On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:05:02 +0100, sophie wiggins
wrote:

In article , NetMax
wrote:

"sophie" wrote in message
...
I have three dwarf gouramis (one male, two female) in a 32 inch
community tank; the two girls are relatively recent additions to this
tank (last month or so, I think). When I first got them they were the
most neurotic, timid fish I have ever seen but an extended period in
the Q tank - due to being quarantined with a batch of tiny striatas who
*all* died of ich :-( - turned them into well-fed, much happier and
more confident fish. These two are fine, fine, fine - very happy in the
tank, pretty out and about, and pretty friendly with eacj other.

since I them the male has been building increasingly enormous and
elaborate nests, but weirdly the only interest he seems to take in the
females is to dart fiercely at them if they go too near the nest; as
soon as they scram he loses interest. Is this normal? The two females
do a lot of nose-to-tail circling with each other, too. For a while
they both looked like they had swallowed marbles, bu this has gine down
a fair bit.

any ideas??

--
sophie

Just some ideas. Having females in the tank has told the male that there
is hope ;~), so he builds nests. Chasing them away means neither is up
to his standards. Their circling each other is to determine the pecking
order (and rights to approach the fool male, if he is ever willing ;~).

oh no! I thought I was doing te right thing for him, and all I've done
is get his hopes up only tohave them dashed by inadequate females...
at least he has an interest, I suppose.

thanks, NetMax.

I wonder that the fish can handle the "boredom" of aquarium life. So
long as no one is being hurt, I would welcome the activity! g

dick