Two Dwarf Gourami, One Fine, The Other Not So Much

Hello,

I am new to being a gourami owner! I purchased two dwarf gouramis, one blue and one the standard kind (the red striped like zebras) and the standard one seems to be not doing so well.

I got them both and put them in a 5 gallon tank. I know that is pretty small, so I asked the store person if that was fine, and they said it should be fine as long as I did three water changes weekly.

The blue gourami is doing really well, it adjusted nicely, swims around and eats the food. As for the other one, there is not much movement, mostly sticks to the bottom of the tank, and occasionally rises to the top for air. Sometimes it just stays there. It hides a lot as well, typically behind the fake plant I put in there.

I thought it was being shy at first, but got concerned when it didn't eat the food the second time I fed them. (for their first meal, I gave them peas and blood worms. The bloodworms were more popular. Their second meal, I just gave them peas and tried out an algae wafer after finding out too much protein is bad for them.)

I also thought maybe the blue gourami was bullying the other because of the lack of space, but I haven't noticed much of an aggressive behaviour from the blue gourami. It chased it a little during feeding time, but it mostly just seemed like the blue gourami got to the food faster.

Please tell me what I should do!! I really don't want the little guy to die.

 

Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? If not, you need to read up on it.

5 gallons is WAY too small to house even one gourami, you need a 20 gallon long at least for one. Maybe even bigger for two

 

Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? If not, you need to read up on it.

5 gallons is WAY too small to house even one gourami, you need a 20 gallon long at least for one. Maybe even bigger for two

Thank you for your response!!
I was afraid of that.. I don't have an access to a 20 gallon tank at the moment.. Do you think doing daily water changes might help solve the problem?

 

Welcome to Fishlore.

As a you are new to fish keeping, there is a lot to learn.

To start with of course is the Nitrogen Cycle, but also very important.... Just because the fish store has several dwarf gourami in one tank, doesn't mean it is good for them. I am pretty sure you have two males, in that little 5 gal tank, they will be aggressive toward one another. Sounds to me that is what is happening in your little 5 gal. Yes you do need a much bigger tank, even for just one. The best thing you can do right now is take one of them back to the store.

Thank you for your response!!
I was afraid of that.. I don't have an access to a 20 gallon tank at the moment.. Do you think doing daily water changes might help solve the problem?

You will need to do water changes, but it would be good to know what the condition of the water is. The best test kits are the liquid type (more accurate), but strips are better then nothing at all.

 

You will need to do water changes, but it would be good to know what the condition of the water is. The best test kits are the liquid type (more accurate), but strips are better then nothing at all.

Welcome to Fishlore.

As a you are new to fish keeping, there is a lot to learn.

To start with of course is the Nitrogen Cycle, but also very important.... Just because the fish store has several dwarf gourami in one tank, doesn't mean it is good for them. I am pretty sure you have two males, in that little 5 gal tank, they will be aggressive toward one another. Sounds to me that is what is happening in your little 5 gal. Yes you do need a much bigger tank, even for just one. The best thing you can do right now is take one of them back to the store.

Thank you! I do have a 10 gallon tank but it is occupied by two small goldfish at the moment. I am thinking about purchasing a 50 gallon tank, putting the goldfish there and putting the two gouramis into the 10 gallon. Is that a good idea?

 

Thank you! I do have a 10 gallon tank but it is occupied by two small goldfish at the moment. I am thinking about purchasing a 50 gallon tank, putting the goldfish there and putting the two gouramis into the 10 gallon. Is that a good idea?

You will still need a bigger tank for them in the future, but yes for now.

Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? I didn’t see your answer above. It could be part of the reason your DG isn’t doing well

 

You will still need a bigger tank for them in the future, but yes for now.

Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? I didn’t see your answer above. It could be part of the reason your DG isn’t doing well

Thank you so much for your help. I will be doing that very soon. Fingers crossed my fish can hold on until then. And no, I don't know anything about the nitrogen cycle. I read up on it a little bit, but am still having trouble understanding it. I'll have to do more research!

 

Thank you so much for your help. I will be doing that very soon. Fingers crossed my fish can hold on until then. And no, I don't know anything about the nitrogen cycle. I read up on it a little bit, but am still having trouble understanding it. I'll have to do more research!

If you can get Prime, do it ASAP. You will need to do large daily water changes until you get prime.

Do you have a test kit? If not, you also need one of those ASAP, most people get the API master kit.

Basically, the fish produce ammonia (waste) and then bacteria converts the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are harmful to your fish, nitrates are not harmful in controlled amounts. So right now, your fish are producing ammonia but there is no bacteria established yet to convert the ammonia.

Can you move some of the filter media from the goldfish tank to this filter? It will help jump start the cycle

 

If you can get Prime, do it ASAP. You will need to do large daily water changes until you get prime.

Do you have a test kit? If not, you also need one of those ASAP, most people get the API master kit.

Basically, the fish produce ammonia (waste) and then bacteria converts the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are harmful to your fish, nitrates are not harmful in controlled amounts. So right now, your fish are producing ammonia but there is no bacteria established yet to convert the ammonia.

Can you move some of the filter media from the goldfish tank to this filter? It will help jump start the cycle

I don't have prime, but I do have aqueon water conditioner. I've been doing 25% water change with this product everyday.
and could you explain what a filter media is? Is it the disposable filter cartridges?

If you can get Prime, do it ASAP. You will need to do large daily water changes until you get prime.

Do you have a test kit? If not, you also need one of those ASAP, most people get the API master kit.

Basically, the fish produce ammonia (waste) and then bacteria converts the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are harmful to your fish, nitrates are not harmful in controlled amounts. So right now, your fish are producing ammonia but there is no bacteria established yet to convert the ammonia.

Can you move some of the filter media from the goldfish tank to this filter? It will help jump start the cycle

Also, wouldn't putting in anything from the goldfish tank be bad for the gourami? I feel that it would heighten ammonia levels, since goldfish produce them so much... Please correct me if I am wrong!

 

The beneficial bacteria Valerie was talking about lives in the filter cartridge in your filter.

So never replace without putting the old one in front of the new one for a month.

And never wash your filter with tap water unless you are on a well, not city water. The chlorine will kill the beneficial bacteria.

So if you were to cut a couple inch piece of the cartridge filter (media) out and put it in your 5 gallon filter, it would speed up the process.

 

Prime will detoxify up to 1 ppm of ammonia and nitrite for 24 hours so it won’t harm your fish, I strongly recommend getting it.

How long have you had your goldfish tank? When’s the last time you changed your filter cartridge? And it is crucial that you don’t change your filter media anytime soon, don’t rinse it either.

I would recommend getting the test kit and prime today if possible, that will help us help you.