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Hi,

As well as my own fish i look after a 110L tank at work for the boss.

It contains
2 New Guinea Rainbows
1 Angel
6 Neon Tetras
3 guppies
4 Corrie
3 some sort of orange loach looking algae eaters
1 Red Dwarf Gourami

The Red dwarf as of this morning has got a serious attitude problem. When i usually go to feed them, the 2 New Guinea Rainbows, Angel and RDG come up to be fed.
Usually the RDG just swims round these others, picking up the food as and when. The guppies pop over as well.

Today if i go right up to the tank, he chases the 2 New Guinea Rainbows (which are much bigger than him) away from the front of the tank and will randomly chase either the guppies or the tetras. If i watch from a distance he clams down again. I only noticed him doing this today when i fed them. Earlier this morning, he even charged at one of the sort of orange loach looking algae eaters (cant seem to work out what these are). He doesnt Both the Angel fish, but all others at the moment seem fair game.

Any suggestions.

I think the gourami is being a bit territorial, which is norm for most of them. Rearrange the tank, and give the gourami a corner thats a bit darker ( shaded with plants, and a cave.( a broken terracotta pot , jar, ect will work.)
This should help. If it doesnt, Try and see if you can trade in that gourami, as some can be nasty.

Dawrf gouramis, though usually peaceful, have been known to show an agressive side. In most cases, it is a territorial issue. From looking over your stock list, I'm guessing it looks a little crowded in there? I wouldn't say you're pushing the limits of the bioload, but it sounds like swimming room and hiding places are an issue. Gouramis are timid fish and feel safest when they have a little place in the tank (usually a planted corner)to call their own. If anyone invades, look out! In the case of your tank and gourami, he may feel he needs to compete for food. Personally, I suggest that you find a new home for the the rainbows. That would free up some space and make everyone happy.

Now I have a concern with the angel. How big is it? Was it added to the tank before, after, or at the same time as the neons? I ask this because neons are natural food to angels, but many aquarists have had success keeping them together if they live together while the angel is too small to fit them in its mouth.

As for the algae eaters... do they look like [link=this]http://fishprofiles.com/interactive/photos/gallery.asp?id=cae_profile&page=3AEC403945193AE939C33DED8B90A5449B6EA15E92B687E63E8D9385A602963A" style="COLOR: #FF82AB[/link]? I'm guessing they are the gold color variation of the Chinese Algae Eater, which actually grow quite large (28-30cm and more) and get very aggressive with age. They also stop eating algae as they age, and instead will latch onto the side of a fish and eat the slime coating. This creates open wounds that can get infected and will kill the prey fish if continued long enough. I'd find a new home for them as well. If your tank has algae and you need to get rid of it, I'd suggest [link=otos]http://fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/otto.xml" style="COLOR: #FF82AB[/link] or a [link=bristlenose pleco]http://fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/triradiatusbn.xml" style="COLOR: #FF82AB[/link]. Both stay small enough for your size tank and both love algae. If you get otos, be warned that they are delicate fish and need to be acclimated properly. Four or five should do. If you get a bristlenose, be aware that they (like all plecos) create a lot of waste. If you go with this option, I reiterate my suggestion of getting rid of the rainbows as I originally said, or alternatively the gourami or angel.

HTH

><>Dani<><

[hr width='40%']I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul

Thanks HCA,

to answer your question, gartenzwerfe
the angel is 2 1/2 to 3inches long, same again deep.

You are definately right about the Siamese variation.

I trawled online search engines and could not find a picture on these. but thoses you linked me to were exact.

Oh well, better give the boss the good news.

Ta

Gartenzwerfe,

I just spoke to the bosses son about this problem, he tells me (And i dont buy this for a second!!!! never have done) that "All fish grow to a percentage of the tank they are in ", he is convinced, I am sure this is a total myth.

can you help??
]:|

No they will stunt, and slowly die. Fish dont grow to the size of the tank, the outside stops, but the inside continues, and they die of organ failure. For more info, check out the golfish board, theres lots of posts there where stunting is explained better.

Indeed, what your boss's son said is NOT true!! It is a very common myth with inexperienced fish keepers. Every species of fish will grow to the size it would in the wild, but if put in a tank that does not allow it to do so, the fish will be stunted. AS hca said, this means (to put it simply) the skin of the fish stops growing, but the organs continue. Stunting is fatal.

If you're the one in charge of the tank, can't you make all fish related decisions? Just trying to find a way around this.

><>Dani<><

[hr width='40%']I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul

Cheers Guys