Dwarf Gouramis, the victims

[jcarr71]

We just added to Dwarf Gouramis, a mostly orange one and an all blue one, into our 30g set up. We didn't mean to as it is a crowded tank as it is, but the tiger barb school in our other tank tormented them. However, in this tank a single male black molly was attacking and nipping hard at them, especially the blue one. The attacks were often when they tried to surface to get air, but occasionally came at random. I mean for the first day they were in the tank that is all that happened. Forty-five minutes out of every hour would have one of the gouramis, usually the blue, running for its life from a fish a third of the size of it.

I got mad at it and put it in our third tank, a 10g with six tetras (3 emperors and x-rays) and a juvenile female betta. I feel bad because it is separated from the two mollies that it was raised with since being fry, but what else can I do? He was absolutely tormenting two totally placid, peaceful and gorgeous additions for no reason.

Does anyone have any experience with dwarfs being victims of terror from other, normally passive fish?

[Northernguy]

If your tank is over stocked your going to have all kinds of trouble starting with territorial wars.You will then start having amonia and nitrite issues depending on your maintenance schedule.
You will also have very stressed fish. I would look into a 55 or better if you want a crowded tank.They can handle the stress levels of the fish better,so can the bigger volume of water.Lots of plants and hiding places.
Too many gouramis will also fight over territoty which is the top of the tank.

[Little Embers]

Mollies can be aggressive in there own right. Gouramis are one of those fish, that although aggressive themselves (more so towards other gouramis), that are prone to get victimized because of there slow nature and some can be very timid...depends on their personality.

As NG already stated, an overcrowded tank can cause all sorts of aggression issues between fish. Fish do not follow a rule book when it comes to behaviour when kept in a tank, particularly an overstocked one unfortunately.

[VoidParadigm]

Dwarf Gouramis are usually reported as being one of the more timid species. My Dwarf for instance was terrified of the wee little one fifth of his size Neon Tetras I added in with him at first.

If you think your tank is overstocked anyways, though, I suggest rehoming some of the fish or getting a bigger one.

[jcarr71]

We are getting a new tank soon. I don't know exactly when, but we are. The absolute latest we agreed was by Christmas we'd buy ourselves a 55g kit from Wal-Mart if we couldn't find one that size or slightly bigger beforehand used. I really doubt it will take that long though. We responded to a CL posting for a 55 gallon tank, stand, and cover that we could have by Monday if they guy would just get back to us.

We could have that up and running in a few days after. Knowing that was the only reason I was willing to subject them to the crowd.

The stock in my planted 30g now stands at:

2 dwarf gouramis
6 neon tetras
5 mollies (2 small black, 3 big dalmation)
5 glofish danios
3 peppered cories
1 young pleco (3" tops)
1 oto (he's moving out in a week or so to another tank once I trust it had built algae)

Obviously, the stock is higher than what I'd want, but the 55g-75g that we are looking for won't take that long to find at a good price I don't think. Ther is a 60g I could have right now if I could just find a home for two oversized Pacu that the owner (like so many before her) no longer wants due to their size.

[Northernguy]

Try a public aquarium and see if they want a donation of two pacus.