Pearl Lace Gourami

Hey guys
Pick your brains if I may. Have a 160 litre pretty heavily planted and one of the first fish to go in whenever i set it up..(October??) was a pair of pearl gouramis (both female I think). They were pretty large when I got themnot babies but one problem I have they are now full grown the only large fish in the tank and they are seen about 1% of the time perhaps around feeding time amongst cories, tetra, plec and glass catfish!

I think the problem stemed from when i introduced what I thought was peaceful gobies which were mislabelled and ended up eating most my lampeye fish and beating both the gouramis up all in one night. Since this incident the gouramis dont come out, before they did.

So need to pick your brains about how to help them? These are some of the options thought of..
1. Rehome to a fresh environment - rather not as we love their prettiness just a shame they hide
2.Get a male as we have supposed females - tried this two weeks back and the male died from unknown causes (weak fish or having a thought suspected other male).
3. Not sure if coincidence but when we had two mollies in there and a angel they were out and about far more. My partner does like the pure white mollies which we could get a pair to try but worried they may eat my tetras. Do know they say more for the salty side but believe cope well without.
4. More plants mentioned to me - here is a pic of the tank, let me know what you think:
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5. Also been suggested another pair of more boisterous gouramis, I wasnt sure that you could mix gouramis (like bettas??) have limited knowledge. Also dont want to upset the balance as we have a pretty peaceful tank right now. Was looking into groups of sparkling gouramis but these are pretty and small and I just like them...
6. Do nothing! As long as they are eating and coping nothing?!

Sorry to blab on,we wanted to sort this out before christmas but a lot got in the way. I want to at least attempt to bring them into the open if they will. They stay at cory level until lights out when we are present.

Hmmm that's a tough one, pearl gourami are very shy fis and do hide quite alot. If they have been attacked from another fish, this is going to set them back.

However i do suggest that when you next do a water change, move some plants and other features around so everyone can find there own place.

As for if they are male or female, males will have a longer and pointier dorsal fin, where as the females will be short and round. Males are also known to get a red breat (chest) more so near breeding time.

As for mollies i dont see why you cant add them, mollies do well without salt water (mine do fine) and are VERY unlikely to eat tetras.

hope this helps

Hi

Firstly - Nice tank [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I wouldn't add potentially more boisterous Gouramis as this may upset the balance you have. If they are female, then adding a male may help though. Do you think there's something else in the tank which may be bullying them?

One other thing i found with my Golden ones, was that they were very elusive until i changed the filter outlet direction. I initially had a spraybar but found the flow was making it like a washing machine lol I changed the spraybar to a simple single outlet and found a lot of my fish then began to show more:)

Thanks so much guys. I believe I have two females would get picks but the camera is an absolute no go. They dont ever get the typical red breast and their fronts are similar. The tank itself has changed around on occassion and this seems to only worsen their condition (they really hate it) though now have much taller plants may try again, thanks for that!

I have two internals at opposites ends of the tank with the flow pointing at the front glass (thought quite good at flow and also aesthetics????).

As to bullying there are glass catfish, neon tetras, corydoras and a bristlenose, unless the bristlenose is a bully then dont think have any furhter problems going on? never seen anything (though fish do like to do naughty things when the back is turned!). I may try another male but try to get a more adult version as the male youngster just didnt last and couldnt say why.

Thanks so much guys for the help really appreciate xxx

I had my spray bar pointing from back to front. It caused the flow to circulate across the top, down the front, along the bottom, and up the back. Like a circular motion.

Maybe try the outlets pointing towards each other across the back, if thats easy to do on yours?

i dont think any of the fish will be bullying them i would try what storm said and take them out rearrange the tank then add them back again and see if a new start in the tank helps :]

Thanks lots peeps!

On what you said Van so have them where they are currently but

------] [------- Like so?? I was going to do this originally but was worried currents directed at each other would be problematic? (unsure why lol)

Yeh, you may find it helps as like i said, my gouramis along with the Danios and tetras were all hiding in the plants till i changed it

Hmmm think my weekend is planned! We are also going to try white mollies (lol partner gets a fish he wants for a change )

If it doesn't work you can always put them back

thank you!!!!!