jgon_

I've had my gourami in my planted tank with no problems. However yesterday I bought a really nice piece of driwftwood planted with java moss and anubias. And nonstop, the gourami has been 'taste-testing' the moss and has detached quite a few pieces. I was just curious if he will stop this behaviour since its been going on for over 24hrs now...I fear for really nice new piece of decor.

Oh, and he's certainly not doing it because he doesn't get fed...though I guess 'gourami' and 'full' should never be placed in the same sentence...

GouramiGuy

Well it really depends on what kind of plants you have. You may not believe it but some plants taste bad to fish!! Also Gouramis love to eat any live plants, the hornwort that I have was advertised as "bad tasting" and they still nible off it sometimes. I'd move the moss decoration to a different tank if you have one, before it gets all eaten.

Barbrella

That's true!

He's probably doing what they do in their natural habitats - picking through the moss looking for anything edible and detaching it at the same time. Mine does the same with my Java fern/moss.

I actually like him to do that, since he's so slow and deliberate he gets any tiny morsel of leftover food that my other fast fish are too busy and impatient to look for.

GouramiGirl1221

It surprises me that your gourami is eating your java moss and anubias...I have both of those plants in my tank and my gouramis don't touch them! They've already destroyed one val, are on their way to killing the other, and nibble on the floating water sprite. So my guess is no, he won't stop. My powder blue has been in a planted tank for about two weeks now and he still does it constantly.

ER9

mine seemed to love destroying one particular cabomba plant. i think its a personality thing with these guys and your just seems to enjoy destroying your moss. the other possibility is he's getting ready to or is in the process of using the pieces of plants to build a bubble nest. look up on the surface...probablly in a secluded corner of the tank for a floating raft of debris.

word of advice though. if he is building a nest and you really like that piece of moss coated driftwood. leave his nest alone.

Alessa

Luckily I ended up with a mellow guy... does not care for the hornwort at all. (the other fish do though... darn baby platies!).