Narcicius

I have had two female pearls ever since I got my tank cycled. Recently the slightly larger one has been attacking everything. The other pearl, my BN even the shrimp it catches diving from cover to cover. This is getting ridiculous, MY other pearl is so scared it wont even stretch its fins, it keeps them close to its body at all times. The strangest thing is that it protects my anubias plant more than anything. Which is the BN's fav spot in the whole tank, even more than its cave. I don't know what to do, if there is anything to do. I was considering adding a male or even some opaline or paradise females. something a little bigger to make it shy like when I first got it.

GouramiGirl1221

Are you sure the aggressive fish is a female? The behavior you're describing sounds more like a male territory issue to me, but you very well could be correct. What I would recommend doing is giving the aggressive fish a "time out" for an hour or two...just stick her in a bucket with some tank water...and re-arrange your decorations, etc. while she's out. Let everyone else get calmed down, and then re-introduce her to the tank. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't, but it's worth a shot. If that doesn't work, the only thing I could tell you is get a different tank for her or take her back to your LFS.

I don't know what else is in your tank, but I don't think adding a male pearl or opaline or paradise gouramis will solve your problem. Opaline and paradise gouramis are both extremely aggressive in the broad spectrum of the gourami family, so your pleco probably wouldn't appreciate those new additions. A male pearl could actually increase the problems your having if he's ready to breed and neither female is, because then you may have a dual aggression issue.

Best of luck to you!

capekate

Hi I agree with GouramiGirl. Also, if the aggression is as bad as you say it is and it sounds pretty bad, if the time out does not work, are you able to return the aggressor? It is really disrupting the whole tank and it just may be a mean fish that is not going to change. Best of luck to you.

Narcicius

ugh. I don't know what to do, hopefully its just a phase. I know its not a male (stubby dorsal and no orange breast). I do have to note that about a week ago I took some photos of them and they still had that fluorescent blue on they're bottom fin. But now the blue is gone. I wonder if that's a sign of maturity. (sigh) why do such beautiful creatures still have natural selection instincts in a domestic setting?