Blue Gourami Issue!

[kumorisan]

Hello friends!~ (≧∇≦)ﾉ

I just bought two blue gouramis and I've noticed something for the past few days... One of the gouramis would chase the other. It became kinda normal and never really bothered me at first. But over time, the gourami kept chasing after it more and more. After a while, the gourami's stripes started getting darker.

I grew concerned about its health and I started researching about it. Some people on the websites were saying that gouramis can be territorial and sometimes chase or even nip after other fish. Somebody also said that moving the decorations around can help the territory problem, but I wanted to get some more advice first.

Is my gourami getting stressed? If so, could this be fatal? Should I separate the two gouramis?

My tank (so far): 20-gallon tank w/ 2 blue gouramis, 2 potbelly mollies & hornwort(s)

 

[AcornTheBetta]

Hello friends!~ (≧∇≦)ﾉ

I just bought two blue gouramis and I've noticed something for the past few days... One of the gouramis would chase the other. It became kinda normal and never really bothered me at first. But over time, the gourami kept chasing after it more and more. After a while, the gourami's stripes started getting darker.

I grew concerned about its health and I started researching about it. Some people on the websites were saying that gouramis can be territorial and sometimes chase or even nip after other fish. Somebody also said that moving the decorations around can help the territory problem, but I wanted to get some more advice first.

Is my gourami getting stressed? If so, could this be fatal? Should I separate the two gouramis?

More info: 20-gallon tank w/ 2 potbelly mollies & hornwort(s)

I believe we are talking about dwarf gouramis here (Powder Blue maybe?). I would separate the two of them ASAP. I would not put two dwarf gouramis together, especially if they are two males. If I were you, I would return one to your LFS. Ideally, one of them is female and you will be able to keep that one as females are less aggressive than males, but will still be the boss of the tank.

 

[kumorisan]

I believe we are talking about dwarf gouramis here (Powder Blue maybe?). I would separate the two of them ASAP. I would not put two dwarf gouramis together, especially if they are two males. If I were you, I would return one to your LFS. Ideally, one of them is female and you will be able to keep that one as females are less aggressive than males, but will still be the boss of the tank.

Nope, these are definitely blue gouramis. The manager who suggested these to me said that it was fine to keep 2 together...

 

[AcornTheBetta]

Nope, these are definitely blue gouramis. The manager who suggested these to me said that it was fine to keep 2 together...

I would still do the same thing. I wouldn't test keeping them together...

 

[kumorisan]

I would still do the same thing. I wouldn't test keeping them together...

Alright. Thanks for telling me!

 

[Kribensis27]

These things are terribly aggressive, especially to their own kind. Separate them as soon as possible. These guys are far worse than dwarf gouramis, they’re like murder machines. The darker stripes are a sign of stress and aggression, astression if you will

 

[kumorisan]

These things are terribly aggressive, especially to their own kind. Separate them as soon as possible. These guys are far worse than dwarf gouramis, they’re like murder machines. The darker stripes are a sign of stress and aggression, astression if you will

What kind of gouramis can be kept together? Could I keep them all in my 20-gallon?

 

[Pfrozen]

blue gouramis are not the same as powder blue gouramis.. since you have blue gouramis they are a color morph of the opaline gourami and one needs a minimum of 29g alone. this is why you are having aggression issues with 2 in a 20. Most say 2 blue (opaline) gouramis will work in a 55 minimum but even then you really should have 3-5 at least to disperse aggression. for that reason I would rehome those 2 gouramis

 

[AcornTheBetta]

What kind of gouramis can be kept together? Could I keep them all in my 20-gallon?

If yoau return all of these blue gouamis, you could get 1 male and 2 female honey gouramis. Just make sure you get true honeys and not thick lipped gouramis.

 

[Dunk2]

Nope, these are definitely blue gouramis. The manager who suggested these to me said that it was fine to keep 2 together...

Can you post a picture?

 

[kumorisan]

Can you post a picture?

 

[Pfrozen]

Yup those are Opaline or three-spot gouramis.. those aren't the blue colormorph though, just regular old opaline gouramis

 

[kumorisan]

Yup those are Opaline or three-spot gouramis.. those aren't the blue colormorph though, just regular old opaline gouramis

What's the difference?

 

[Pfrozen]

What's the difference?

well, the blue ones are blue. lol. maybe its just your lighting?

