Normal for Pearl to swim around frantically?

**Plectoman** · 01-07-2013, 02:34 PM

IME, it really depends on the particular fish. I have a 4 year old pearl in one tank that only eats algae wafers. It hates flake food, blood worms, shrimp pellets. It refuses to eat any of these things. On the other hand, I have a younger pair that will eat anything I put in the tank. I would try maybe shrimp pellets or Hikari wafers. Its also normal for a fish to not eat much when it is getting use to its new enviroment.

**serbusfish** · 01-07-2013, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Plectoman

IME, it really depends on the particular fish. I have a 4 year old pearl in one tank that only eats algae wafers. It hates flake food, blood worms, shrimp pellets. It refuses to eat any of these things. On the other hand, I have a younger pair that will eat anything I put in the tank. I would try maybe shrimp pellets or Hikari wafers. Its also normal for a fish to not eat much when it is getting use to its new enviroment.

I tried frozen bloodworm today and he wouldnt touch them :( I might have to phone the store I bought him from and find out what they were feeding them.

**serbusfish** · 01-18-2013, 07:28 PM

OK my Gourami is really starting to irritate me to the point im considering getting rid of it. 95% of the time it is glass surfing at the front of the tank (when the light is off it usually does it on the left side). This behavior coupled with the fact it doesnt look like other pearls ive seen (large eyes, yellow instead of orange belly, faint centre black line) makes me wish I had either gotten a Betta or at least waited til my store had other Pearls in stock to choose from.

I went back to the store I bought it from recently and they have some really nice ones in now with proper orange bellys

I need to ask, is it possible he is behaving like this due to lack of food? He didnt eat much in the first 2 weeks and most of the time he just spits out the food I put in for the other fish. I need to find the cause because it just isnt enjoyable to watch when it is acting so unnaturally.

**steeler1** · 01-18-2013, 07:36 PM

See if they will trade him?

**serbusfish** · 01-19-2013, 04:38 PM

I'd rather keep him if possible as he is a nice fish when he is swimming around properly. I'm considering getting a female for him, is this a good idea?

**steeler1** · 01-19-2013, 07:51 PM

You may already have a female as their belly is not as red or orange as males. They are one of the more peaceful Gourami so you could try another one, but keep an eye on them anyway.

**serbusfish** · 01-19-2013, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by steeler1

You may already have a female as their belly is not as red or orange as males. They are one of the more peaceful Gourami so you could try another one, but keep an eye on them anyway.

I think it is a male, it does have colour on its belly, just not orange. From what I can tell the females have no colour there, just white like the rest of the body. Ive also noticed the dorsal fin is longer on the males and mine has a long one. But I dont know, as I said it doesnt look like regular pearls.

Im considering taking it back and either getting another Pearl or a betta, I originally wanted a betta but couldnt because I had Black Skirts in the tank so settled for the Pearl. Not sure what to do yet.

**serbusfish** · 01-20-2013, 04:15 PM

I decided to put the Pearl in the family tank, and so far it seems to be doing ok, it isnt pacing its swimming normally, hopefully it will be fine. I went to my local store and purchased a red Betta and 5 pencilfish. So far, all my fish are doing ok with it, apart from my Pentazona Barbs which seem fascinated by it. They keep following it around (which is making it flare at them) hopefully its just because its new, id hate to have to get rid of them but I would have to, the Betta is gorgeous.