Rocking Gouramis

[lmw80]

I have done a lot of research on gouramis since I have them in both my tanks, however, I still have an un-answered question. Sometimes the gouramis rock back and forth. I first noticed this with my blue gourami and then recently I noticed my gold gourami doing the same thing. Has anyone else seen this is their gouramis or read about this anywhere? Does anyone have any ideas? My fish are healthy, all levels are fine in both tanks....just curios.

 

[TankGirl]

Do you mean turning sideways and curving their tail around? If they are showing their sides to the other fish it is a posturing behavior. If you mean tipping sideways, like a boat rocking side to side in heavy seas, then I don't know! There are parasites that can irritate the fish and cause unusual movements, so keep watching for any physical signs of disease.

 

[lmw80]

Nope, it's not sideways....it's back to front, front to back...

 

[Biggen]

Hmm. Never seen this happen with any of mine. Not sure what it is...

 

[TankGirl]

Me either! Mine have never done that. I have seen pointing nose downward for extended periods in times of stress or illness. What exactly are the tank parameters, including tank size, tankmates and how long it has been running, etc? It kindof sounds to me like a stress thing, like fish might exhibit in times of overcrowding-related stress.

 

[lmw80]

10g...there's a blue gourami (the rocking one), an autrailian rainbowfish, a school of neons and 2 cory catfish. The tank has been running for about 6months now. I do have low ph, which I am working on fixingm but other than that, everything is fine. I think he just has an anxiety disorder, lol.

 

[TankGirl]

Tank sounds a little heavy in terms of population, IMO. My gouramis do not tolerate many tankmates, so it is something to think about to reduce the population in there, relieve the anxiety! They are extremely territorial, so it is something to think about. Mine lives completely alone in his 10-gal, due to inability to get along with others, if you can believe it!

 

[purplestarfish]

I have two gouramis and I've never seen that. But the tank does seem small. When both were in a twenty gallon, the larger one terrorized the smaller one . . . until they both grew to full size. Once, the one that had been the larger one (isolated in a 10 gallon) had to be moved into the 20 gallon with the other one . . . I don't remember why, but I do remember that much. The one that had been smaller completely bullied the one that had been larger - he was in his own familiar territory then. I was able to put the "larger" one back in his tank. In the end, I moved them both into a 55 gallon. They both occasionally chase each other half-heartedly for a few inches, but then they stop . . . and neither one has set up territories so all's well. But I suppose I've gotten off topic with all that, sorry!

 

[TankGirl]

I think that is on-topic because I have a suspicion that overcrowding is causing this unusual behavior in the first place. My dwarf that used to reside in a 10gal by himself because he could not tolerate tankmates is doing very well now in a 55-gal with adult angels, who stand up to him. He seems happier now with other fish, as well. I have another dwarf who is in a 15-gal with a few cory cats because he killed his tankmates, and I may pop him into the 55 as well.

 

[i3k]

I also have two gouramis and had many in the past and never seen them do the back and forth rocking. I think it is showing signs of stress do to low pH levels or overstocked tank. Is your gourami active or just doing the rocking thing in one place beraly swimming? does it eat well? does it breath heavily? keep an eye out for such symptoms. I would suggest testing your water for ammonia and nitrate levels.

 

[lmw80]

I checked my ammonia today and it is 0. My ph I am slowly raising so as to not shock them. He is active....swims all around the tank, eats well (like a vacuum with his mouth right on the water line!) I am keeping a close eye on him, but he looks physically fine...no heavy breathing....I also try to vary their diet between frozen and flake. I don't know. Actually, lol, he stopped doing it once I posted the topic here, lol like when you take a car to a shop!

 

[TankGirl]

Any particular reason you want to raise the pH? This is a difficult thing to keep stable with your water changes unless you also monitor your buffering capacity. All of that will be more difficult to do in a small tank. The stability of your pH is much more important than the number, unless you are trying to breed. I am glad the fish stopped doing the "rocking" thing, though. Hopefully it was just a phase.

 

[nejsux]

I've noticed my male gourami rocking also, usually to intimidate other fish when he is courting his wifey gourami. Sort of a macho "look how big I am" thing. Also front to back, but very slight, using his fins to move himself.

 

[lmw80]

that's it!! That's what he does! There isn't another gourami in the tank, but there is an australian rainbowfish that tries to be macho...maybe they are having a contest on who is the macho-ist of all!