Gourami Staying At Bottom

Hi guys!!!

I have a male blue gourami in my 40 G tank…. All water parameters are normal and good, I just checked. I can list them if you would like however they are exactly where you want them.

In my 40 G I have a male blue gourami, 2 female gouramis and 5 oto catfish. They have all gotten along great forever and have always been super active etc.
The past week or so, I’ve noticed the male staying at the bottom of the tank. Just in one spot, the same spot daily. He will come up for air but not often, he still eats and seems normal otherwise. I’m super confused… any ideas??

Thank you sooo much!!

 

Does he do this with the light off, too?

 

Does he do this with the light off, too?

Oh yeah, I rarely see him anymore unless I look for him at the bottom. He comes up for food and to get air but other than that stays at the bottom.

Oh yeah, I rarely see him anymore unless I look for him at the bottom. He comes up for food and to get air but other than that stays at the bottom.

Nothing has changed so I’m not sure if it’s stress related? Not sure why it would be… again water parameters are normal checked again today.

 

Hmmmmm....maybe thats his chosen spot. It is encouraging he eats at least.

 

Hmmmmm....maybe thats his chosen spot. It is encouraging he eats at least.

Okay! Fair enough haha. Does it seem odd to you he randomly started doing this? Or is it common? Thanks so much!

 

Okay! Fair enough haha. Does it seem odd to you he randomly started doing this? Or is it common? Thanks so much!

I haven't kept gouramis in almost 2 decades, so i don't remember much of their normal behaviors, except i think they stayed towards the top mostly. I certainly wpuld keep an eye out for any fungus or other visible symptoms. Did the other gouramis pick on him a lot or something?

 

I haven't kept gouramis in almost 2 decades, so i don't remember much of their normal behaviors, except i think they stayed towards the top mostly. I certainly wpuld keep an eye out for any fungus or other visible symptoms. Did the other gouramis pick on him a lot or something?

Sounds good, from what I can see no signs of disease, fungus, parasites etc. He actually went after the 2 females a fair bit (not aggressively) which is why it’s even stranger, it came out of nowhere I don’t understand what his deal is

 

How long have you had him with the other fish? May just be feeling more comfy again.

 

How long have you had him with the other fish? May just be feeling more comfy again.

I’ve had them together (the 3 gouramis, and some cherry shrimp, guess I should have mentioned that about a handful) since I got them about hmmm must have been close to a year now. The Otos are about 6 months new and he didn’t care about them at all lol. For example, I just fed them earlier and there he is from right and centre, I’m so confused!

 

I know this thread is kind of old but I have dwarf gourami that used to act the same way your describing. All that changed when I added some floating plants. Now he is rarely at the bottom of the tank.