2 female Gourami fighting
 

Hi everyone!

Have set up my first aquarium (about 4 weeks old now) and it is currently stocked with 6 Red Platys and one gold and one opaline Gourami. The Opaline is a lot bigger than the Gold and keeps picking on her (They are both female). No injuries have been caused yet but I am worried the gold will become exhausted and give up swimming away. Is there a way to stop them doing this? Is the tank too small for these 2 Gourami?

The tanks is decorated with rocks and silk plants.
pH 7.4
25-27 oC

Thanks guys!

Gourami often don't get along with other gourami unless very large tank is being used to house them.
Would also note that gourami prefer soft ,warm water, while platy's prefer cool ,hard water.
Might be able to keep them together for a while,but one or the other will not be comfortable = stress=shorter lifespan ,and or frequently sickly fish (ie) finrot,fungus,ich,etc.

its a 110 litre tank (25-30 galleons depending on US or UK galleons)

hrrm perhaps I should take the other back and see if the store will exchange her

thanks for your help everyone! Wish the shop had not told me they should be bought as a pair!

I would return them, for the reasons other members have mentioned. "Pair" should mean a male/female of the same species, though even this is not a good idea with these medium-sized gourami, which should best be one male with 2-3 females, but in sufficient space.

Byron.