Unhappy gourami

[steveakam]

I have a honey gourami that the lfs told me was a male , ive had it a few weeks now. While in another lfs on Tuesday I saw a honey gouramie that was a nice red colour, while talking with the sales man he said mine was a female as it was plain. I bought the red one and soon had him in his new home. He looked happy enough and was wandering the front upper tank all afternoon and most of the evening. I went in to turn the lights of at 11 pm and their he was dead in a corner, or that’s what I thought. When I went to fish him out he swam away. Since then he sits on the bottom mostly in the back corners but some times at the front. He looks dead till you look real close then you can see him breathing. Every so often he swims to the surface for air then wonders to another part of the tank and settles down again. I’ve never seen him eat but he doesn’t seem to be losing wait.

My original gourami has also coloured up and is a nice dark honey colour which has an orangey tint to it from certain angles. His top fin is a pale yellow and his belly fin is black and he looks great. Hes also all over the tank now instead of hiding in the back ground.

Is my new fish ill, just unsettled by the move or feeling intimidated buy the gourami that was already their and either way what can I do.

 

[Coler]

sitting on the bottom like that is not a good sign in a top level fish, I think. How did you acclimate (introduce) him to your tank ?

What size tank, what are the inhabitants and how did you cycle the tank ?

Can you post your test readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and what type of test kit ?

 

[Rbishop]

How did you cycle your existing tank? Sounds as if it is a new set up.

 

[Kyohti]

As mentioned before, there are lots of variables that could be contributing to the gourami's sad state. We would have to know more about the environment he's been introduced into. When you're needing to trouble-shoot an aquarium or fish issue, it's always good to provide the following so you can get the best and most informed answers to the problem.

1.) Water Perimeters (Perims): This involves the chemistry of your water. The water temperature, pH, Nitrates, Nitrites, and Ammonia levels.

2.) Age of Aquarium: No, it's not a song. A tank that's brand new can have more fluctuations in water perims than a tank that's been established for a few years or more. So adding fish to a 1 month old setup can be a different experience than adding fish to a 6 month or a 2 year old setup. So it's good to have at least a rough idea of when you first put the tank together. It's okay if you don't know the exact time.

3.) Inhabitants: Fish, plants, and invertebrates all play a part in the mini ecosystem you create when you put together an aquarium. Some fish thrive better in groups. Some are better solo or in pairs. Some are more aggressive than others all the time, or at different times of day, different levels or areas of the aquarium, or to certain species, their own species, or their own gender of their species.

For example: Tiger barbs can stress long-finned fish and snap antennas off snails and shrimp because they are curious and tend to be nippy. Gouramis are gentle to most other species unless they are guarding a clutch of eggs, but can be very aggressive toward other gouramis if not given adequate space to section off their own territories (unless they are a mated pair). Also some plants are not tru aquatics and can cause issues with fish... and some shrimp and crayfish, if not fed properly, will eat the fins off of slower-moving fish while they are still alive!!

These are the three most basic and essential bits of information anyone can offer when making an inquery about a situation with an aquarium, fish species, or issue with any single fish within. It's always requested, always welcome, and always appreciated... plus you'll get the best answer all our combined experience can offer!!!

 

[PPMN]

Sounds like you got two males and the existing one is defending his territory, probably harassing the new one (being he's now colored up and has a black belly).

 

[Kyohti]

My thought is that they are either both males and are having territory disputes or that the second fish arrived sick and is continuing to be ill and now that the other fish has someone to bully and feel dominant over, he's coloring up to display his rank to the other fish so it won't retaliate.

Fish will intensify their colors as a means of showing superiority. If the other fish is sick and were to fight with the other one and win, the first fish might go back to being dull. Regardless, if a dominance dispute was the only reason for the discoloration, the gourami wouldn't be laying around looking lifeless. He'd be dull-colored and very shy, but a lot more alert than he sounds to be. I'm betting the second fish is currently in a LOT of stress if he's breathing faintly and looks dead at the bottom of the tank.

From the information given, he sounds ill and stressed and submissive due to the aforementioned issues. But again, it's very hard to say exactly what's wrong...

 

[HYLA WALDRON]

Males have a pointed dorsal while females have a rounded dorsal. Not a good idea keeping more than one male.

 

[hitman12131976]

Move around the decorations. That might allow the new fish to settle new territories.

 

[BIGgourami]

do either of them have a black or dark brown throat or face? that's a key signin determining sex in honey gouramis.

male

female

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Males have a pointed dorsal while females have a rounded dorsal. Not a good idea keeping more than one male.

Wow!! I didnt know female dwarf gouramis could colour up like that!!

Anyway, I had a couple of female bettas that rested on the bottom or in plant leaves, both died soon enough , hope your honey isnt like that, I think mines a female, the male had a bit of black on his belly but he disappeared (I blame most of my fish losses on my now deceased crab, seeing as in one night I lost a few fish)