Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Species => Gouramis => Topic started by: Alex_N on April 18, 2016, 03:51:38 PM
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I picked up 2 Pearl Gourami on Friday and now that they're settled in and more relaxed I don't think they're male and female.
If anyone could help clarify it would be much appreciated.
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Unless the fins change dramatically as they get older, you have 2 females. But most fish look female when young. You are looking for an orange throat, long fins and fringes at the end of the dorsal and anal fins for a male.
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Thanks Sue.
I had been thinking they were both male, which obviously could cause problems.
I'll try and get a better picture of their fins and throat but that won't be till tomorrow now.
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I managed to get another couple of pictures but they're very camera shy and don't like to be looked at.
Can't really blame them to be honest lol
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They now look like 2 males. They both have orange throats and in the second photo, the one nearest the camera looks as if the fringes on the anal fin are staring to develop.
I would guess they are quite young and still have some growing to do before they look like adult males usually do (more orange, longer fins, more frilly fringes)
How do they behave together? Male gouramis do not usually get on, and one will dominate the other; possibly even kill it. Pearls are not the most aggressive of gouramis but they are still gouramis and I would expect some aggro once they mature. It will get even worse if you put a female in the tank and give them something to fight over besides territory.
Once you know for sure they both male, I would give serious thought to exchanging one of them for a definite female or two.
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Ah thanks Sue.
Their behaviour is pretty good, I've seen them size each other up but no actual bullying or physical attacks.
I had all ready thought of exchanging one if they were two males for a couple of females.