http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=dominant-thick-lip-gourami#1 Hello everybody, I am new on this forum. I have purchased a 60 liter aquarium and following the advice of the shop I picked 3 sucker fish, 3 Marbled hatchet fish, 2 guppies and a couple of Thick lip gouramis as I was told by the shop they had to be in couple. Fine. My problem is that the male gourami is extremly dominant and this morning the female died . Since I've had them, the male built a nest twice. I thought it was a normal behavior to protect the eggs from other fish by chasing them away. But this "aggressive" behavior has persisted even when no eggs are present : not tolerating other fish in "his perimeter", chasing them away when I am feeding them. I went back to the store asking for some advice thinking maybe introducing another fish or another couple of gouramis would calm him a bit . The vendor told me it was tough luck that I had a dominant fish and I shouldn't introduce more of that kind with the risk of having him to become even more aggressive but I was worrying for the female. This morning the female died after she's been isolating herself in a corner behind a plant for a few days. I checked her but she didn't have any marks of attacks. Would you have any advice for me? Should I get rid of the male gourami? Should I leave him single in the aquarium? Should I get him a new partner? Thanks for your help. Florence Florence 2008-12-12 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=dominant-thick-lip-gourami#2 Gouramis are very unpredictable, I have 2 males in one tank with no problems but other people have nothing but trouble with them. If your male keeps nest building then he will be aggressive and protective with it. It is sometimes best to introduce the female when he has finished building and then remove her after they have spawned, if you are not interested in breeding them I would not add another female at all. mickey 2008-12-12 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=dominant-thick-lip-gourami#3 Mickey is right. You have to keep an eye on new fish you put in also. With an aggressive fish in the tank, his mates might die from stress! PetZoneSanDiego 2008-12-12 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=dominant-thick-lip-gourami#4 I am afraid my gourami will have to stay single for the rest of his life then since I am not interested in breeding :D Thanks for the replies. Florence 2008-12-13