Teaching the big fish a lesson in manners

[ENTREPRENEUR]

I have a 50 gallon well planted tank with a nice piece of twisted wood. I have been running this tank with 6 shrimp and a 6 inch pleco for a while; 6 months I would guess. I have an opal gourami given to me that is full grow (almost 3 in). I came across 2 more Neon Gouramis that were absolutely the best color marking I have ever seen. They are just over an inch long and having almost nothing in the big tank but plants, I added them to a new home. My problem is that while I know that Gourmai’s are a peaceful fish, My Pearl is anything but friendly. I have only had the new fish for a day and there seems to be a constant fight between the top water area forcing the Neons to the bottom. This added stress after being netted twice, I have to believe that I will incur ick unless a resolution is soon found. Should I find a new home for the Pearl, or do you believe that at some point they will grow accustom to each other. Please realize that it is a chase around the tank 70% of the time for the last 24 hours now with no end in sight. This is very irritating, I almost want to put him, the pearl, in the Large African Cichlid tank (6 inches and more) just to show it what it’s like... He would last two maybe three minutes, before hiding sideway or upside down in a rock cluster, and begging me for help.(an attempt to be funny, I would not really do this)Your advice is appreciated.

[lloyd berg]

it appears to me your pearl was busy building territory while you suspected it of complacency. if you really like the two newbies pull the pearl before it stresses the others too far. you may get off easy by quaranteeing the pearl and reintroducing it after a good time out (2-3 weeks and a couple of 25% water changes). if it acts like a donkey after that effort i'd reassess my love for it.

[AngelMom]

From your pic, the opaline gourami looks like a female. (and she's only 1/2 grown if she's only 3 inches) It could definitely be a territory thing....most three spot gouramis (golds, platinums, blues and opalines) are mildly to very aggressive and will defend their perceived territory. They might work it out, but since the two neons are males (all dwarf gouramis sold by LFS/LPS are males) they tend to be on the mildly aggressive side also. IME, most times a pair of three spots (male & female) do fine, but any other combination is a crap shoot.