Unsure if this is fighting or breeding behavior

[chloelmaoo]

I believed to have gotten a M and F Honey gourami. Just wanted to clarify is this is a male and female and if they are fighting or mating? I’ve tried to find videos similar, but it the only video that looks close to the behavior is spawning. Just to clarify these are my first pair of Gouramis educate me as you see fit please! Will take all the advice I can get.

 

[Demeter]

Courting behavior can often look like fighting. In this case it looks more like fighting to me, I’m only comparing it to how bettas behave though. Body slamming, fully erect fins and circling is what you will see when two male bettas are put together.

I suggest getting clear photos of each fish, that way you can get a second opinion on gender.

 

[chloelmaoo]

Courting behavior can often look like fighting. In this case it looks more like fighting to me, I’m only comparing it to how bettas behave though. Body slamming, fully erect fins and circling is what you will see when two male bettas are put together.

I suggest getting clear photos of each fish, that way you can get a second opinion on gender.

I’m unsure if they are still having the same issue. I came back to my tank and found that they are swimming with one another and have stopped the twirling. Not sure if this means anything. The suspected male is the first picture and the female is the following two
Here is a video of them now:

https://imgur.com/a/tCqgkd7

 

[Bettatakeover]

The twirling is honey gourami aggression. The will also sometimes charge at each other or have a little slap fest with their feelers. It rarely amounts to anything. My 2 females will do this and then be best friends 5 min later. It often occurs when I’m feeding, even if I spread it around and they definitely have their sides of the tank. My male never does the twirling thing but is the worst for chasing the girls away when he feels like it. Gouramis have a pecking order for sure. The first pic looks male but I’m not sure about the other.

 

[chloelmaoo]

The twirling is honey gourami aggression. The will also sometimes charge at each other or have a little slap fest with their feelers. It rarely amounts to anything. My 2 females will do this and then be best friends 5 min later. It often occurs when I’m feeding, even if I spread it around and they definitely have their sides of the tank. My male never does the twirling thing but is the worst for chasing the girls away when he feels like it. Gouramis have a pecking order for sure. The first pic looks male but I’m not sure about the other.

Here’s a better couple of pictures.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Hi, this looks like a fight to me also note, these aren't Honey Gourami they are Thick Lipped Gourami which are often sold as Honey's. They grow a little bigger and are generally a little more aggressive than Honey's.

 

[chloelmaoo]

Hi, this looks like a fight to me also note, these aren't Honey Gourami they are Thick Lipped Gourami which are often sold as Honey's. They grow a little bigger and are generally a little more aggressive than Honey's.

Thank you for the important note!

 

[goldface]

Hi, this looks like a fight to me also note, these aren't Honey Gourami they are Thick Lipped Gourami which are often sold as Honey's. They grow a little bigger and are generally a little more aggressive than Honey's.

Agreed, which is why it looks like their fins are ragged from nipping at each other. Having actually owned two male Honey Gouramies, aggression never or rarely became physical. Thick-lipped gourami are by all accounts more aggressive.

 

[chloelmaoo]

Agreed, which is why it looks like their fins are ragged from nipping at each other. Having actually owned two male Honey Gouramies, aggression never or rarely became physical. Thick-lipped gourami are by all accounts more aggressive.

These rips are not from each other. My LFS had them in a tank with fin nippers.

These rips are not from each other. My LFS had them in a tank with fin nippers.

Or at least I have not witnessed any fin nipping so far. They seem very calm right now and have been swimming with each other for a while now with no aggression. So this is why i’m unsure.

Agreed, which is why it looks like their fins are ragged from nipping at each other. Having actually owned two male Honey Gouramies, aggression never or rarely became physical. Thick-lipped gourami are by all accounts more aggressive.

https://imgur.com/a/IEycKpp

https://imgur.com/a/C99PDvX

I’m sorry if I portray myself as dismissive. I’m just kinda confused since the behavior has all together stopped and they seem to be okay. But I don’t know it’s just a temporary thing? I’ve been planted in front of this tank for 45 minutes and haven’t seen them go for one another once.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

These rips are not from each other. My LFS had them in a tank with fin nippers.

