Gourami got spooked and is now people shy.

I have a 3-spot gourami who was spooked on February 13th by a family member passing in front of the tank with a large box. It was right after that we noticed he changed to a darker color and was zipping around the back of the tank pooping a lot.

Ever since then he's been afraid of people approaching the tank. He changes from light to dark blue throughout the day. He has a large castle decoration he retreats into and he'll come out and eat if nobody is looking directly at him, but is still very timid two weeks after it happened. The tank is in a high traffic area so it's impossible to not have people walk in front of the tank.


Is this something that I just need to wait out? The tank is fully cycled and I've tested the water parameters and everything is normal. It's a 37 gallon tank so there's plenty of room.
I put in a tall plant for him to hide behind and made more space through the back of the tank for him.

He doesn't like to eat at feeding time anymore, and he used to take such pride in stealing the cory cat's shrimp pellets. I've been tossing him food towards the back of the tank so he can eat while hiding, but I don't know if that's just enabling him to keep being shy.

What else can I try?

 

I'd add some more plants and hiding places for him. The more hiding spaces for your fish, the more comfortable/safe they'll feel, the more calm they'll be (in theory anyways).
I'd also ask everyone to kinda move slowly infront of the tank if possible. And if you could, try to spend more time infront of the tank, kinda "desensitizing" him to the presence. It may take some time, but he should come around.

Welcome to Fishlore!

 

I agree floating plants will encourage him to come out and try to walk slowly past the tank.

Sit in front of the tank when you can and try to get his attention and try to get some interaction too it will take sometime but your gourami will come around. They can be very intelligent like bettas they just sometimes need a little special care. Time will tell and once he is used to people again he will settle down

 

Hmm, Magoo just reminded me of something per the interaction, my female was bullied by my male before I separated them, so now she's petrified of coming out thinking he's still around (been gone since Jan). What I do is play with her curious and personable side I sit there until I see her looking at me, then I put my finger on the glass and talk a little. sometimes she comes, sometimes she doesn't, but I wait until she comes over and investigates me with her feelers. At first I didn't move but kept talking until she would flipout and hide again, now we've built up to me talking, and moving with another person inthe room (my dog running by doesn't bother her anymore either!) She only runs when my mom or I speed walk into the room or if she doesn't notice us. I kinda treat that as something she'll have to fix on her own devices.

Is your gourami with other fish? like a school of top swimmers? I've heard that helps too.

 

Thank you for the welcome. That's really interesting Ziggi, I hope I can someday have neat interactions like that with my gourami too. I'm learning a lot about fish personalities.

I had heard that they were top dwellers but he covered every inch of the tank making his rounds and looking for anything he could eat. Now he just hangs out on the left side and back wall of the tank. But I do see him venture out, just from across the room


Here's been in the tank for a couple of months now with 5 zebra danios, 4 cory cats, and 2 tiger barbs. I'm hoping to get a few more tiger barbs and a swordtail soon.

He's a picture of the tank after I added the taller plant: (he's hiding inside the castle)