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Now all of the bOsemani's are in our 55G. There is one large male, 2 large females (3" and 5 smaller assorted m/f.
Also sharing the tank is a Dwarf Gourami and 3 cories.
I have noticed that the larger Bosemani's seem to be somewhat aggressive. Ie: they are chasing the other Rainbows, and harrassing the cories. Is this normal behaviour, or are they just setting up a pecking order?
Would the addition of a powerhead give them something to do to keep them from being beligerant?

55G -5x Bosemani, 3x Emerald Cory,3x Red Rainbow, 3x Turquoise Rainbow. 20G-Empty. 10G -4x Danio 3x Cory Fry 1 Gold Mystery Snail. 10G- 1x CAE, 2x Tetra 1x ADF

Hello fishsage
If this is a fairly new community assembly, their probably establishing that pecking order, like you mentioned. I've got 9 Splendida, 4 male, 5 female largest male is almost 4in. smallest female is maybe 2in. kept with 4 blue gouramis between 3-4in. All of them are fairly peaceable fish but they do have their squabbles, especially when 2 or 3 males are "showing-off" in attempt to attract or entice a female to spawn.
When I initially introduced the rainbows, they did seem a bit feisty, but the gouramis only took so much. Arrange some plants( fake or real)and or rocks so everyone has their "favorite area" the gouramis will like cover over their head, and the rainbows will enjoy plenty of swim space in that additional water current from the powerhead, but also direct the flow as to there is slight current in the gouramis "hide-out" as they seem to prefer slower water.
Give 'em some time, watch for aggression injuries just in case, but all should be well in time.

J.

Ive got whole shoals of rainbows multiple species, nearly all the males go through ritualised sparring every morning,pretty much without fail, a couple of the bigger west aussie rainbows occassionally keep up the sparring until lunchtime. Generally though, theres no real damage, although once a shoal of barbs did get overexcited by all the combat and had a little go at the kutubu rainbows, who promptly made them wish they hadnt with a big session of side biting while swimming at speed. Happened years ago and was only a one off. Basically rainbows can be violent, which is why whenever you can you have more females than males, but they usually keep it within their own species or the closest thing to it, like a close relative species. Generally they dont bother other fish with aggression unless nipped first. What they will do is a quick rampage, almost like setting a stage, by bombing around scattering other fish, then do their sparring making sure absolutely every fish nearby has given them their undivided attention.

More showy than violent really, but it can look a bit rough. Youll soon know when you do see a genuinely violent rainbow, they do a good line in body ramming to the midsection at seriously high speed, (youll hear the impact through glass), and parralel swimming an gill biting if a real fight does break out, but like I say, Ive only ever seen them do that to barbs, never another species.

Dont think a powerhead would stop them, though it might help keep them fit. Ive got flow galore in my rainbow aquaria, it doesnt even slow them down. They just like cruising in fast flow when doing nothing in particular. They often sit in flow half asleep , in water speeds that would send other fish whirling round the tank. Their drag coefficient is superb.