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View Full Version : Rogue Male Dwarf Gourami? Or normal behaviour?


zen242
11-20-2006, 10:17 AM
We have had a lovely community tank for a little while with no problems other than the occasional disappearing neon tetra.
We took out time to decide on a gourami and eventually chose the Dwarf Gourami neon blue variety.
We got one male and two females on suggestion from the person at the store. As they are the blue neons, the females are also slightly blue. They all looked very peaceful at the store, but we were aware they could be 'territorial' at times.
We have a 200 litre tank with a few silver sharks, a three spotted gourami who is a kitten, some neons and two clown loaches.
For the first few days the male was fine and would just swim around, then he began to pull up just about every plant in the aquarium to build a bubble nest.
THis we had no real problem with, but then the violence started.
He now spends most of his time chasing the two females around all day every day, only stopping to chase the other gourami or one of the silver sharks if they dare to swim anywhere near his nest.
He doesnt just chase, he actually goes to bite her and tries to lunge.
The nest isnt really bubbles, its just lots of leaves all stuck together, and both the females are looking pretty stressed and certainly not ready to spawn.
THis has been going on for about three weeks now and im worried the constant speeding around under the covers and through all our plants and sticks is stressing all the other fish and he is really just terrorising them rather than spawning with them.

Does this sound like normal pre-spawning behaviour or is this guy a rogue? He even had a go at my girlfriend when she was cleaning near his nest. Sounds more like a betta than a dwarf gourami who is supposed to be peaceful.

The guy a the store told me to bring the females back and he would settle down. If I knew this would work Id try it, but im worried that since he doesnt seem interested in the females now, he'll just move onto other fish.

Any suggestions would be VERY appreciated!!

kimmers318
11-21-2006, 02:39 AM
Dwarf gourami are definitely one of those that can get iffy when they want to spawn. I would consider taking the option the store has given you to return the females and see if he settles down. I have a dwarf in a community tank and he hasn't ever had a female and he is quite mellow. Of course, you may still have a "rogue" who isn't going to be happy sharing a tank. Let us know how things work out.

zen242
11-21-2006, 09:19 AM
The guy at the store just said that if he's aggressive now, hell just look for new targets if the females go.
Maybe i should think about honey gouramis - ive heard these are peaceful.
Its kinda weird. I was told that three-spotted gouramis were very aggressive and I have one that is a kitten, and that dwarf gouramis were very peaceful and he is acting like a betta or something! p)

kimmers318
11-21-2006, 12:23 PM
Just like with people, fish temperments can vary, even from day to day. Yes, honey gourami are quite peaceful....I have a pair. Sparkling/pygmy are also peaceful but they are so curious they have a tendency to annoy some of the other fish constantly sneaking up on them to check them out! With a group of 5 in my tank I have seen instances where a fish was being watched by my sparklers and everywhere they turned there was this little fish darting away.
My dwarf is very peaceful also, but I have heard of dwarves with attitudes! Sounds like you have one.

Glasstapper
11-21-2006, 04:48 PM
Haha. My two dwarf gouramis are evil to each other. They are constantly flaring up to each other and fighting. They're sick right now, so the fighting has died down a little. I'm hoping it stays that way once they're better. ;)

zen242
11-24-2006, 01:34 AM
here is two pics of our gourami attacking my girlfriend - she isnt even close to his bubble nest!

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kimmers318
11-24-2006, 03:42 AM
He definitely is a nibbler! I can honestly say I have never been "tasted" by any of my fish...but hubby battles with his oscars whenever he has to reach into the tank!

Glasstapper
11-24-2006, 09:08 AM
That's actually kind of cute! Mine never did that. Only my guppies will come swim around my hand and check out what I'm doing.