Or at least I have not witnessed any fin nipping so far. They seem very calm right now and have been swimming with each other for a while now with no aggression. So this is why i’m unsure.

https://imgur.com/a/IEycKpp

https://imgur.com/a/C99PDvX

I’m sorry if I portray myself as dismissive. I’m just kinda confused since the behavior has all together stopped and they seem to be okay. But I don’t know it’s just a temporary thing? I’ve been planted in front of this tank for 45 minutes and haven’t seen them go for one another once.

I think they are both males, the behaviour in the video quoted looks like a show of dominance.
Thick Lips like Honey's(and most Gourami in fact) are social and form a social hierarchy, the issue with keeping them in pairs is they aren't able to do this and one fish often becomes the victim of harassment by the dominant one.
Getting several females could solve this but ideally you'd only want one male to several females.

Not sure if you've mentioned the tank size? If it's around 30 gallons 4 or 5 should be just fine.

Lovely looking setup.

 

[chloelmaoo]

I think they are both males, the behaviour in the video quoted looks like a show of dominance.
Thick Lips like Honey's(and most Gourami in fact) are social and form a social hierarchy, the issue with keeping them in pairs is they aren't able to do this and one fish often becomes the victim of harassment by the dominant one.
Getting several females could solve this but ideally you'd only want one male to several females.

Not sure if you've mentioned the tank size? If it's around 30 gallons 4 or 5 should be just fine.

Lovely looking setup.

Thank you for your kind advice. I’ll see about getting some females tomorrow!

 

[goldface]

These rips are not from each other. My LFS had them in a tank with fin nippers.

Or at least I have not witnessed any fin nipping so far. They seem very calm right now and have been swimming with each other for a while now with no aggression. So this is why i’m unsure.

https://imgur.com/a/IEycKpp

https://imgur.com/a/C99PDvX

I’m sorry if I portray myself as dismissive. I’m just kinda confused since the behavior has all together stopped and they seem to be okay. But I don’t know it’s just a temporary thing? I’ve been planted in front of this tank for 45 minutes and haven’t seen them go for one another once.

Did you witness the fin nipping at the fish store or were you told about it? Some species can be notorious fin nippers, but my original assumption could certainly be wrong, given this new context.

 

[chloelmaoo]

Did you witness the fin nipping at the fish store or were you told about it? Some species can be notorious fin nippers, but my original assumption could certainly be wrong, given this new context.

Yes I witnessed it myself. However this morning there is aggression during feeding. Unsure if it’s just because of the male defending his food. Or two males battling it out. I’m definitely going to my LFS to either return or get another female.

 

[chloelmaoo]

Thank you for your kind advice. I’ll see about getting some females tomorrow!

Hello, I was wondering if I’m going to be able to keep the now 1M and 2F in my 20G L or if i’m going to have to upgrade them immediately/return them? I can get them a set up in around 2 weeks, but if they grow rapidly Im unsure what would be best. Right now, they measure at about 2 inches. I’ve tried to do my own research on the topic and found a lot of mixed reviews on how big they get in captivity and how big of an aquarium I should keep them in. Would appreciate any advice!

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Hello, I was wondering if I’m going to be able to keep the now 1M and 2F in my 20G L or if i’m going to have to upgrade them immediately/return them? I can get them a set up in around 2 weeks, but if they grow rapidly Im unsure what would be best. Right now, they measure at about 2 inches. I’ve tried to do my own research on the topic and found a lot of mixed reviews on how big they get in captivity and how big of an aquarium I should keep them in. Would appreciate any advice!

I think in a 20 long they should be fine as a trio.
My largest male was about 3.5", though none of my others where comparable. I bought him that size, so I have no idea how long it took for him to reach it.

 

[chloelmaoo]

I think in a 20 long they should be fine as a trio.
My largest male was about 3.5", though none of my others where comparable. I bought him that size, so I have no idea how long it took for him to reach it.

Thank you so so incredibly much for your help. I honestly would have been clueless without you.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Thank you so so incredibly much for your help. I honestly would have been clueless without you.

You're very welcome and I hope everything works out for you