Gourami attacking reflection

[10lbBass]

I know I've seen a post on this topic somewhere before, but I can't find it...

Anyways. I've have my gold Gourami for about 8 months now, and he is still trying to attack his reflection. He doesn't appear to be stressed at all, but sometimes he really smacks himself hard against the glass. I'm worried he may eventually hurt himself. Is there anything I can do to make him stop doing this?

Thank you!

[Bristley]

Is your tank heavily planted?

Maybe having some more plants real or artificial along the sides and back will help break up the view of his own reflection and therefore minimize him from doing that.

Also if you have some kind of background that may help minimize reflections that may help as well.

Someone else please chime in if you know of other ways to minimize the mirror effect.

[Zilla]

I would go with Bristley's suggestion.

[10lbBass]

I've got a background on there already, let's see what moving the plants will do... I'll keep you posted! Thanks for the idea!

[VoidParadigm]

When my Dwarf started going after anything the color orange that passed his tank I cut a piece of not-see-through plastic to fit the side he hit the most, and stuck it into the substrate inside the tank right against the glass.

Get a piece that's dark enough and it completely blocks reflections. Especially helpful if it's only one part he's going after.

Try the plants first, though.

[Rhaethe]

Gus, my powder blue dwarf, did that fairly often. I have a hex, so the reflections were kinda difficult to get entirely rid of.

Then, I covered 50% of the surface with floating plants, and he doesn't do it anymore. I don't think the reflections got broken up any, but the floating plants did something calming to his psyche, I guess :shappy:

[Taurus]

Sounds like he stressed by the lights. They tend to feel more secure with floating plants blocking some light.

[Padams]

My dwarf does the same thing. I heard tht if the are male they might do this to "protect" their territory. Though if their reflection is a threat.............

Anyway i agree with the plant theory and less light.

does cause a thought though....... if they argue with themselves (or reflections) how do they know who wins?????????

[Zilla]

My dwarf does the same thing. I heard tht if the are male they might do this to "protect" their territory. Though if their reflection is a threat.............

Anyway i agree with the plant theory and less light.

does cause a thought though....... if they argue with themselves (or reflections) how do they know who wins?????????

I don't know if this is a serious question or just sarcasm, but I'll treat it as a serious question.

A fish doesn't know that they are "arguing" with themselves. They lack such logic, however, some fish can and have made themselves sick ( or injured themselves) by continiously fighting with their own reflections. People think it's funny to put a mirror near a tank and watch the fish go nuts. It's not funny or charming. It causes bad ju-ju in the tank and shouldn't be done.

In this case it is not intentional, but for whatever reason there is some aggression issues going on, so by adding or moving plants around, hopefully it will take care of the problem.

[Scrup]

...pretty sure it was a humorous rhetorical question...

You could also try putting black paper against the side of the tank, not sure how well it would work, I just know my bettas flare at the sides of the tank sometimes, but never the back (painted black on the outside)

or a blindfold might work.:14:

[Owlbehere]

Pictures tying a tiny blind fold on a fish... hmmm

[10lbBass]

thanks everyone. looks like moving the plants is working.!

[Bristley]

thanks everyone. looks like moving the plants is working.!

Good to hear.:19: