Dana Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Anyone know what's up with my Gourami? Given he's about 10 months old, but was fine a couple of days ago. Only change is the addition of an artificial plant this afternoon. He's still eating, but has wounds on his sides and his mouth has been ripped to shreds. His entire mouth is just a mash of skin and flesh. All the other fish appear fine, no white spots or ulcers. Just this boy.... Is he old and on his way out, or has he come down with something very quickly... Blue right side by danaj2009, on Flickr Blue mouth 2 by danaj2009, on Flickr Blue mouth by danaj2009, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Same fish in September. Blue Gourami by danaj2009, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 do you have anothere gourami in there with him, looks like battle wounds to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Yes, there are 4 of them in a 215 ltr with lots of plant coverage and caves. Never had issues prior to this. The other 3 are smaller than him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I would suspect war wounds as well. The reason you have not had trouble until now is because they have been too young. As they hit sexual maturity the trouble starts. What sex are the others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I have 2 male pearl gourami in my 450 ltr and for some strange reason it's the dominant one who bares the scars. Guess it's the price they pay to be top dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 They are dwarf, so all male. He is the largest, two are slightly smaller, and one is juvenile. They have clear areas for territory, although lacking in height through the center of the tank. Any suggestions to ease their aggression? I've had other suggestions of adding females. A) some say this would make it worse and B) near impossible to find female dwarfs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I thought gouramis were like bettas ... males fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 They can if not allowed territories. My Dad kept Gourami for years (dwarf), and I never saw this. Only saw real aggression when there weren't enough visual barriers provided. Thought I'd provided that but perhaps not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Floating plants like indian fern should help, I wouldn't bother adding a female unless you remove all but one of the males. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 It definitely looks like fighting to me, particularly the mouth which will have been caused by them liplocking. Gourami are very much like betta in that two males in the same tank can cause issues once they are mature. Why do you think you have only males, it could be that there is a female in the tank which could be adding to the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critter_crazy Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I see similar injuries in these guys at work - particularly the swollen mouths from lip-locking as was said - make sure you keep a close eye that they don't get infected :sick: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 It definitely looks like fighting to me, particularly the mouth which will have been caused by them liplocking. Gourami are very much like betta in that two males in the same tank can cause issues once they are mature. Why do you think you have only males, it could be that there is a female in the tank which could be adding to the issue. I was of the understanding that male dwarfs have colour, and the females are smaller and brown? I believe all of mine are male. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 The one you posted a pic of is a male, can you post pics of the others? Females show less colour than males but also the dorsal fin of a male tapers to a point, on females it is more rounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critter_crazy Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 I was of the understanding that male dwarfs have colour, and the females are smaller and brown? I believe all of mine are male. That's what I thought also, saw what I think were females at HFF and they're nowhere near as pretty as the boys, but maybe they were a different type? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Like humans, males have the colour. Out of a jar or syringe for females. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Shops usually only have males as they have the colour and they claim nobody wants the plainer females. This also makes it harder for people to breed them when they only have males Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aotealotl Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 This also makes it harder for people to breed them when they only have males well, they could adopt couldn't they... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Having the odd female with a bunch of males might increase the agro as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 The one you posted a pic of is a male, can you post pics of the others? Females show less colour than males but also the dorsal fin of a male tapers to a point, on females it is more rounded. The other 3 Red by danaj2009, on Flickr IMG_1134 by danaj2009, on Flickr The smallest of the 4 the end for Ira by danaj2009, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 All appear to be male from my reading, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critter_crazy Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 All look like males to me also. Very pretty colours!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Yes all males, I think you are going to stuggle with all them in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Yes all males, I think you are going to stuggle with all them in the tank. Hmmmm, I asked several sources before getting them, and all said they'd be fine with territorial barriers, but why am I not surprised lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted January 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Cheers for your responses. LFS x 2 aren't that much of help re plants. I've ordered some Indian Fern of TM. Hopefully this lot turns up unlike the last 2 TM purchases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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