Another dead Gourami

Inga

Today I found my small Gold Gourami on the bottom of the tank. I really had to look since he is wedged in tight along the wall behind some plants. I do a head count of sorts each morning and this morning, I didn't see my little Gold. I just lost my little Blue Gourami this week as well. It isn't water parameters, I think it is Big Bertha, the large Gold Gourami. He/she is a crab apple and chases the others around the tank. I had a brief moment of wanting to flush her today. (don't worry, I would never do that)

How in the world do the rest of you keep multiple Gourami? Now I am nervous about my other Blue Gourami. He sort of keeps to himself in the plants but on occasion has been chased. The only trouble maker I can see in this tank is the Big Gold. I really don't want a tank with only 1 fish in it so I am not sure what I am going to do.

I am just so sad. I managed to keep my fish alive through my cycle, didn't have any issues when first introducing any new fish and now Bertha is getting out of hand. To be fair, I didn't see her kill the other's but she is the only one that chases them. All the other fish seem fine (no disease) so I think all the evidence points to the bully in the tank.

Any suggestions short of flushing her or adding a bigger meaner fish will be considered.

twocents

I would not consider getting a meaner fish. That would probably be karmic for big bertha but would unleash armageddon on the rest of your happless fish habitants.
You state that the other fish seem to be fine: it is only the gourami having problems. That happened to me with a blue/red gourami. There were two and I think the dominant one led to the demise of the other. I simply make do with the Blue Gourami. There are also a few swordtails in the tank along with some sparkling gouramis and one 'otto'. While I get the occasional disputes, I do not have out and out warfare.
I think you are just going to have to be happy with just big bertha. Sounds like he/she is just happy being the only gourami.

Inga

I said any suggestion short of flushing or getting a bigger meaner fish. I wouldn't do that. I do wish I could send her back to the store but of course, they won't take her. Then again, that would bother me too because I wouldn't want to see them sell her to someone that would be cruel to her/him either.

I can train all kinds of dogs, I wish I could train her to behave herself. I think she needs a good thump to the gills like Kymmie jokingly suggested.

Maybe I will leave the tank cover open and hope she jumps out. (kidding) Pretty sure my shark would jump out first. It says in their profile they tend to jump out of tanks.

brandelion

awww I'm sorry you lost another one... I wonder if there's any possibility that maybe something weakened them during the cycling process that is just catching up with them now... or maybe has been exacerbated by the stress of the bullying
of course you can probably tell by MY posts that I have no clue about most things fish related myself - just trying to think of other options besides Big Gold being a homicidal maniac hehehe

zof

I have a gold and a blue currently and until 2 days ago blue was always chasing gold around. What changed? I finally got my second tank up and running and thru blue into there. They are much happier apart, gold isn't hiding anymore and blue has had a 180 in his attitude, he no longer roams the tank looking for a fight hes just as peaceful as can be with his 1 Platy and 1 Guppy roomies. My recommendation to anyone looking to get gouramis is to only get 1 unless you have a decent sized tank that is heavily planted.

Inga

The Gourami were not in the tank during the cycle process. I only had 3 of the Tiger Barbs in the tank until after the tank was cycled. All of those are still alive and doing well so far. Hopefully Bertha doesn't do them in as well. If so, I am honestly thinking of getting rid of her in one manner or another and starting anew. I didn't want fish killing each other. I know it is a part of fish life but it breaks my heart.

I own Rottweiler's and have for the past 33 years. I can handle them without issue but cannot handle a little Gold Gourami. What is wrong with that picture. Anyone know how to train a fish to co-exist with others or "play nice?"

Inga

What would you consider a decent size tank for multiple Gourami? I am hoping my tank will be heavily planted soon, I am just waiting for the plants to grow.

This is what I have so far



Do you think I should just buy some more plants and stick them in to fill up the open spots more? I wish I had a second tank to put that fish in. Catching her is going to be hell with all the hiding spots and plants. Any suggestions there? I certainly don't want to rip all my newly planted plants out with the net.

brandelion

ahh ok - I don't know what made me think you had them in there all along... now that you mention it I remember you saying it was just the barbs

ok don't mind me - I'm clearly not fit to be communicating today hehehe

Inga

Don't be silly. I love hearing from you. I am not one of those people who can remember every detail of my own tank much less others from the forum. lol If you did, I would really feel intimidated talking to you. I much prefer you like this. ha ha

zof

You have what looks to be a really nice size tank, I think your issue (as well as mine) would be line of sight, you would probably want more tall growing plants (since they spend most of their time at the surface) in the middle and other areas to break up line of sight. I'm no expert on this but this is what I've gather so far. I think this would probably be key to for them to develop smaller territories instead of thinking of the whole tank of their territory.