Bullying Male Dwarf Gourami

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Offline Amlaikin

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Bullying Male Dwarf Gourami
« on: April 18, 2014, 10:29:18 PM »
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Last week I bought 2 Male Dwarf Gourami for my 120l tank.  I read somewhere that a pair would be ok together in a tank of that size and the pet store said it would be fine.  One week later and one is occasionally bullying the other - especially after feeding.  Have done some more reading and now conflicted whether I should have just bought one or whether I should buy more (another 3?) as I've read that a larger group would prevent one being dominant.  Anybody got any advice please?!

Tank is planted and levels are good. 25% water change yesterday. Other fish are peaceful community fish.

Thanks!

Offline dbaggie

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Re: Bullying Male Dwarf Gourami
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2014, 11:25:57 PM »
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I had a similar problem in my 180l tank - got talked into buying 2 against my better judgement by the fish shop using the same 'will be fine together in a tank of that size' ploy (first and last time I've bought on advice from a LFS). I ended up giving one to my folks and both are now doing fine separately. Not sure whether adding more would solve the problem, perhaps if you did have a big group, but it then could significantly affect your stocking levels - I'm sure others will be able to comment on this.

Offline Sue

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Re: Bullying Male Dwarf Gourami
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2014, 12:46:15 PM »
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Dwarf gourami males can be nasty little things. Unless your tank is heavily planted with tall plants to break up the line of sight, I would not have 2 males in a 120 litre tank. It needs a much bigger tank for 2 males.
And 1 male 1 female can also be a recipe for trouble as dwarf gouramis are well known 'wife beaters'. If he wants to breed and she doesn't, he can kill her. The recommended is one male only or one male and at least two females.

I would take one of the males back to the shop and replace him with at least two females. Keep the less dominant one. If the shop doesn't sell females, just have the one male. I would not keep multiple males in a 120 litre tank.
And just in case the shop worker doesn't know, females are silvery grey with perhaps the vaguest hint of stripes. I once had a shop worker try to convince me that a powder blue male was the female of the striped male  >:(

Offline Amlaikin

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Re: Bullying Male Dwarf Gourami
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2014, 09:21:45 PM »
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Thanks Sue, excellent advice again  ;D  Just going to keep the one then and return the other.  Annoyed that they sell them as pairs!

Note to self: do more research before next purchase  ::)

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