[GreenPlanet]

I recently bought 2 dwarf gourami (Don't know they are male of female) for my aquarium. I also have 2 Mollies, 2 Pleco. My Gourami has been behaving oddly today, swimming to the front and side of the tank and spitting bubbles hundreds of tiny bubbles through his gills at the bottom the tank every 15-20 seconds. I just wondered if you might have an explanation for why it might be doing this and what I can do if it something that should change for the happiness of the fish.

 

[iamgray]

I recently bought 2 dwarf gourami (Don't know they are male of female) for my aquarium. I also have 2 Mollies, 2 Pleco. My Gourami has been behaving oddly today, swimming to the front and side of the tank and spitting bubbles hundreds of tiny bubbles through his gills at the bottom the tank every 15-20 seconds. I just wondered if you might have an explanation for why it might be doing this and what I can do if it something that should change for the happiness of the fish.

He is building a bubble nest. It's where the eggs are laid.

edit: So, perfectly natural behaviour, and nothing that you need to worry about as far as I know.

 

[thefishboy]

You can tell if there male or female. Here is a pic, females are much duller.

 

[beachcire]

Males dorsal fin will come to a point. The females dorsal fin will be rounded.

 

[GreenPlanet]

He is building a bubble nest. It's where the eggs are laid.

edit: So, perfectly natural behaviour, and nothing that you need to worry about as far as I know.

I don't know what he was doing!! I have 2 Gouramis in my tank. One is dominator he chases the other gourami all the day and bashes him. They just can't stop fighting. The dominator gourami bubbling at the bottom of the aquarium. Though he stopped bubbling still I want to learn about this unique behavior of my gourami.

You can tell if there male or female. Here is a pic, females are much duller.

Thanks for the pic mate both of my grourami looks like male according to this pic. Female is not that visible in this pic.

Males dorsal fin will come to a point. The females dorsal fin will be rounded.

Both of my fish has arrow like dorsal fin. So both of them are male! Then why the bubbling thing? Is it something related with territorial fight or showoff? I am so curious.

 

[GreenPlanet]

Took a snap of my Grouramis.

 

[iamgray]

I don't know what he was doing!! I have 2 Gouramis in my tank. One is dominator he chases the other gourami all the day and bashes him. They just can't stop fighting. The dominator gourami bubbling at the bottom of the aquarium. Though he stopped bubbling still I want to learn about this unique behavior of my gourami.

It's like I said in my first reply - he is building a bubble nest. It's when they blow bubbles at the surface of the water, often using floating plants at the surface to anchor the bubbles. Once enough bubbles are there, the bubble nest is where the female would deposit eggs (if you had a female in your tank, that is). Bettas do it too. There is nothing strange about the behaviour. Google "gourami bubble nest" and you will find tons of information... it's pretty cool if you ask me, and super neat to watch!

 

[kaythenewbie]

Male Gouramis build bubble nests whether or not there is a female around. Don't worry about your fish. It's a good thing. A bubble nest means that your Gourami is happy and healthy in your tank. As for the aggression, male dwarf Gouramis can be territorial. Especially while building and guarding a bubble nest. He will probably chase off all other fish from the nest, but male Gouramis are generally most aggressive to other male Gouramis. I don't know how to calm aggression, but I'm sure someone on this forum will reply with advice.

PS, if the bubble nest bothers you, just scoop it out with your net or gravel vac. Problem solved! at least, until he builds a new one. ;-)

 

[GreenPlanet]

It's like I said in my first reply - he is building a bubble nest. It's when they blow bubbles at the surface of the water, often using floating plants at the surface to anchor the bubbles. Once enough bubbles are there, the bubble nest is where the female would deposit eggs (if you had a female in your tank, that is). Bettas do it too. There is nothing strange about the behaviour. Google "gourami bubble nest" and you will find tons of information... it's pretty cool if you ask me, and super neat to watch!

Would be happy to see a bubble nest for the first time in my life in my own aquarium . But the prob is he gave up doing that. No floating bubble yet. I googled about bubble nest and found that they need plan which I dont have . Can they make bubble nest without any plant ?

Male Gouramis build bubble nests whether or not there is a female around. Don't worry about your fish. It's a good thing. A bubble nest means that your Gourami is happy and healthy in your tank. As for the aggression, male dwarf Gouramis can be territorial. Especially while building and guarding a bubble nest. He will probably chase off all other fish from the nest, but male Gouramis are generally most aggressive to other male Gouramis. I don't know how to calm aggression, but I'm sure someone on this forum will reply with advice.

PS, if the bubble nest bothers you, just scoop it out with your net or gravel vac. Problem solved! at least, until he builds a new one. ;-)

Watching a bubble nest made by a tiny fish would be so cool. But its been 2 days no bubble nest yet. Since I dont have any plant in my aquarium. Could it be the reason that he gave up bubbling ?

I have uploaded both of my Dwarf Gouramis . What do you think are they male of female ?

 

[thefishboy]

They both loook like males to me

 

[GreenPlanet]

thefishboy Thats what I think too. both of them are dude. So hating each others is good. That will keep them straight :-D Hope they don't start to explore each others :-?

 

[iamgray]

Would be happy to see a bubble nest for the first time in my life in my own aquarium . But the prob is he gave up doing that. No floating bubble yet. I googled about bubble nest and found that they need plan which I dont have . Can they make bubble nest without any plant ?

If there's a current in your tank and no plants to hold the bubbles in place, then the chance of a proper bubble nest forming is pretty slim. He'll just blow the bubbles and they'll float away individually. I've seen a betta get a pretty good start on a bubble nest in a bowl with no current and no plants though.

 

[Nihaal]

Hi i have a male and female gowrami the male has made a bubblenest and it is chasing and attacking my female gowrami she has eggs in her should i remove her or keep her in there

 

[Bens-fish-advice]

I heard they do that when they are breeding.

 

[Bens-fish-advice]

You should remove her the male will probably chase her away trying to protect the nest.