Raptor

Hi, I decided this year I'd give raising fish a shot. My parents had owned fish tanks for a few years while growing up, and I figured it'd be great if I learned how to care for fish myself. So for Christmas I got a 5 gallon tank in my room and I'd done all the research I could before setting it up. I've tested the water, everything's normal, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, pH, everything's perfectly dead center. So I set up the tank with a tall rock in the middle of the tank that goes up to the surface (It's a tall hexagonal tank, not a rectangular wide one) and planted a live plant. I let the tank run its cycle and made sure everything was in order with the water, filter, and water temperature before getting my first fish, a male Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami. As of today he looks healthy, his form's normal and he generally has been swimming vigorously up and down against the glass. I haven't noticed symptoms of disease.

Now, here's where the problem started. I fed the Gourami some flakes the first night he arrived, not surprisingly he didn't touch them as he was still settling in. The next day (Yesterday), both morning and at night I tried feeding him again with flakes. Curiously I haven't seen him dart up to the water's surface to get them. I saw him pick at one once, but he then generally let it float on and sink.

Today I decided trying something new with his diet might help, so I fed him freeze dried bloodworms. Which I didn't see him eat either.

This is my first time raising a Dwarf Gourami, given right now I'm partially blind as my good pair of glasses broke I'm having a hard time telling if the food's sitting at the bottom of the tank or not. Does anyone who's raised a Dwarf Gourami know if he might eat it off the bottom, or what might be wrong if not? My family's mostly had goldfish and Angelfish up till this point so I'm used to them darting up to the top of the tank the moment flakes hit it.

I'm just getting worried, I don't want my first fish to die within days of getting it because it wont eat.

Gouramiguy17

He is getting used to the tank, just give a little while and try some frozen bloodworms, freeze dried can cause bloat and constipation. Are you planning on getting any more fish?

Raptor

Yes actually. I'm debating either getting a second Gourami (Female), or some small Tetras / Zebras. Given it's only a 5 gallon tank I really don't want to overcrowd it. Thank you for the advice on the Bloodworms, I'll try to find some frozen ones at the pet store. Though I'm still worried why he doesn't seem to be touching his food floating at the surface.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!
gouramis are shy at first...but hopefully he gets use to you soon! I wouldnt add another gourami to that tank as they are very territorial and might hurt eachother in a small space
when you say your water is normal, what are the readings for everything?
how was the tank cycled?
gouramis are labyrinth fish so they will dart to the top to get air constantly...if you havent seen him eat, the food is probably in your gravel...

would love to see some pics sometime if you can

Raptor

Huh, I thought Gourami males were only territorial with other males. . . Alright I'll keep that in mind, thank you. Now, as for tank readings:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.0
alkalinity: 80-120
Hardness: 150
chlorine and chloramine: 0

I'll try to get some pics up, unfortunately the USB drives on my computer are on the fritz, so, uploading the images might take me a bit. =\

Shawnie

all gouramis are nawty ..and dont play nice unless they have plenty of space
how longs the tank been up ?

you should have some kind of nitrate reading ...if you only have one plant, that shouldnt eat them all up....how was the tank cycled?

cant wait to see pics when you can..we love pics

Jaysee

Welcome to the site! Animals typically don't eat when they're stressed. I would not try feeding him again for a few days. That will give him some time and will get him good and hungry. Fish can go for weeks without food, so 3 days isn't much. I would also not rush up to the tank or make any sudden movements around the tank, cause you don't want to startle him. Gouramis can take several days to settle in, some species longer.

haedra

I've had a powder glue gourami now for a little while in a 10 gallon with a few cories. All was peaceful for awhile, but only recently has become much more "comfortable" so to speak, and acts as if he owns the whole place. I know there are many opinions, but I'm not sure I would put anything else with him in the 5 gallon.

About food, my own gourami refused any and all flakes, and anything else manufactured for that matter, for a long while. If you haven't already you might try some frozen bloodworms. All my fish go gaga over it, and it was the one thing he was really, REALLY into. My own does eat a few more things now, but overall he is just very finicky.

He also even now tends to be a little spooky and will dart away from fast movement near his tank. There will very likely be an adjustment period for yours until he feels more comfortable.

ThatGuy85

Raptor,

Your water readings seem to indicate that your tank isn't cycled. Or, if you're using liquid testers, be sure to shake the containers before putting the drops into the test tubes. Believe me, I skipped this step and was confused for the longest time why I wasn't getting accurate readings.

flyin-lowe

If you just got the tank for Christmas I am certain it has not cycled. TSS is about the only thing that will cycle it in a week unless you had seeded filters and substrate. Your initial water parameters can be deceiving because you have 0 ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in your tap water. (or well water). Read up on the nitrogen cycle. Your gourami will start producing waste and then you will start to see ammonia in your water. Also as a side not gourami's are hardy fish in an established tank but if it is not cycled yet they often times can't handle the stress of a cycling tank. Please let us know what you did to cycle the tank and test again and update the water parameters.

rae64

I agree with flyin-lowe. You did a good job to let the tank run for a week, but this just filters all the yuck out of your water. It does nothing for the nitrogen cycle. If you can find some, grab some Tetra Safe Start. This will cycle your tank with minimal stress to your Gourami.

Shawnie--- the only non-nawty gouramis are honeys and sparkles sweet little babies

Rhaethe

Hey there.

I also have a dwarf gourami, and she took around 4-5 days to come out of her hidey spot regularly. I never saw her eat until around that time.

After that, though, I got to see her "hunt" her food. I flot a bit on top, and then I hear "plit plop plit" sounds. She attacks by spitting at the flakes upon the surface ... which cause the flakes to get scattered and start to sink.

As the tiny bits float around in the current, they get gently pushed toward the aquarium walls. Little Miss stalks the bits, hovers, and then dives for a (now soggy) piece of food, gobbling it up.

I'm pretty sure your DG will come out soon enough