I have a Kissing Gourami who has started "kissing" my larger 3" Silver Dollar. The Silver Dollar has discoloration/fading spots on each side (towards his head). Can a gourami do that kind of damage? It's very recent, I only noticed it two days ago, but it's really pestering my poor silver dollar. Anyone else have this problem?
Gourami "kissing" Silver Dollar
- Thread starter marybethbell
- Start date
Kissing gouramies are very aggressive. That behavior is not friendly--it is violent, attempting to keep another fish from it's territory, or kill it. Seperating the fish, or moving them to a larger system will be your best options.
When I came home today, I realized what I was dealing with. These fish have been co-habitating for several months without incident. I think the two gouramies ganged up on the one Silver Dollar and tore him apart. He's still alive, and was visibly relieved as soon as I removed the G's. But they tore his skin down to the flesh on both sides. I feel awful. I had no idea. I believe you or someone else here mentioned ignoring the LFS. Well, I'm convinced. They advised these G's should be companiable. The Silver Dollar is my favorite fish of them all. He is a BEAUTIFUL glimmering silver. Is there anything I can do to help him now?????
just leave him and let his body do the repairing, or use melafix, which should speed up the process.
Thank goodness - there's hope! I may try the melafix to help him out a bit if it will make him feel better. Thank you so much for your advice. Darter thanks you too! 
I'll definately be looking in for advice BEFORE buying more fish!
I'll definately be looking in for advice BEFORE buying more fish!
LMOUTHBASS
My hypocrisy goes only so far
ok a couple of things i want to mention -
1 - silver dollars are schooling fish and very nervous at best they really need to be in a small school of about 6 to be comfortable
2 - being that silver dollars are fast fish certainly quicker than a gourami a healthy silver dollar would not sit there and allow your gouramies to beat on him
3- the gouramies are prob doing this because they notice they fish is weaker than them because it may not be a healthy fish -either from stress, disease, water conditions etc
i had this happen to an angel fish once - he was fine living with everyone then all of the sudden fish started kissing his sides he lost his slime coat, color, appetite and was dead within 72 hrs -
isolate your SD either to a new tank or with a divider n then use melafix but make sure there is adequate air flow - (air stone or good filtration)
goodluck
1 - silver dollars are schooling fish and very nervous at best they really need to be in a small school of about 6 to be comfortable
2 - being that silver dollars are fast fish certainly quicker than a gourami a healthy silver dollar would not sit there and allow your gouramies to beat on him
3- the gouramies are prob doing this because they notice they fish is weaker than them because it may not be a healthy fish -either from stress, disease, water conditions etc
i had this happen to an angel fish once - he was fine living with everyone then all of the sudden fish started kissing his sides he lost his slime coat, color, appetite and was dead within 72 hrs -
isolate your SD either to a new tank or with a divider n then use melafix but make sure there is adequate air flow - (air stone or good filtration)
goodluck
Good quality water will also help the healing process. Daily water changes will certainly help and not hinder the healing process.
Good water quality is basic of course. But I have recently used Melafix on my adolescent Angelfish who was torn up by a pearl gourami(promptly returned to LFS). I treated him for 8 days and it did wonders. He is almost completely healed in that short of time. And he looked so pathetic at first it made me feel terrible.
I'm very sad to say he died. I've relegated the KG to another tank for the time being. I can't decide whether to try the LFS to see if they would do a trade, or keep them to themselves. I wasn't ready to start another big tank, and my husband said he never did like them. I'll be getting two or three more Silver Dollars to keep the one happy. Thanks for all the advice.