I have a M/F pair of Blue Gourami in a 30 gal tank. They usually live at the top of tank, behind the filter in the most densely planted portion. About a week ago my male, who is actually smaller than the female but when compared to the female appears to have the pointed sexing fins, went into hiding in the cave accessory at the bottom of the tank. (I'm wondering if perhaps both fish are actually female and this one is "playing" male.)

Haven't been able to get a decent pic of either of them.

Is it possible, if it is a male, he is building a bubble nest there? I'm worried about disturbing him if he is, but I thought they only build those at the top of the tank?

In reviewing the posts here, I see their current home probably has too much commotion for them. Lots of bubbles, guppies, etc.

I have a 20 gal, more heavily planted with much less water motion (i.e. Duckweed is growing well in there). Only houses four fry at the moment but has way more direct light as I use it to grow plants.

Should I move these two or leave them alone?

It's normal for females to be slightly bigger than males, but the male should be much more colourful (or at least brighter in colour.)

Gouramis are very shy fish, so it could be the fast swimming guppies that are bothering him. It could be the bubbles - although I've got an air stone in both my tanks and so far none of my gouramis are bothered by it... they actually swim through them oddly enough.

Where is the tank situated in the home? Sometimes the gouramis will become shy and hide a lot if the tank is in a busy area of the home where there is a lot of noise and movement by the tank.

I'm not sure if moving them is good or not.... I don't know if they would eat the fry... if the fry are small enough they could get eaten. Also, what ever the fry are, make sure they are not nippers, or they will nip the Gouramis feelers. (Maybe someone else could advise on moving the fish or leaving them?) Also, when you say "blue" gourami - is that the dwarf blue, or the regular blue? If it's the dwarf blue then the 20g will be big enough, but if they are Powder blues or 3 spot gouramis (which are blue) the 20g will probably be too small, as those types will get a bit larger. If they happen to be the larger blue type, the 20g may be ok if they are the only fish in the tank, or if you have small fish that are in another region (bottom dwellers for instance.)

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