I have a question about my long 20g

[durbkat]

I have one Opaline gourami in a long 20g and yesterday I put 2 long finned black tetras in it. And as soon as I put the tetras in the Opaline gourami started viciously attacking the tetras. I already took the gourami out but is there a way to stop the violence so that I can put the gourami back in?

[amanichen]

Is the gourami the only resident of the tank?

[durbkat]

Well he was for about 5 to 6 weeks until yesterday when I added the two long finned black tetras then he like i said he started vicoulsly attacking the tetras. Which is when I took the gourami out. Please tell me what I can do so I can put this gourami back in his home.

[amanichen]

Well, since the fish has been alone, he sees the tank as his territory. There isn't much you can do, short of taking the fish out, and the reintroducing the fish, and other ones of similar size all at the same time.

If you had a larger tank, you could have an entire school of tetras coexist with a few gouramis, but this situation won't work out. Either get rid of the gourami, or get rid of the tetras. If you want to keep the gourami, then it will need to be moved around before he gets into so he doesn't get too comfy and think he owns the tank.

Here's an article with more information:

s94779296.onlinehome.us/website/Fish/faqs/aggression.html

[durbkat]

Really? Because I called a lps and they said to simply take the gourami out which I did and
I have temperaroly put him in a 1g. And they said to give it a week with them sepearated and rearrange the plants and that should stop the violence. And he said if that doesn't work then he doesn't know what to do. But what if I put 3 more black tetras in the tank and a pleco then put him in. Would you recommend doing that?

[amanichen]

Do what you think will work =)

[durbkat]

Oh sorry amanichen if I was rude I was just telling you what I was told. So Sorry if I offended you.

[amanichen]

durbkat said:

Oh sorry amanichen if I was rude I was just telling you what I was told. So Sorry if I offended you.

Well, this time around your LFS gave solid information, and I'm basically saying the same thing as them anyway:

1. get the tetras away from the gourami

2. de-condition the gourami's territorality response

There's more than one way to go about it, and if they were in a larger tank with more fish (i.e. more tetras) there wouldn't be as many issues. I'm just saying that you can't ever force a fish to act how you want it to, so despite your best efforts it might never change. That's why I said #1 as the sure bet, and #2 as something that would be good to do if you want to keep the gourami with other fish in the future (but won't be guaranteed to work.)

Sorry if it wasn't clear on this.

[durbkat]

So if I put 4 more black tetras in this tank there is a chance the violence could calm down?

[amanichen]

durbkat said:

So if I put 4 more black tetras in this tank there is a chance the violence could calm down?

Well the larger number serves two purposes:

1. making the tetras feel safer
2. making the tetras safer

The gourami should still be moved around a bit so he doesn't get too established. Also, putting the tetras in first may help him realize it's not his tank.

[durbkat]

Thank you very much. So will my gourami be ok for a couple of weeks in a 1g with a oxygen pump and no heater? And I know that they need a heater. What i've been doing so far is i've been keeping the light on through the day then covering him up at night with a towel. Could he survive in this setup for a couple of weeks? So what do u mean by moving him around?

[amanichen]

durbkat said:

Thank you very much. So will my gourami be ok for a couple of weeks in a 1g with a oxygen pump and no heater? And I know that they need a heater. What i've been doing so far is i've been keeping the light on through the day then covering him up at night with a towel. Could he survive in this setup for a couple of weeks?

The longest I'd keep it in there would be two days. That's about all it should need.


In the meantime get some more tetras, and make a plan of action (i.e. giving the gourami to a fish store) if things don't work out.

[durbkat]

Just to let you know i've been having water problems. The nitrites have been really high and I just got it down about 2 days ago. And the guy at the lps said to wait a week before I add fish as to help the bacteria build up because he said the bacteria has only built up for one fish. So could I put this gourami is my 10g tank it has 3 black tetras and a common pleco? And what do u mean by move the gourami around?

[amanichen]

And the guy at the lps said to wait a week before I add fish as to help the bacteria build up because he said the bacteria has only built up for one fish. So could I put this gourami is my 10g tank it has 3 black tetras and a common pleco?

Try it, but watch them closely.

And what do u mean by move the gourami around?

Putting him in different tanks.

As your LFS said, before you get any more fish keep doing water changes and wait a week or two to let the bacteria catch up.

[durbkat]

I had an idea if I put one of my black tetras from my 10g to my 20g then put my gourami in the 10g. Could I do that?