fishtank emergency -- du know it alls, report here!!1!!

[elehhhhna]

If the golden gourami is chasing and nipping the newly introduced goldfish, is intervention required?

hurry.

she just got the tank yesterday.

[elehhhhna]

1. too late

[rucky]

2. sushi for supper

[Hutchewon]

3. And the answer is .....

Firstly, the gourami is a tropical warm water fish. The
goldfish is a cold water fish and will also foul the tank. I
suggest you find someone with a water garden in their backyard
and put it there. It and the gourami will be happier.

[surrealAmerican]

7. That's definitely an important point about water temperature ...

... but goldfish are not any more likely to foul the tank than any other fish of similar size. Their reputation is based on the misconception that, because their feces are more visible than most other fish, they must somehow be more likely to foul the water. This is simply not the case. It's strictly an aesthetic issue, not a health issue.

[Submariner]

4. Sounds like the more aggressive golden gourami is staking out territorial limits

and the goldfish (dumb small carp) is getting whooped. Goldfish tend to picked on by just about everything but the catfish species. The smaller the tank, the more this will be an issue.

Get a couple of Oscars and throw them in with the goldfish. The goldfish problem will be eliminated in just a few bitesquickly.

[ChandlerJr]

5. There is a reason why goldfish are sold as feeders in most shops.

n/t

[Peter1x9]

6. Completely incompatible fish!

YOU SHOULD NEVER HOUSE GOLDFISH WITH TROPICAL FISH! It is ether one or the other. Gouramis and goldfish have different temperature requirements. Gouramis are tropical and require heated water (77 degrees f). Goldfish are not tropical and require cooler water (room temperature around 72 degrees f). Also, there is a reason why there are two different foods for tropical fish and goldfish. Tropical fish food is plant and meat based. Goldfish food is meat based.


As far as housing Gouramis with other tropical fish, the general rule is that you put them with other short-finned fish that are around the same size. Compatible species include danios, mollies, silver dollars, plecostomus, and bottom feeders. However, anytime you put anything in with them that has longer fins, such as male guppies, goldfish, and bettas you WILL run into trouble.

If you keep the Gourami and decide you want other tropical fish, you will need an appropriate setup with a bare minimum of 10-gallons, a filter (cleanliness and oxygenation), and a heater set at 77. Gouramis have the same gill and breathing structure as a betta, so aeration isn't critical for them, but it is for other tropical fish.

What size aquarium are you putting the fish in? This also determines what fish you can have.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Lovely answer...filing your expertise away in case.....I ever get a fish.