honey gouramis fins are going black?

wendex

Hi I've got 2 honey gouramis, their bottom fins have got black patch just under belly? What does this mean?
Tank has been cycled, had a slight increase in nitrates for a few days but back to 0 now.
I noticed that they were facing eachother and swimming at eachother a lot a few days ago. Could try to get a pic not sure how to put pics on messages yet have to look into it. guessing i use add attachment :)
Appreciate it if anyone can tell me what's happening.

Little-Fizz

Your nitrates are zero?

Post a picture please so we can better help you.

And please post your water parameters.

wendex

Oh dear readings not good. Nitrites back up 0.25, nitrates up to 20 from 10-15, amm. still 0, ph 7.4.
Due a weekly water change tonight.
All I can think is I'm still over feeding the fish? I really don't know what else I can be doing wrong.
Hope the picture's is good enough to see what's happening.

Little-Fizz

Hmm.. Are you sure you tank is cycled? How long has it been set up for?

Lol my god, either you gourami is tiny or your cory is HUGE

Did they always have the black spots or have these just appeared and are they growing in size? I've just google searched some pictures of honey gouramis and quite a few of them had black spots on their bottom fins. I would post them but I'm on my dads lap top and he wouldn't be very impressed if he found pictures of fish on it Lol but if you like you can google Honey Gourami yourself and see the ones with the black spots.

wendex

Right I'll do a search.
The tank's is coming up for 3 months old, it was cycled but I've been told I added fish 2 quickly - I left over a week between getting each type of fish. Plus I think I'm still over feeding - i don't know if that causes an increase in nitrites - but I was told that a nitrite reading of 0.25 shouldn't make fish ill but obviously it's not nice for them.

This is my first tank and everything I've learnt so far I've got from people on this site.

The fish are very young still and I don't know if they're growing cos I haven't had them long enough. (the cory in pic I think is close to full size :) ) They didn't have black on their fins when I got them and i have seen bigger gouramis in shop so I'm guessing it's not a marking they get when they get older. It's awful not knowing much when you first start.

Thanks for taking time out to look.

wendex

It confusing looking up on net. I've read so far male honey dwarf gouramis develop black under bellies when spawning????? and males are aggressive towards eachother ( which might explain the head butting? I don't know, hard to tell if it's playful or aggressive) and it looks like I've got 2 males and I asked the shop for one of each :(

How can they be spawning if there are no females? HELP!

I need some expert to tell me about Honey gouramis

wendex

Ok

I think I've def. got a male because he seems to have developed a dark underbelly and female cos she's got a faint brown stripe. (however the females fin under her belly has gone a little dark as well) can I deduce from this they're not sick just getting it together. they are swimming together lots and seem happy enough. As long as they're not getting sick that's the most important thing.

If anyone can tell me if similar thing has happened to honeys they've got it would really help.

Little-Fizz

I've never owned honey gouramis, but TONS of fish change colours when spawning!!

How much are you feeding? Do you see excessive amounts of fish food falling to the bottom when you feed? What is in your tank? and how big is it?

okiemavis

Honey Gourami are supposed to be pretty small. He looks perfectly healthy to me!

That black you see is actually blue. Male Honey Gourami develop blue throats as they reach sexual maturity. Both of my gourami did it once they got older and were also in a good environment. You'll see that black/blue spread up towards his mouth and become deeper. No worries, it's perfectly natural and an indication that he's a *he* and also healthy and feels safe!

I'm not sure that you do have a female- they are generally not sold anywhere in the US. However, the brown line does sound like an indication. Generally the most reliable way to sex them in by their dorsal fin, however, this can be very tricky. A male's dorsal fin comes to more of a point, whereas a female's will be more rounded. If you do turn out to have a female, please, breed them and send me some females!

wendex

I live in UK - England :) I hope they're happy, I went and got some large plants to float and provide hiding places and shelter for them (only fake but I don't think they mind) they seem to like it.
I've read they like blood worms lots and can over feed easily. I give a mix of food. frozen live food (which contains blood worm) and I think that's where I'm over feeding cos i defrost a cube and put it all in - but only feed once a day when I do this.
Or two dry flake food feeds a day. I've also got some bottom feeder food and i put a tiny amount in for the corys every now and then. I think I'll not put all the frozen food in maybe.
A bit does fall to bottom - but as well as weekly water change I get the excess food off bottom filtering it and putting water back in.
Anyway I'm rambling, sooooo pleased the chances are they're ok. Keep you posted and thanks for your help.