Pearl Gourami woes...

[Komar]

About a month ago I got a fairly large male Pearl Gourami. It died the next day, but I replaced it for free at my LFS. The replacement died the next day, too. I got a third, much younger replacement (gender unknown) which lasted about two weeks without a problem. It even survived a small ick outbreak and treatment.

I decided to get two more Pearl Gouramis (genders unknown), since this young one was doing so well. As soon as I opened the plastic bag to set the newcomers into the tank, the existing Pearl Gourami attacked them. One died within about 20 minutes. I had to split up the Gouramis in a hurry...

I suspect my young Gouramis were all males, and the first one's territorial instincts developed over about three weeks. After being the only Gourami for awhile, I figure he started to enjoy the space.

Any thoughts?


More details:

45 Gallon planted tank, regular water changes, pH 7.0 to 8.0, 79 to 81 F / 26 to 27 C, 6 clown loaches, 3 SAEs, 10 Otos. The water gets checked by the LFS on occasion, and is always just fine...

[William]

I would try creating more hiding places at the surface (are there any?)and trying to decorate the aquarium so that several territories can be created and so that the old male can’t watch over the entire aquarium at the same time. This can be done by using floating plants.

However I would also look at other factors, because it's a bit extreme for Pearl Gouramis to beat each other to death in 20 minutes. What are your water conditions? What are the water conditions in the lfs where you bought them?

Did you give them enough time to acclimatize before you but them in their new home?

[Komar]

Unfortunately, there aren't any surface hiding spots - yet. I can't use floating plant because the top is covered to prevent my Clown Loaches, SAEs, and other fish from jumping out. There just isn't enough room for a floating plant.

I have two types of plants that are usually tall enough to touch the surface, and I plan to grow them for this purpose. However, I had to prune them down to plant the snippings in another tank, so neither of my tanks are ideal for gouramis just yet.

None of the gourami tanks at the LFS have surface cover, so I figure I've got some time.

I'm pretty sure that the water conditions at home and at the LFS are good. I also floated the bad for 15 minutes, then slowly let the tank water into the bag before releasing the two new gouramis.

I've only had these problems with Pearl Gouramis, so I suspect some kind of unknown factor. Both my gouramis seem to be doing very well in their new, separate homes.

Thanks for the help.

[William]

I'm pretty sure that the water conditions at home and at the LFS are good.

I’m sure it is however I was more curious whether you had the same water conditions, You can both have good condition but very different PH or DH level. (As an example) If that is the case much longer acclimatization periods then usually be required.

There are a number of floating plants that doesn't need any space to the cover, well 0.1 inch. I would recommend Ceratopteris thalictroides which develops a floating form that are very appreciated by Gouramis and is available in most lfs.

That they didn't need any floating plants in the lfs doesn’t mean much since it is too many fishes in one aquarium to aggression to evolve. However when moved to a new tank with fewer specimens aggression can start. Something that always is good to have in mind.

Good luck with your Gouramis.

[Komar]

I think the water PH is generally 7 or 8 in my corner of the world. I'm not entirely sure what DH is, though I suspect it relates to organic waste, and I suspect it would be higher (worse-?) in the LFS' tanks, since they use a series of communal filtration systems for several tanks at a time.

I use the same acclimatization technique for all my fish, and there has never been a problem with any other type of fish. There is a good chance that my most recent Gourami casualty was not entirely due to being attacked; I suspect the change of water and the aggressive roommate combined were too much stress...

I'll definitely keep an eye out for some Ceratopteris thalictroides, though none of the LFSs seem to have any floating plants at all, as of late. I totally understand that the pet shop aquarium standard isn't necessarily the environment to shoot for; I do plan to make my two tanks more Gourami-friendly as soon as possible.

Thanks for the help. I'm always thrilled to find something new to buy for my tanks. My wife, well, she's usually not so happy about it. :wink:

[William]

Dh has to too with the hardness of the water rather then organic waste even if that can effect dH in a lesser degree.

Ceratopteris thalictroides (Watersprite) are seldom sold as a floating plant however if you leave them floating for 1-2 weeks they develop into their floating form.

Se this link for a picture as i'm sure some of the LFSs have it. just don´t in the floating form.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Komar]

Okay, of the five Pearl Gouramis I've had, in water conditions deemed suitable by the LFS, in well-planted aquariums (minus plenty of surface hiding spots) that have not had any other fish casualties for ages:

1. Four died within a month (one within 20 minutes, two within 48 hours).

2. One survived, but had to be returned to the LFS as it was attacking all of my smaller fish in whatever tank I put it in.

So, in my experience, Pearl Gouramis are not hardy and peaceful fish. They are either peaceful, or hardy, but apparently not both simultaneously :roll:

This is a bummer; I like these fish for their shape and colouration. Any suggestions for a similar community fish?

[DemonShark]

You could buy diffrent kind of gourmi example is like the dwarf or the Gold wich i ahve.

[freshwaterfishlover]

I have read Perals are very calm. I used to have two a while while while back and they hardly moved and they both stuck together.

[Lady Hobbs]

Perhaps your gourami's were ill at the store?

[CJ1]

Not sure what's going on but pearl gouramis are very hardy fish. Also, there really is no need to go through the whole floating the bag process. By doing this you increase the chances of getting something in your tank from the fish store. Just net them and put them in your tank. Really, they'll do just fine. Generally when fish die real soon it's mostly because of way different ph. Male gouramis of the same type do not get along.

[kimmers318]

A couple of things to put my 2 cents worth in...first...please don't ever just dump your fish into your tank...they may be able to take it, but how would you feel if your environment that you live in suddenly changed drastically. You can safely float your bag and slowly add tank water to give the fish a chance to adjust. I personally prefer the hang on specimen container I have...just make sure you net the fish from the water into the tank...don't pour store water into your tank.
Second....water sprite is a great looking plant, I have had it a time or two, but I believe it was also the plant my clown loaches LOVED, they ate it all up. This is a good thing as far as adding a variety to their diet so it didn't bother me in the least, but if you find your clowns love to eat it you may need something else to provide cover for your gourami. Also, how large are your clown loaches? You do realize they won't stay small for long and be able to live in your 45 right? If they are larger your gourami may just be feeling cramped for territory and you may not have any luck having more than 1. Sometimes with gourami 1 will just not accept others.
Hope some of this helps...as a suggestion for cover I can suggest 2 different items that my fish like. I have plastic caves I bought at petsuppliesplus that suction cup to the sides of the aquarium, since 2 weeks ago my dwarf got caught in one and did some damage to himself...it is now just left floating around the top of the tank and I see various fish "hiding" under it. At Petsmart I found large plastic plants that also suction to the side of the tank and hang down....I would prefer silk but the fish, especially the smaller ones love the cover it gives them. Look around, I am sure you can find something that will work for you.

[jeffs99dime]

very well put kimmers

[CJ1]

So, floating the bag and exposing your tank to bacteria from the LFS is better? You don't think the fish get freaked out in the bag? If you water conditions are good, temperature close to the same, nothing wrong with netting fish right away and placing them in tank. You're going to be netting them and doing the same thing, so what's the difference? I have always been able to get new fish eating within minutes of being placed in my tank. Just because you don't agree with what i do, doesn't make it wrong.

[Lady Hobbs]

I don't float the bag, either. It even says not to in one of the online fish stores. It said they are already under enough stress and just turn your lights off and get them out asap. I do check the temp of the tank in the store and compare it to my temp, however.