Territorial wars in fishes | what to do when fish becomes aggressive fig...

Fishes are tend to behave aggressive in aquarium at times fighting for there territory, food and making relationship. What Causes Aggression In Gouramis? It’s no surprise that Gouramis fight over a lot of similar things that other species do; food, mates, and territory. Let’s take an in-depth look below: Territory: The majority of aggression in the tank is regarding territory. Most fish swim around the tank without a care in the world, but Gouramis can be incredibly protective over the area of the tank they call home. Their environment provides a safe space to sleep, hide, mate, and spawn. The area they mark as their own could be something simple as a large plant or rock. Whatever area they choose, Gouramis will allow certain fish to enter and become aggressive to others that come too close. Similar Fish: Gouramis are most territorial towards other Gouramis and are particularly aggressive towards Gouramis of the same sex. To put it simply, if a fish looks similar and is of the same sex, a Gourami may see this as a threat and will become aggressive towards the other fish, often chasing after it or nipping its fins. Fighting For Food And Mates: Aside from fights about territory, aggression in Gouramis is triggered by a battle for food and mates. Female Gouramis are highly defensive and aggressive when it comes to protecting their eggs or fry, whereas male Gouramis are most aggressive when mating. What Are The Signs Of Aggression Occurring? Not all signs of aggression in Gouramis are noticeable. The majority of the time, fights amongst fish occur when you’re not looking. It’s not that Gouramis are waiting for you to turn away, but rather the majority of attacks happen overnight. Below we’ve listed five things to look out for in your Gouramis behavior, as well as noticeable signs of aggression in your tank: Chasing Other Fish: This behavior is one of the easiest to spot. One Gourami will chase after another fish and likely headbutt them or bite them. Sometimes the threat of the encounter can make the other fish in your tank hide for long periods. Feeding: A lot of the competition in an aquarium is over space, breeding, or food. Typically, aggressive gouramis will swim around quickly, eating as much food as they can, even stealing it out of the mouths of other fish. To reduce food competition, you ideally want to feed your fish various floating and sinking foods, allowing them to spread around your tank and provide all your fish with ease. Breeding: Female Gouramis are extremely protective over their unborn young, becoming aggressive if they feel there is a threat. Expectant Gouramis will attack other fish they feel are coming too close in a bid to give them more space. They have even been known to nip at human hands that come too close to their nest! Noticeable Marks Or Injuries: Do any fish have broken or split fins? A rotten tail causes jagged edges on fins, but split fins are due to a physical injury from fighting. Have you noticed your fish hiding behind rocks and driftwood more? It could be scared of a more aggressive fish in the tank. Other signs to look out for are your fish changing territories in the tank, as well as scratches and scrapes on their gills and injuries to their eyes. Illness: Aggression in Gouramis can sometimes be a sign of an illness either in themselves or of another fish. Either way, when a fish is aggressive, you should continue to watch them to try and identify if there could be an underlying cause. Treatment: Seperate the fish which is aggressive using net or mess for 3 days to a week and release once they calm down or change the environment like adding new plants or decorations and making changes to the existing one to make them feel like they are in new place. Add new fish which are bigger are aggressive alike so this fish calms down.