Hiding gourami--is there a problem?

[sean]

Hi everyone,

I've got a 29g tank that's not very stocked right now. It was my community tank, but I've since moved those fish elsewhere.

This tank has 2 cories (to be moved, also), a gold gourami, a blue gourami, and a black ghost knife.

The thing is, the blue gourami, who used to be very active with the other fish, has taken to hiding out right next to the bubble wall. He comes out to eat, but that's about it. The gold gourami doesn't do much but hide, either.

Originally, when I bought the blue one, I was told he'd do fine in a community tank. Yeah, thanks, pal. He terrorized just about all the other fish except for the knife. After a long time and a lot scared fish, I've separated them.

Now he doesn't bother anybody, but I'm a bit concerned about his behavior. To look at my tank, you'd think I only had 2 cories. The knife hides, which is natural, but I've never seen 2 gouramis hide to this degree. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Sean

P.S. If I ended up wanting to make this into a semi-aggressive tank, would I have to worry about the knife? He's my pride and joy, so I wouldn't want to do anything to endanger him.

 

[Tommy]

As long as all of your water parameters are ok (ammonia, nitrites, etc...) this almost has to be a harassment issue. Can you try separating one of them into a different tank temporarily until you see if the other one perks up?

On a side note, that size tank is nowhere near large enough for that knife fish. Yes it's natural for them to lay around and hide, but it could also be stressed with it's suroundings as well.

 

[sean]

I can try that, but..well, the 29gal is my biggest tank. The next one is a 10gal Eclipse that's just finishing up cycling now with a couple of fish in it. I think the gold gourami would have a hell of a time feeling comfortable in there at all. Agreed? I'll figure something out.

As for the knife....yeah, I realize that, too. Now, that is. When I started this hobby, I received some advice from a shop that seemed to deal only in bad advice. Things like, "2 male blue gourami? They'll be sweet as candy to the rest of your fish!" Or, "29gal? Of course that's big enough for a knife! Plenty big!" Or even, "No, no salt in the water, or those puffers will die."

Anyway, I don't go to that place anymore, and I try to make the fish as comfy as possible until I can get a bigger tank. Unfortunately, that won't be sooner, but later.