Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: Lynne W on December 17, 2018, 06:20:21 PM

Title: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Lynne W on December 17, 2018, 06:20:21 PM
hi all, recap of my sad pearl gourami journey with a what should I do now question.

Stared off with 3 back in April and the male was bullying one in particular, got another 3 females in August and you might remember one was really poorly right off and died pretty much as soon as it went into the hospital tank. At the beginning of Nov another female got damaged on it's side and fins, thought it was recovering then it went downhill and died a couple of days after going in hospital tank. Then at the beginning of Dec noticed the male was really skinny and yeah hate to say it but died in hospital tank again after a few days. Everything settled down, but one of the females looked a bit sad with a droopy tail fin, was going to try the hospital tank again, but found her dead 2 days ago  :(

So now left with one big female and one small female and looks like the bigger one is harassing the smaller one. I though they'd be OK as both female but really worried the wee one will now get stressed to death (assuming that is possible?) as she hides away apart from at feeding time.

Water parameters are always OK and doing 50% water changes, the only other fish that have died was a couple of 5 band bard and two corys, the harlies and rummy nose are still at the original numbers.

It's kind of stressed me out a bit, and left me not knowing what's the best thing to do.  ???

Advice welcome as always.

Lynne
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Sue on December 17, 2018, 07:16:48 PM
It's always difficult to know what is the best in these circumstances - rehome the bully or the victim. But I think one of them has to be rehomed.
If you keep the big one, it is possible that on her own she'll settle down - or start on the other fish. But the small one might not recover from the stress if you keep her.

My inclination would be to take a close look at the smaller one and if you think she's OK apart from being picked on, keep her and rehome the big one.


I have just one female honey gourami in my tank. She picked on the other other female and the male until they died, but now she's on her own I hardly ever see her, she keeps to herself among the floating plants.
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Lynne W on December 17, 2018, 08:34:37 PM
yeah I think the smaller one might be OK, she still comes out from time to time, just gets chased back.  Do I just see if the pet shop will take the bigger one back? not sure how else would I rehome is there a site I should post on?

Ta
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Sue on December 17, 2018, 08:47:29 PM
The simplest is to ring round a few shops and see. That way you don't have to bag the fish unnecessarily if none of them will take her.
I've always had success advertising on http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/, particularly if you use the word 'free' in the ad title. You do have to register with them but it is free.
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Lynne W on December 17, 2018, 08:51:53 PM
cheers sue will try shops first.

Thanks again
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Littlefish on December 18, 2018, 09:34:48 AM
You've had quite an unfortunate time with your gouramis, no wonder you've been stressed.
Some LFS can be very understanding and helpful, so I hope that you manage to find one that will take one back. Fingers crossed that this happens and that the issues in your tank are resolved very soon.
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Matt on December 18, 2018, 12:30:27 PM
I must admit I've never had success with gourami. I've had honies twice and they've always bullied each other. The one I have remaining now bullies the blue rams too, one of which is starting too look quite poorly so I might have to do some rehomimg too...

I've also kept sparkling gourami. They were much more peaceful but also a bit "flakey", possibly my water was a bit hard for them i think, though I never saw any signs of dropsy...

Anyways my sympathies to your situation. Hope you find a store willing to take one of your two and things become more pearl in your tank   :cheers:
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Helen on December 18, 2018, 03:51:29 PM
I've also struggled to successfully keep gouramis, to the extent that I've now given up.

I came to the conclusion that air quality (in particular just above the water's surface) is as important for labyrinth fish as water quality.
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: fcmf on December 18, 2018, 04:21:24 PM
Sorry to read of your gourami problems.

Another potential option for you is http://www.centralaquaristsociety.co.uk/ - they seem to be quite active and might have members willing to take on a pearl gourami; best of luck.
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Lynne W on December 18, 2018, 08:07:38 PM
hi all thanks for your comments, yeah thinking maybe gourami's are not my thing. The good news is I've got 4 fishkeeper Scotland shops all relatively near and the first one I phoned didn't hesitate in saying I could take her back, although I'll not be able to do that till Saturday.

I think I'll go with Sue's advice and take the bigger one back and see if the wee one starts to come out more and settle. None of them ever bother with the other wee fish, but might be because there is still two of them in the tank, so I'll see how she goes, if she then starts on the others might need to take her back too.

Although I'm gutted, as they were my favourites and are so beautiful, I wouldn't keep them if they aren't going to be happy.

Just need to start looking for another species which is always fun, so might be looking for ideas again once I had a decent period of stability, fingers crossed.  :cheers:
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Littlefish on December 18, 2018, 08:24:02 PM
Glad to hear that your LFS will take the gourami back, and I hope that this resolves the situation.
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: fcmf on January 07, 2019, 03:05:52 PM
How has the little pearl gourami been getting on, @Lynne W, since the big one was taken back to the LFS?
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Lynne W on January 13, 2019, 08:50:07 AM
hi @fcmf not sure how I missed your message  :-\ but things have progressed in a good way.

I was going to take bully back but it started to look like they were getting on better. So left it for a bit and yeah they look like they are getting on much better now, the wee one still get's chased but mainly when there is food on the go (which I think is probably noramlish?) and she swims about on her own and doesn't sit under the roots all the time like she was doing.

So I've left them both for now, I know I can't really tell, but she doesn't look so sad anymore :)
Title: Re: My Gourami Problems
Post by: Littlefish on January 13, 2019, 10:58:45 PM
Glad to hear that your gouramis seem to be getting along a bit better now.
Fingers crossed that the situation continues to remain more peaceful.  :)