Dwarf Gourami Behavioral Commentary 2-12-08
Hello,
<Hannah>
Firstly, this is a great site, it's been a lot of help in setting up our freshwater tropical aquarium. :) We've had the tank since just after Christmas, although we didn't start putting fish in until a few weeks ago because of the cycling. It's a 54 litre tank (14 US gallons?),
<About this>
fairly heavily planted - 5 plants that are the full height of the tank, 6 that are about half the height and 5 smaller than that, plus some weird moss ball things. In terms of livestock we have one very small orange shrimp, 2 dwarf gouramis (I think the variety is flame),
<Mmm, could be Colisa lalia or Trichogaster chuna...>
5 ember tetras and 6 neon tetras (we had ten, lost four, but it's now been 2 weeks since the last casualty so we intend to add another five or so.) I hope this all sounds alright?
<Thus far, yes>
My question in re: the behavior of the two Gouramis, I've had a look around on the site (obviously) but had a bit of trouble separating material on 'Gourami's' and 'Dwarf Gourami's" - it seems like behaviorally they are different (is that correct?).
<The dwarfs... particularly the two species mentioned above... are toward the spectrum of smaller size, easier-going temperament relative to all Gourami species>
Unfortunately I am not sure what sex our fish are, their Dorsal fin's seem around the same shape, although the smaller one is overall less brightly coloured than the larger one, so maybe we have one of each.
<The sexes are very easy to distinguish... see WWM, the Net...>
The bigger fish seems to think so cause he built a bubble nest a week after we got them, but then it disappeared...
<Will come and go>
They both spend a fair amount of time lurking around the bottom of the tank in the various plants and hiding places, which I understand is normal behavior, the smaller one particularly likes it in our coconut shell cave. In between times, they alternate between chasing each other around (normally big one chases small one, but sometimes it's the other way), or at other times they hang out together and stroke the long feeler things they have across each other.
Does this behavior seem normal, or do our Gouramis have some sort of personality disorder!
<Mmm, normal>
I was wondering if you might be able to deduce their sex from the way they were acting.
<Yes, likely so>
I'm sorry not to attach a photo but I don't know how to make it small enough.
Thanks for your help,
Hannah
<And you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Dwarf Gourami beh.   9/21/06
Hi there,
I have am fairly new to the fish keeping hobby so bear with me.
I have a 90l Aqua one (620) fish tank that has been set up for about a month now.
I have planted this fairly heavily but haven't yet upgraded the lighting (currently 2 18 watt light units)
<Low intensity>
currently I have in it 3 Zebra danios, 3 leopard Corydoras and... the problem:
I also have 2 dwarf honey Gouramis they are both bright orange so I assume they are males, the smaller of the two keeps chasing the other around the tank although I cant actually see any damage to either fish yet.
<Yes, typical>
Is there some way of stopping this and is it going to stress the chased fish?  
<Mmm, in this sized system... either to remove one, or add females>
I would really like to keep them both but if its going to be detrimental to the fishes health I would rather take one back to the shop, assuming they will take it back. I have read somewhere on the net that if I were to get something like tetras it may calm them down is this likely and how many would fit with my other fish?
<Possibly... though the Danios serve the same "ditherfish" function>
Thanks in advance of your assistance.
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

My Flame Gourami, beh.    1/27/07
I have a 12 gallon fish tank with 8 fish inside. For the past three days I have been experiencing an unusual behavior of my female and male Gouramis. I got them both at fish man center about a month ago. The male would proudly be in the center of the tank and the female would swim peacefully around. This three days their relationship changed. Now my male is hiding behind the cave and sometimes in the cave. If he comes out the female quickly chases him away.
<Somehow this sounds all too familiar...>
I do not see any nipping, I just see chasing. He seems to be scared. Than he is behind the cave I do not really see him, but in the cave it seems like he is in a sitting position. I checked all my chemicals in the tank. All looks normal. I do not know what has changed. I need help. Any ideas why this sudden change?
<Not atypical behavior for Gouramis period... and if the other fishes aren't too large, not likely to become real trouble here in your twelve gallon system. I'd just keep an eye on them for signs of apparent damage. Bob Fenner>

Dwarf Gourami fins turning black - 02/09/2007
Hi,
<Melissa>
Love your site.  I have 2 pair of dwarf gouramis in a 37 gal tank.  Two of them (one male, one female) have fins that are turning black. They are not
torn or frayed, just "ink stained".  This is not normal, but I don't know what to treat for. Any suggestions? Thank you,
Nalo Meli
<Mmm... likely nothing amiss here... particularly if your other livestock appear fine... This is likely a behavioral change, expression... the two may well be engaged in a bit of breeding... Bob Fenner>