Help! female dwarf gourami dying off

[MrsDragon]

Thanks for the redirection to info site last time I posted, but this time I need more help than I can find on any sites or in books. I need to talk to someone who had bred dwarf gouramis!

I have now lost both of my females. One of my males built a nest and defended it vigorously (as per info), but I couldn't tell if there were eggs without destroying nest. I found first female dead, lengthways under a rock. Hubby joked that they killed her and hid the evidence. I don't know how she could have got there from the position she was in. Nest was then slowly pulled apart (I didn't see this happen) and male lost interest.

After a week or so, another nest was built, and again defended. Last night (after going away for long weekend) I found the secong female looking listless and thought she was on her way out. She was dead this morning.

I don't know if the males harrassed the females until they were so streassed they died, or what. I have a 3 foot tank with 2 males, 10 silver-tip tetras and 3 bristlenose catfish. If anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it. The whole family was really excited about the nest and the possibilty of babies. Instead we have had 2 dead fish, and no babies.

Mrs D. :help:

 

[angrytodd]

wow,i feel your pain.Come on guys,someone must have some clues as to whats going on here? :huh:

 

[Jaydog985]

since no other fish died, i'd have to say that you probably guessed it. the males harassed the females to death.... often times if the fish have never spawned before then they don't always act the way books say..... the males can be a bit violent while protecting the nest.

 

[MrsDragon]

Thanks guys. I may need to get some sort of divider for the tank, as I don't have another tank I can put the females (if I get any more) into. The nest that was in there is now disintegrating and the male takes no interest in it. Maybe I'll put up pics to show the males what they are supposed to do!!!

Cheers.