mentioned above) size difference between the two species, and length of time between introduction.

Too much of a size difference, and one or the other may get picked on. Too far in between introducing them, and you run the risk of the established fish not accepting it's "compatible" roommate.

I put compatible in quotations because of it's subjectivity to the above mentioned factors. Not to sound like a jerk lol

HTH

[KingOfTheDeep]

Some important factors in whether or not you'll achieve success with "compatible" fish is (as mentioned above) size difference between the two species, and length of time between introduction.

Too much of a size difference, and one or the other may get picked on. Too far in between introducing them, and you run the risk of the established fish not accepting it's "compatible" roommate.

I put compatible in quotations because of it's subjectivity to the above mentioned factors. Not to sound like a jerk lol

HTH

agreed

[Mgamer20o0]

i have heard angels and Gouramis dont do well together.

[cohazard]

I've got an adult moonlight gourami in with some angels and they're fine (180g).

Could be a different story if the tank were smaller.

[jm1212]

opaline gouramis (and gold, platinum, blue, three sopt, and purple) gouramis are one fo the most aggressive gouramis out there. they will kill anything in the tank that is smaller than they are, especially others of their species and other gouramis in general. the only place they have IMO is by themselves (they usually make it that way anyway) or with ciclids that are much bigger than they are like oscars, GTs, or jack dempsys (full grown)

there are gouramis that will live fine with angels. dwarf gouramis, honey gouramis, and pearl gouramis are the most common ones.

take the gourami out. if you take the angel out, the gourami will think that it has killed it and become the most dominant in the tank. then, he'll start going on a rampage.

[fishiefishie]

I also have heard that pearl, honey, dwarf and (I think) banded gouramis get along ok with angels. Maybe you can swap your opaline for a more peaceful one, or take him out for while, rearrange everything, and reintroduce him. Maybe the angel just needs to be the boss for a while before you add the gourami back in.
Good luck!

[GirlieGirl8521]

opaline gouramis (and gold, platinum, blue, three sopt, and purple) gouramis are one fo the most aggressive gouramis out there. they will kill anything in the tank that is smaller than they are

If that is true, then why is my 3-spot gourami living peacefully with tetras, otos, and a bolivian ram....that are all smaller than him? ;) I know other people that have Opalines living with smaller fish and they get along just fine.

Keeping Angels and Gouramis together is always hit or miss. Sometimes they get along fine and sometimes they don't.

I am one of the lucky ones I guess, because my Angel and 3-spot gourami are getting along fine. My gourami has always been shy, so he hides in my plants alot, but I do see him come out when I'm away from the tank. The Bolivian ram is actually pretty fiesty, and sometimes gets after the gourami, but other than that there is no aggression from him or towards him.

Opalines tend to be aggressive, but thats not always the case.

Since the gourami is the aggressive one, I'd try taking him out of the tank for around a week (put him in a QT). Then reintroduce him to the tank. The angel will have a chance to establish a territory, and hopefully the gourami will chill out a little. This doesn't always work though. And if it doesn't, then I'd either take the gourami to the LFS and get a Pearl or Honey gourami or just get a couple more Angels.