Bully Gourami

[Ikshvaku]

I have a male opaline Gourami that's acting rather contrary to what I'd expect. His bullying doesn't bother the other Gourami too much, but it's driven two recently acquired Sailfin mollies to the bottom. In fact, the only other fish that dares go to the top is a Pearl Gourami.

Since then, I got a female for him, and he's started leaving them alone to chase her, so far as I can tell, but they're both too afraid to do anything but hide in the bottom and I rarely, if ever, see them eat. And yes, when I put them in the tank, I rearranged the furniture. It's been like that for over two days.

So, my question is, should I give them more time or think about giving the male back? And if I did, could I introduce another at a later time when the others are more comfortable?

[Northernguy]

What size is your tank?

[rich311k]

Opaline gouramis can be like that. Some of them are down right nasty. You may have to rearrange your stocking.

[Ikshvaku]

It's a 38 gallon, and as I said, I did rearrange the tank when I introduced the mollies. I've done it more than once, so far.

And like I say, I think with the female there, he's not gonna bother them much, but they're all just acting scared as shit

[Ikshvaku]

He really seems to be totally leaving the non-Gourami alone right now in order to chase the female, but the others still hover at the bottom. I put New Life Spectrum wafers in the tank for my King Tiger, but I've seen most of the others eat nibble at it, so I was wondering if I might ought to use more of that and/or some sort of pellets, sinking or cichlid pellets (even if just for the King Tiger, whom I've never seen eat)

Does anyone have any thoughts?

[Lady Hobbs]

He's just one nasty fish and will probably continue to be nasty. The golds and blues are like that and can be very aggressive. If you had a peaceful tank without him, then I'd return him. I had mollies that were also nothing but pests that would chase others in the tank. If you think he's aggressive now, wait until he wants to start building a bubble nest for the female to spawn in.

[Ikshvaku]

I think I will take this guy back soonish, maybe this weekend. He's gone back to being every bit as bad as he was at first. Would there be any point in trying another male opaline Gourami (the female doesn't bother anyone, so she'll stay, I guess) again in a few weeks? Maybe if it has to be the one to get use to everyone else, that'll calm him.

If not, I could use recommendations for a bluish fish that could replace him eventually.

[VoidParadigm]

Every time you try to add a new 3-spot (blue, gold, opaline, etc) you risk getting a nasty one, making the remaining ones turn nasty, etc. Besides that, if you get a spawning pair no other fish will last unharmed, even to the point of him killing his female. Its not worth the risk.

[Ikshvaku]

Then you think I should consider getting a totally different kind of fish?

Should I just make a different thread in the fish compatibility forum for advice? And do you think the female will become problem?

[Ikshvaku]

I ask, since this thread was already moved, and I don't want to be off topic again.

[Ikshvaku]

Well, I returned the bully today. The other two Gourami are certainly acting much happier. However, the two sailfins are still hovering at the bottom, afraid to come up. Should that change in time?