Questionable Thick Lip Actions

I have a thick lipped gourami that spends a lot of its time sitting or swimming across the sand like a cory. is that normal behavior for them?

but I have a blue gourami always swimming mid-top of the tank like normal which is why this thick lip has me puzzled always at the bottom

 

How long have you had this thick lip gourami?

 

How long have you had this thick lip gourami?

well I got it from my neighbor she only had it a few months and for me like 2 months. pastt 2 days its kinda been hovering at the bottom left of my tank. but about 30 minutes ago it was swimming around normal like other fish. right now its on thte floor again. maybe its just lazy and resting or found I easier to get food on the ground? heh

 

In my limited experience Gourami will sit on the bottom of the tank when stressed.

I've had them do that for the first 4 or 5 days when put in a new tank.

Also when being harassed by another fish.

And when the water flow in the tank is too strong. They like calm water.

Lastly, if the top third of your tank is empty (no scape or plants) that can make them feel very exposed and head towards the substrate.

Ideally they like some floating plants on the surface, but I've found they are fine with enough rooted plants making it into the top third of the tank.

 

In my limited experience Gourami will sit on the bottom of the tank when stressed.

I've had them do that for the first 4 or 5 days when put in a new tank.

Also when being harassed by another fish.

And when the water flow in the tank is too strong. They like calm water.

Lastly, if the top third of your tank is empty (no scape or plants) that can make them feel very exposed and head towards the substrate.

Ideally they like some floating plants on the surface, but I've found they are fine with enough rooted plants making it into the top third of the tank.

then my thick lip and my blue gourami seem to be opposites for some reason heh

now that I think about t, I have seen the blue chasing the thick lip around. I thought it was a friendly thing though

also you can see I have no plants because I'm terrible with them, and my attempt at an easy plant "java moss" you can see its been completely taken over with algae

 

You have a fairly large MALE Blue Gourami and no cover near the surface. The Thick Lip will not be able to go near the surface with that Blue Gourami in the tank, probably not even if you did have cover plants for him to hide in. Male Gouramis in general are aggressively territorial toward other gouramis, regardless of species. Being that it is a male Thick Lip, that just aggravates the situation. One fish or the other will have to go, or the Thick Lip will eventually get sick from being stressed out all the time.

 

You have a fairly large MALE Blue Gourami and no cover near the surface. The Thick Lip will not be able to go near the surface with that Blue Gourami in the tank, probably not even if you did have cover plants for him to hide in. Male Gouramis in general are aggressively territorial toward other gouramis, regardless of species. Being that it is a male Thick Lip, that just aggravates the situation. One fish or the other will have to go, or the Thick Lip will eventually get sick from being stressed out all the time.

Thanks