Help with Giant Gourami rescue

[Adam Bunch]

So a friend of mine got divorced and had to give up all of his fish. I went over to see what he had and he was trying to re-home a white giant gourami. It's at least 18" and since I have a 240 gallon tank with just a few fish in it now I said I would take her. She has been getting increasingly aggressive towards her tank mates recently, and yesterday I had to force her to spit out my 12" pleco she was trying to eat tail-first. I think she may not be getting enough food, so I am looking for help understanding what to feed her. I have been giving her lettuce leaves, not sure how much I should give her and what I could supplement it with. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

With GG's, that what you generally get yourself into, most are this one, then you have the ones that aren't. I doubt it has anything to do with food.

 

[Wailua Boy]

They can be aggressive. Try algae wafers/cichlid pellets as a staple but I've fed my GG's all kinds of fruits, vegetables and water plants. Just try not to offer sugary fruits/veggies often but every couple weeks as a treat is fine. They are known to go on fasts in the wild and aquarium..... Its not unusual for them to not tolerate any tank mates but its seem once they get very large they mellow out but from 5in to 24in its a gamble(temperament wise)

 

[newworld]

I had a baby I raised to about 14"?, it was very aggressive I couldn't keep it with anything that couldn't hide/ swim away from, I had it in a 100 gallon tote......

 

[Dainbramage]

They will eat anything and a lot! Pellets with vegetables is great. Romaine, leaf, spinach. You name it. Beans, peas bananas, apples........ Don't give carrots! Will crap them right back out and plug your filter lol. A fish that size will eat a cup a day. I've raised several to 18 inches. They are very aggressive. Good luck putting anything with it. Bad attitude with size to back it up. Great pets by themself though! Very personable

 

[Adam Bunch]

how much lettuce is enough? 1 big leaf a day, or 2 or 4? even if her aggression isn't tied to hunger I want make sure I'm giving her enough

 

[Wailua Boy]

Lettuce is a good treat but be sure not to use it as a staple. Pond plants are good to feed daily if you have them around

 

[Wailua Boy]

edit

 

[Adam Bunch]

So I should feed her pellets and some lettuce? What kind of pellets do folks recommend. I think floating pellets will be an issue since I have two overflows that will just suck up the pellets.