 

[kumorisan]

well, the blue ones are blue. lol. maybe its just your lighting?

Yeah... lighting's not the best.

 

[Dunk2]

Blue Gourami Care - Size, Life Span, Tank Mates, Breeding

 

[Dunk2]

jinjerJOSH22 Any advice?

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Hi, like some above comments the tank size is too small for these Gourami, who while aggressive are actually quite social. I always recommend a 4ft tank to keep a group of 4 plus fish.

Yup those are Opaline or three-spot gouramis.. those aren't the blue colormorph though, just regular old opaline gouramis

These are the Blue variant, usually just called Three Spots, as the three spots are visible

 

[Pfrozen]

Hi, like some above comments the tank size is too small for these Gourami, who while aggressive are actually quite social. I always recommend a 4ft tank to keep a group of 4 plus fish.


These are the Blue variant, usually just called Three Spots, as the three spots are visible

Thanks Josh, I didn't know that I thought the three spot was another name for the opaline variant lol

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Thanks Josh, I didn't know that I thought the three spot was another name for the opaline variant lol

Just to be clear, Opaline, Blue, Gold, Lavender, Platinum are some of the colour variations of the Three Spot Gourami(Trichopodus Trichopterus).

 

[Dunk2]

kumorisan I’d take the advice of jinjerJOSH22. He skips birthdays AND birthday CAKE for gourami.

 

[kumorisan]

kumorisan I’d take the advice of jinjerJOSH22. He skips birthdays AND birthday CAKE for gourami.

Yes! Thanks for the advice jinjerJOSH22.

 

[Pfrozen]

Just to be clear, Opaline, Blue, Gold, Lavender, Platinum are some of the colour variations of the Three Spot Gourami(Trichopodus Trichopterus).

lol ah that makes more sense now. I've never even heard of the Lavender and Platinum variants though those sound neat!

 

[Dunk2]

Yes! Thanks for the advice jinjerJOSH22.

Unfortunately, we can’t always rely on the advice of fish store employees. Remember, they’re in the business of selling fish. So. . . Research first!

 

[DoubleDutch]

Isn't this "variaty" in fact not the wild / natural type?

I can't see the upper fish that well but could it be these also are two males ?
Adding to the issue

 

[JettsPapa]

What kind of gouramis can be kept together? Could I keep them all in my 20-gallon?

As mentioned above, a small group of honey gouramis (more females than males) should work. Sparkling gouramis might be another option, but you'd need a fairly large group to disperse aggression, and I'd probably only recommend them if your tank is at least moderately planted.

 

[Kribensis27]

Isn't this "variaty" in fact not the wild / natural type?

I can't see the upper fish that well but could it be these also are two males ?
Adding to the issue

They’re not naturally found like this. I believe the natural coloration is closest to the “lavender” color morph. In the wild, they’re mostly brown with a purple shine. It could be two males, although I think just two of the same species is enough to trigger this kind of aggression.

 

[DoubleDutch]

They’re not naturally found like this. I believe the natural coloration is closest to the “lavender” color morph. In the wild, they’re mostly brown with a purple shine. It could be two males, although I think just two of the same species is enough to trigger this kind of aggression.

Are you sure ?

 

[Kribensis27]

Are you sure ?

Ok, I did some research. Looks like I was half right. I was always informed that the lavender morph was the only naturally occurring one, however it appears there are actually two. The lavender being one subspecies, and the blue being the other. The opaline, gold, and platinum are all selectively bred.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Ok, I did some research. Looks like I was half right. I was always informed that the lavender morph was the only naturally occurring one, however it appears there are actually two. The lavender being one subspecies, and the blue being the other. The opaline, gold, and platinum are all selectively bred.

I don't think this is quite right either as the Lavender morph is achieved by breeding the Blue and Gold Morphs. The Blue with the clear black spots are the closest to the natural fish you would find in the wild.

 

[Kribensis27]

I don't think this is quite right either as the Lavender morph is achieved by breeding the Blue and Gold Morphs. The Blue with the clear black spots are the closest to the natural fish you would find in the wild.

Ok, then I guess this is different from the lavender. It looks fairly similar, just more brown. I ended up just saying lavender because it looks kinda like it. Sorry!

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Browny Blue is also a natural colouration