Need to figure out where to put 4 paradise fish

So about a month ago I took 4 paradise fish from my friend, 3 males and 1 female. This was an emergency. Because of things going on in her tanks she didn't have anywhere to put them. The only place I had to put them was a community 55 gallon with the following stock; 1 angelfish, 3 opaline gourami(1M/2F), 2 huge female sailfin mollies, 8 bst, 6 kerri emperor tetra, 5 corydora, and 1 panda garra. I knew this was risky, I know it is overstocked. It is a well established tank with a canister, 2 hobs, and is heavily planted. So I'm not concerned about the overstock or filtration. What I am concerned about is their aggression.

The first week or 2 was fine. They were still settling in and didn't make any trouble. The 3rd week they were butting heads with the female mollies. I thought perhaps this was because they were of similar size, and the mollies are an orange color. So I moved the mollies to my other 55 gallon tank with other mollies(also huge), a female covict cichlid, giant danios, panda garra, and bn pleco. Yes I know these fish shouldn't work together, but they do. Tbh, it is the least problematic tank I've ever kept.

Anyway, couple more weeks go by and things were fine pretty much. I had noticed this whole time that the behavior of the opaline gouramis had changed. But just thought they didn't like the paradise. I didn't worry, because they are like 2 or 3 times bigger than the paradise. Until this morning when I noticed my male opaline has a fin nipped up and is missing some scales. All other fish are fine. I can only assume the paradise have been ganging up on the opaline. Which is wild, but I have no other explanation.

Regardless, I now know that I shouldn't really be keeping all these paradise together anyway. I realized that not having enough females per male was a problem. But I didn't realize I shouldn't even be keeping the males together. So now I'm trying to figure out where to put them.

I figure I'll probably be fine to leave one in the community tank. I think it would be ill advised to put one in the convict tank I described above, but idk. I have a 25 gallon tub with 2 juvie giant danios growing out in it until they are big enough to go in with the adults in the 55 convict tank. I think I can put one paradise in with them, they're almost as big and for sure too fast. But even if I can put one paradise fish each in these tanks, I still have one that idk where to put. And the next biggest tank I have is a 13 widescreen, about the same as a 15 show. And that seems too small. Could I put a male and female together in one of the tanks? Can I even put them in these tanks?

 

Hmm, I see. Your problem here is that you just don't have the space or proper compatibility. What I'd recommend (this is what I do myself) is to purchase a small Sterilite bin from Target or similar stores. They sell a 14-16 gallon bin for roughly $8; much better than a 13 gallon widescreen, if you ask me!

 

Hmm, I see. Your problem here is that you just don't have the space or proper compatibility. What I'd recommend (this is what I do myself) is to purchase a small Sterilite bin from Target or similar stores. They sell a 14-16 gallon bin for roughly $8; much better than a 13 gallon widescreen, if you ask me!

Yes I didn't think it would be big enough. However, just temporary. I have a 20 gallon that I can't use now, but can in the future. I think a 20 gallon would be fine for just one of them, perhaps the smallest I have. But what about the other 3 in the tanks I described?

 

Well, which species of Paradise Fish do you keep? Most do well in a 15 gallon or so. Maybe you could divide your 20L into two, one part for each fish!

 

Well, which species of Paradise Fish do you keep? Most do well in a 15 gallon or so. Maybe you could divide your 20L into two, one part for each fish!

I have no idea what they are. Attached a pic. And unfortunately it is a 20H. So I'm pretty sure just one in that tank.

 

Hi, beautiful fish which I'm pretty sure is Macropodus opercularis.

What you could potentially try is keeping the 3 males together in the 20H when you set it up. It's not uncommon for them to be kept like this quite successfully(though I'm not sure on the tank size this is usually done) and leave the female in the 55 or setup anther tank for her. Although I would be just a little nervous about her with the larger Gourami, though not too worried.

As for temporarily homing, we've kept a female in a 5 gallon for about 4 months so far due to the current state of the world and she's been absolutely fine. So the tanks you mentioned would be 100% ok, though I wouldn't keep multiple in those tanks, just to err on the side of caution.

 

Hi, beautiful fish which I'm pretty sure is Macropodus opercularis.

What you could potentially try is keeping the 3 males together in the 20H when you set it up. It's not uncommon for them to be kept like this quite successfully(though I'm not sure on the tank size this is usually done) and leave the female in the 55 or setup anther tank for her. Although I would be just a little nervous about her with the larger Gourami, though not too worried.

As for temporarily homing, we've kept a female in a 5 gallon for about 4 months so far due to the current state of the world and she's been absolutely fine. So the tanks you mentioned would be 100% ok, though I wouldn't keep multiple in those tanks, just to err on the side of caution.

Thank you for the advice! I thought you shouldn't keep males together? At least that is what I'm finding in my research. Or is it just because there is a female around for them to get aggressive over? Perhaps if I removed the female, the males left in the 55 community might play nicer? Or is it that they need to be in a species only tank to have multiple males together?

 

Thank you for the advice! I thought you shouldn't keep males together? At least that is what I'm finding in my research. Or is it just because there is a female around for them to get aggressive over? Perhaps if I removed the female, the males left in the 55 community might play nicer? Or is it that they need to be in a species only tank to have multiple males together?

It seems to be something that works for Paradise Fish. Admittedly my experience with it is a little weird. I've kept 3 males together for about 7 months or so(maybe 8 or even 9). I bought 4 together(3 males and 1 female) and put them in a 33 gallon along with CPDs and Cories. The female only lasted about a week, the 3 males harassing her too much ended badly. But apart from a bit of chasing and some fantastic displays of flaring they got on fairly well. About 5 months ago I moved to the Netherlands leaving behind my fish and a 63 gallon tank, which I plopped the Paradise in(along with some other small fish I plan on eventually bringing here) and only have the occasional update from my Mother who is looking after them. Unfortunately she has no clue about fish behaviour, so I really don't know how mine are doing but as far as I know I still have 3 at least.

Maybe try removing the female and see how they do in there. Keep in mind however both Paradise and Three Spots can be quite aggressive when they want to be.

 

Very interesting! I do think I'll remove the female asap and see how that goes. The only place I have to put her is in the 25 gallon tub with 2 juvenile giant danios. I think she'd probably be fine with them. Then in the future, I have a true 30 gallon I need to reseal and set up. I think when it is ready I'll put the males in there and see how it goes.

 

Very interesting! I do think I'll remove the female asap and see how that goes. The only place I have to put her is in the 25 gallon tub with 2 juvenile giant danios. I think she'd probably be fine with them. Then in the future, I have a true 30 gallon I need to reseal and set up. I think when it is ready I'll put the males in there and see how it goes.

Sounds good! I hope it works out