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  L# What's the deal with gourami's?
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SubscribeWhat's the deal with gourami's?
Fizzy
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Small Fry
Posts: 7
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Registered: 08-Jun-2006
I'm setting up a 55 gal tank and I want to transfer my 2 gourami's into it (one blue and one kisser). However, I've been reading these sites the last few days and whenever I see a list of possible fish for a 55 gal tank it always says just 1 gourami as an ornamental fish. Is there a reason for this? My gourami seem to get along pretty well.
Post InfoPosted 08-Jun-2006 14:33Profile PM Edit Report 
illustrae
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Fish Addict
Posts: 820
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Registered: 04-May-2005
female usa
Many Gouramis, males especially, can be territorial and aggressive toward other gouramis, anabantoids, or surface-dwelling fish. In fact Kissing gouramis are so named because they are known to lock lips and fight for dominance. I have a trio of Pearl Gouramis (1 male, 2 females) and the male is a complete bully, and for the past year, the females spent virtually all of their time in hiding until just recently.
I'm not saying that it can't work... it just often doesn't. I've known one fish keeper who had a 55 with 6 different gouramis in it, and while there was a little chasing, there was no fighting and none of the fish were stressed. You may find when you move them into the larger tank, however, that one gourami may try to assert dominance over the prospect of a choice bit of territory or something. Radical changes in environment can cause that kind of behavior.
Good Luck!

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...
Post InfoPosted 08-Jun-2006 15:27Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
Georgia
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Hobbyist
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Registered: 18-Feb-2005
female usa
In the case of a single kisser and a single blue (3-spot, etc.) gourami, I've personally had sucess keeping them together without incident.

I started out with two kissers and a blue in a 75 gallon. The larger kisser dominated the other two, locking lips with the other kisser, and chasing them into corners. But, when the dominant kisser was removed, the remaining two gouramis became fast friends. They're always together in the tank, and there's never any agression between them.

I think the smaller kisser is a female, and the blue a male, which may provide some explaination. Also perhaps, they banded together out of fear for the agressive kisser.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/SSanchez/3-27-2006027.jpg

I think if your fish get along fine now, they'll continue to do so. Just keep an eye out for nipped fins and cowering fish.
Post InfoPosted 08-Jun-2006 18:33Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Fizzy
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Small Fry
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Registered: 08-Jun-2006
It's funny you mention the nipped fins thing because I've noticed the last few days that my blue has some of his tailfin missing. I recently had a bad case of fungus in there and I thought maybe the shredded fin was an after effect from that.

The blue is bigger than the kisser and they never seem to have a problem with each other, but I'll keep a closer eye on them for awhile to make sure no one is being harassed.

Thanks for the input!
Post InfoPosted 08-Jun-2006 21:30Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
geminilyretail
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Fingerling
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Registered: 29-Dec-2005
female usa
i have many gouramis and the only fighting i get is they all gang up on my spoted gourami. everyone else is great. all they do is case him around, no niping.
Post InfoPosted 17-Jun-2006 06:34Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
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