Why do my Golden Gouramis fight ?

[Alan Silver]

Hello,

We have a (generally) peaceful community tank, 48"x12"x15" housing two
golden gouramis, four tiger barbs, three sailfin catfish, eight
harlequins and three glowlight tetras. Water quality is good, water is
soft and pH about 6.5-7.0

The two golden gouramis have always been very peaceful fish until
recently. I've noticed that they have started having face-offs. They
will face each other, at a distance of out 2", then dart backwards and
forwards towards and away from each other as if egging the other on to
attack. Every now and then they will lock jaws and wrestle for a few
seconds, then go back to the darting.

I have never seen them do more than this, and have never seen any
evidence of harm to either fish. I'm just concerned that something is
bothering them.

I have no idea what sex they are (how do you tell ?), so I don't know if
this is macho rivalry or not. Even if it is, why now ? They've been in
the same tank together for a long time and haven't done this before.

Any suggestions appreciated. TIA

--
Alan Silver

[Greg G.]

Alan Silver said:

>The two golden gouramis have always been very peaceful fish until
>recently. I've noticed that they have started having face-offs. They
>will face each other, at a distance of out 2", then dart backwards and
>forwards towards and away from each other as if egging the other on to
>attack. Every now and then they will lock jaws and wrestle for a few
>seconds, then go back to the darting.

They are probably both males. Only THEY know for sure. Generally,
the females are not as brightly colored, so they don't often end up in
retailers tanks.

I have had the same trouble with Gouramis, so much so, that I quit
buying them - even in a 125G aquarium. They often become aggressive
toward other fish in the tank. Chocolate gouramis are small and
peaceful, but hard to keep. So timid that other fish may cause them
to stop eating.


Greg G.

[m.dekort]

check the top fin

on both it probably comes to a point

on females it is shorter and rounded off

Greg wrote:

>Alan Silver said:
>
>
>
>>The two golden gouramis have always been very peaceful fish until
>>recently. I've noticed that they have started having face-offs. They
>>will face each other, at a distance of out 2", then dart backwards and
>>forwards towards and away from each other as if egging the other on to
>>attack. Every now and then they will lock jaws and wrestle for a few
>>seconds, then go back to the darting.
>>
>>
>
>They are probably both males. Only THEY know for sure. Generally,
>the females are not as brightly colored, so they don't often end up in
>retailers tanks.
>
>I have had the same trouble with Gouramis, so much so, that I quit
>buying them - even in a 125G aquarium. They often become aggressive
>toward other fish in the tank. Chocolate gouramis are small and
>peaceful, but hard to keep. So timid that other fish may cause them
>to stop eating.
>
>
>Greg G.
>
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, m.dekort
> writes
>
>check the top fin
>
>on both it probably comes to a point
>
>on females it is shorter and rounded off

Well, without some photos to use as a comparison, I would hazard a guess
that they are both males.

They have been doing this on and off for a while now and there doesn't
seem to be any problem. So far it has been restricted to the two of
them, they haven't bothered anybody else.

Thanx for the reply, I'll keep an eye on them and see what happens.

--
Alan Silver