Prison

**Gogi** · 01-18-2013, 12:18 AM

Today I had to sentence my new dwarf gourami, Moon, to two month solitary confinement. After he has done his time he will be deported to the local fish club where he will begin rehab with a hardcore hobbyist.

I got The DG about two weeks ago. He was doing fine the first week, but now he has decided to be a tyrant. He was bulling all the fish in the tank. I had him in a lightly stocked, moderately planted 20 gallon. I drew the line when he started going after my precious oto cats. I decided to move him before he kills anyone. If you are wondering why I didn't return him to the LFS, it because they do not take fish back. Anyways he will find a better home at the club meeting. Why wait until March you ask, cus we don't meet in January and February.

He seems to like his jail cell. It's a very very low tech 10 gallon. No substrate or gravel and no light fixture. It's near a window so he will be enjoying the sun. It has an internal fluval filter and a 50 watt heater set to 80 deg F. For enrichment purposes I put in a piece of driftwood for Moon to inspect.

The tank is on an end table. Please excuse the clutter.

He seems pretty happy in there. He just cruise around. Please excuse the air bubbles.

**steeler1** · 01-18-2013, 12:36 AM

Hard to believe they can be such tyrant's. I kept a pair (yes they were still selling females than) back in the 70's, in a 5 gal tank, believe it or not, with no problem.
I guess I just got lucky.

**Indian Woods Angels** · 01-18-2013, 02:22 AM

Sure are a lot of bubbles in there.

**korith** · 01-18-2013, 02:27 AM

Hehe I've had that happen to me. Never really know the temperament of a fish until you add it to a tank and see how it interacts.

You could add in a ceramic pot lying on it's side for him to hide out in to feel a bit more secure.

**Gogi** · 01-18-2013, 03:55 PM

Yea im going to add a pot in there. I have to go buy one. Yea, before i bought him i did research and I knew this might happen. I only got him because i knew i would be able to seperate him if need too. I rolled the dice and lost this time

**ScottishFish** · 01-18-2013, 04:13 PM

Sounds like a regular DG to me

**mermaidwannabe** · 01-18-2013, 04:29 PM

Does he just get bread and water from now on? Oops. He already has the water ...

Why won't your LFS take back fish? Have they ever given you a reason?

Even though the club meeting isn't until March, your might try phoning or e-mailing one or more of your club buddies in the meantime and see if he or she will take him off your hands. Someone in your fish circle might like to have him sooner.

Just a suggestion ...

**Taurus** · 01-18-2013, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by ScottishFish

Sounds like a regular DG to me

Yup. Did you try keeping the light off in your main tank for a few days after you added the DG? Sometimes that will settle them down. It's not a certainty though.

**Gogi** · 01-19-2013, 03:16 AM

@ mermaidwannabe- I have never asked any LFS why they don't, but every one I have been in the city don't take them back. The only places that do are Petco and Petland Discount and I don't buy fish from those chain store. I don't mind keeping him until March. He gives me a good reason to get more hardscape material so he is comfortable. Besides his cell is right in front of the couch so I get to watch him a lot and he is very entertaining.

@ Taurus- Nope I didn't turn off the light for a few days. I ll try that next time if my girlfriend ever lift the DG Ban she placed on the 20 gal. She loves her oto cats too.

**Gogi** · 01-30-2013, 04:35 AM

Due to public out cry, lead by the GRAUSA( Gourami Rights Activist USA), I have added some enrichment in the cell.

I went and bought my first fake plant ever. I think its really nice and healthy.

On top of it is some water sprite that I pruned from my shrimp tank. Not sure if it will do well in their but I was going to toss it in the compost heap anyways. I also added a fine ceramic pot.