Gourami Behaviour

[kilyth]

My dwarf flame gourami has been sharing a 25g tank with some rummynose tetras since before Christmas. In the last week or so the gouramis have started acting very skittishly, are hiding all the time, and have no colour. Advice on here recommended removing the gourami as he could be stressing them out. Coincidentally my betta died yesterday so after a WC I moved the gourami to his 10g last night.

The gourami is settled in now and I've noticed him putting bits of leaf on the water surface, which promptly get pushed under by the current. I've never seen him doing this before and am wondering if he's trying to build a nest. Should I decrease the current or move a plant into that corner to give him something to build under?

[Azurescriber]

I think he is happy now, doing his little leaf thing. Nothing to worry about. Maybe decrease the current so he can finish his nest. I think they build their nests on the surface, so a plant there won't help much...except maybe to stabilize.

[kilyth]

I've decreased the current now and switched a stick with anubias on it to help ensure a calm spot on the surface for him to build.

He's now ripping all my java ferns apart and cramming them into the anubias as more stabilising material. Nice to see the little beggar happy, even if it is as the expense of my plants.