Are three spot gouramis aggressive fish? Some people say that they are, while others claim that they are quite docile. So, what is the truth? In this post, we will explore the aggression levels of three spot gouramis and try to answer this question once and for all. Stay tuned!
What are Three Spot Gouramis?
The three spot gourami ( Trichogaster trichopterus) is a popular aquarium fish, originally native to South Asia. The scientific name of the species roughly translates into “beautiful nets of curved lines” in English.
However, their large spots and bright colors are what make them most attractive to aquarium keepers. There are two color varieties of the fish, giving it the common names that include “gold” and “blue.” The species is also pretty big, typically reaching up to six inches in length.
The Fish’s Aggressive Nature: Are Gouramis Really So Scary?
Most aquarists claim that, while three spot gouramis are not actual “fish-eaters,” they can become aggressive at times. This is especially the case with smaller specimens, but even large ones may become nippy from time to time.
A common example of this behavior is when one fish invades another’s sleeping space and starts poking the other one. This is especially common when there are several gouramis in a tank and they already know each other’s boundaries (in other words, when the fish has established its “territory”).
In such cases, if you notice your fish behaving like this, we recommend that you take steps to prevent any possible injuries before something more serious happens. This means that you should move the nipper to a separate tank and give it time to calm down.
If all goes well, after a couple of days, you can release the fish back into its original tank. However, in some cases, this may lead to another round of aggression when the fish returns – in which case it may be best to give up on the whole idea and either get rid of one of the fish or put all the specimens in a separate tank.
The Fish’s Docile Nature: Three Spots Can Be Tricky To Live With…
On the other hand, there are also aquarists who claim that three spot gouramis are not very aggressive at all. The truth is that gouramis are timid fish by nature, and when kept in groups they can become quite docile (even with other tank mates).
This means that if you keep the fish in a big enough aquarium (for example, along with other peaceful species), you should not worry about aggression. However, if you decide to keep just a single specimen in a tank, it may start showing aggression after all – so be sure to watch out.
The Conclusion: Are Three Spot Gouramis Safe For Your Aquarium?
Based on these arguments above, we can conclude that three spot gouramis are not aggressive fish per se – that is if they are kept in groups and well fed. However, when you decide to put just a single specimen in an aquarium, it may become aggressive toward other fish and even their own kind.
When this happens, we recommend that you do not waste your time and move the individual to another tank or give up on keeping the fish altogether.
Thank you for reading this post. Please, share your opinion about these fish and your experience if you ever kept them in the comments section below.
