opaline gourami problems

[GirlieGirl8519]

The opaline/3 spot gourami in my 29g is a huge bully. He chases my neons and glowlights around too much. They don't show any signs of being nipped, but it bothers me that he chases them. I'm sure they are pretty stressed. They usually stay on one side of the tank (its pretty heavily planted too).

I added a bolivian ram about a month ago, but had to take her out after a few days because the opaline wouldn't leave her alone.

I'm thinking about setting up a tank that is centered on him...and adding some semi-aggressive tankmates.

I have thought about tiger barbs or serpaes...with maybe some cories for bottom feeders (he doesn't notice the cories).

The only tank I have available is a 38g. It would be moderately planted and low light/low tech.

Any suggestions on a type of schooling fish that could stand up to him?

Thanks in advance!

[crazyred]

Well, one fish does come to mind. They're not really "schooling", but blue tetras (Cochu's blue) are some fairly aggressive, good looking fish that would probably be able to stand up to him. I say that they're not schooling because not your typical tetra that needs a particular number to feel safe. I think the profile on them at FP says to only put one in a tank because of aggression issues, but you could probably put more than that in with him and be fine. AngelMom has some of those in with her angelfish (I think, could be her gouramis....can't recall) and she says she hasn't seen any aggression, but I bet they could hold their own with your mean gourami.

Tiger barbs might work in a big enough school, but I would worry that they might do some fin nipping. Aren't serpae tetras a little bit more boisterous than most? (oh yeah.....you did say serpaes.....LOL, JINX) They might work too.

I have my opaline in with 10 harlies, 6 cherries, and 2 variatus platies, but she's a girl and I've never seen her go after anything. In fact, I had to rmove my dwarf gourami that was HALF her size because he was bullying her. :eek:

Maybe some others will chime in...those are my ideas. I see those blue tetras at my Petsmart all the time. They're pretty good looking fishies.

[AngelMom]

You're right Red.....my blue tetras are in with the angels, and no aggression toward anyone but each other, and at that it's just a little chasing (hardly what I would call aggression).

Most of my gouramis are relatively mellow (got real lucky) so take this with a grain of salt if you like......even my most aggressive male (platinum, which is another three spot color) doesn't bother the danios and white cloud minnows in with them.

[GirlieGirl8519]

Thanks you two for the suggestions.

I went to Petsmart yesterday, just browsing and saw some tetras labelled "blue tetras". I couldn't tell if they were Conchu blues though...I guess they were. They were more silver than blue, but I guess I wouldn't be very colorful either if weird people were staring at me.
I won't be setting up the tank for a few months, gotta get my 55g going first...I'm just looking for ideas.

I would worry about the tiger barbs being too nippy...and the serpaes also. I also don't really like tiger barbs...they look funny when full grown.

I had a suggestion of rainbows on another forum...maybe some dwarf neon rainbows. They are not aggressive, but very active so he'd have a hard time catching them. Plus they would be a little more tiring I guess, being fast swimmers.
I think he goes after the neons because they just float there...they don't really swim alot. The glowlights chase each other alot, so really he doesn't go after them much.

I'll definitely consider the blue tetras...I've always thought they looked nice in pictures.

[crazyred]

yeah, I do believe the blue tertas at PetSmart are Cochu's blue. That's the species name they had on the ones I saw at my PetSmart (Boehlkea fredcochui is the scientific name)

They don't seem to be too colorful in the fish store, but IMO, few fish are. LOL I think they color up when they get into a comfy home.

Rainbows might work....some of them get a little bigger than tetras so I would think they would def. be able to hold thier own. I agree, I don't think you need agrressive fish, just active, boisterous ones that can bop your bully on the head once in a while.

[AngelMom]

Be very careful with rainbows and gouramis.......like the betta, rainbows are cousins of the gouramis and introducing even one with a known aggressive gourami could be disastrous.

[GirlieGirl8519]

Thanks for the tip AngelMom...I guess I'll pass on the rainbows for the gourami tank. I see what you mean...they do look like them a little.

I haven't seen the dwarf ones around here anyways...and they are expensive on online sites (like $6-8 each..wow...plus shipping).

Hopefully Petsmart can keep the blues in for a few months...they change up their stock alot.

[crazyred]

Our Petsmart has had the blue tetras since they opened back in February.....I think they're there to stay

[GirlieGirl8519]

Ok so I've been thinking today...and I have an Asian biotope in mind. I've always wanted to do a biotope, but usually wanted fish that didn't belong. :rolleyes:

I'm thinking about having Harlequin rasboras as the schooling fish. They are not aggressive at all, but they are fast. I think the gourami would get tired of chasing them. I have 6 in with my betta in the 10g and he stopped chasing them after a week or so...lazy fish.

So here are my fish ideas:
*Opaline gourami
*Harlies (8-10)
*Polka dot loaches (would they be ok in this size tank?)

And that's all I've got for now. Any ideas, comments?

I will plant the tank...using pool filter sand as substrate. I'm thinking about using Hygro polysperma, wisteria, and crypts with about 2wpg.

What do ya'll think?

[AngelMom]

I think that sounds awesome......the rasboras would be a nice color variation with an opaline gourami!

[crazyred]

I'm all for that idea. Just take a look at what's in my 29!!! :LOL Everything in there is from Asia execept the platies and the L-316....somehow, they don't seem to care.

Mom's right, harlies look AWESOME with opaline gouramies......I know mine do, but I might be a bit biased. :rolleyes:

[GirlieGirl8519]

Everything in there is from Asia execept the platies and the L-316....somehow, they don't seem to care
I may have to stick a cute little pleco in my tank. I've been checking out the ones on exoticfinds.net...some are very cute! I might just have to have one.

I'm gonna see if I can find the Polka dot loaches somewhere...I think Petsmart had some...can't remember the price though. They are really cute...I think they are also called Angelicus. I could have them mixed up though. :confused:

Now I can't wait to set this tank up....man I need a second job!

[crazyred]

I hear ya! I need three or four jobs to feed my addiction. :LOL

I love all the plecs on exotic finds!!! That's where I got my L-316. I ordered a L-129 and it ended up being a more rare L-316.....he's a cutie though. Yeah, fish don't usually care if they're from the same continent or not.....just as long as the water's good. Most of the Asian fish you're looking at require almost the same water params as any of those plecs, so I say GO FOR IT!!!