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I've heard of bala sharks going crazy when there by themselves, but not a gourami. However, my golden gourami has been acting very skittish lately, to the point where he no longer even comes out to eat. He simply hides in the corner and occasionally sprints to the other end of the tank so fast he bashes up against the wall.

The water parameters in the tank are fine, the worst is 25ppm of nitrate, and there's just one cory in the tank with gas-bubble disease.

What is wrong with my poor guy? Is he lonely and I should get him some female goldens? Is the current too strong in my tank? (I have a fluval...I want to say 304? It has a shower output that whips up a strong current at the top and aerates the water)

it might be alone. try getting some other gourmais. i never had this problem but, might solve the problem.

Gouramis usually don't need to be kept with others of their own kind. In fact, they will often fight with each other, though these fights are mostly male-male. How long have you had the fish? And, how often are you cleaning out the tank? Oftentimes, fish who undergo a sudden behavior-change do so because of dirty water. Sometimes this can be caused by overfeeding, to the point where vast amounts of leftover food turn the water foul. I really don't know what else to say...

The cory is the only tankmate? You should get it some friends then, cories should be kept in groups of at least six.

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I never heared of lonely Gourami, but i never kept one. I used to keep them in pairs, with other different Gourami species. I don't think that the problem is related to lonelyness.


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Just thought that I'd check. Thanks for your hasty replies everyone.

The cory is not alone, it is in a group of 4 (I plan to get more when I can go back to the place that I got them).

As I said the water is pretty clean, and I change it regularly (probably about 30% every two weeks). The nitrates are 25 ppm, but I thought that this wasn't too bad for the fish. Or is it a little high?

It just popped into my head: I practice Irish Step in that room, and it usually shakes everything up in there. Could my gourami simply be afraid of me because of that? To the point where he'd even refuse to come out and eat?

Its probably the vibrations that are stressing him, not lonelyness

What size tank is he in? Also are there any other inhabitants besides the cories?

EDIT*** I just looked at your profile. Could your Serpae tetras be nipping at him?

Last edited by Light_Bright at 28-Mar-2005 12:38

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If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Nope, if anything it's vice versa. The gourami simply seems to be petrified of anything outside of the tank that comes close.

If your fish is hiding and brushing up against objects, he/she may be sick. Can you see any mucus building up on the body? The fish may be trying to scrape it off. You may want to treat the tank for parasites (internal or external). I've found that if you can't see anything on the outside of your fish, a parasite may be infecting the inside of your fish. Some treatments, like Jungle Parasite Clear, also treat bacterial infections.
Good luck!

I've got a fever... and the only prescription... is more cowbell!

well..theres too much vibration outside the tank...stressing the gourami futher

Personally speaking, I would say that any fish, even a fish that is generally solitary by nature, would benefit from at least the presence of a potential mate.
I know we cant speak for the fish, but I know if I was all alone, I would love at least someone else around to talk to, even if I generally disliked that person, at least it would be company!
I think you would do well to add a female to keep him company.


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