Dwarf Guorami

Currently in my tank I have two Drawf Guorami. They are lovely fish and for the most part seem to swim around quite happily. However on occasion they tend to swim after each other and look as if they are trying to nip each others fin. No I check the fins regularly and there is no sign of damage. Also it does not seem to be effecting either fish's actions, and they both still feed well and are very active. Are they just playing with each other? Is it just one warding the other from his territory?

well...there are many reasons they could be doing that. 1) Yes, they could possibly be staking territories, 2) they may both be males, 3) if they are males and they are making bubble nests they may be fighting over surface space to make their bubble nest, 4) they could be trying to mate and are just playing with eachother. There are some other possibilities, but It doesnt sound like you should worry.

yeah--i had that problem too, and still have it with my croaking gouramis. I wouldn't consider it too much of a problem--it is usually not enough to seriously injure the fish--they are probably just staking out territory and especially in a 10 gallon, you will see a lot of that, since it is a relatively small area. I wouldn't worry about it though.

tetrabarb wrote:

2) they may both be males, 3) if they are males and they are making bubble nests they may be fighting over surface space to make their bubble nest

I think this may be wat is going on. I have noticed just lately a lot of bubbles at the surface of the water. But if they are both males, which I believe they are, what is the ppoint of them nesting. Or do they do it seasonally?

in the breeding season, they wait for a female to show up or they may think the other one is a female and start making a nest for her.

Thanks for the advice. I must confess that the bubbles seem to be reducing in number now. Maybe they have worked out that they are both males!!!

If both Dwarf Gouramies are brightly coloured, they are males - females are smaller and duller (grey/silver in color). Male Gouramies will build bubble nests irregardless of the presence (or lack of) females; when I had 2 in my 55 G, Destructor Fish, the alpha male, built a new nest almost every week. I had an ample supply of Dwarf Ambulia which is excellent nest building material and he made good use of it - and he got better with practice! His nests became huge. He also chased the other Gourami away from 'his' territory, they would also curl themselves into a half moon shape and chase each other in a little circle.

I also saw the second Gourami steal some nest material from the alpha male - he was in BIG trouble that time! The ensuing chase went all over the 55 - I never saw him do it again after that guess he learned a lesson!

No one was ever injured in their disputes, so I don't think it's anything to worry about; amusing to watch, though.

You are right, it is very good fun to watch. I find it really interesting to watch them sort of try and stare each other out. They regularly have stand offs.