Dana

He died. The odd gasp so I've put him in a container of aquarium water and he's in the freezer. &c:ry For future reference, is there a more acceptable way? About to do a water change as the ammonia and nitrates have hit the roof.

My Gourami that I recently posted about, with pics of his damaged mouth and body, is floating upside down at the bottom of the tank. The others are attacking him, he's only just breathing. Advice please on the most humane way to remove him from the tank? My first loss. He was my favorite &c:ry

Brilliant. Thanks guys. I've googled, and the options were unlimited, and mostly US or UK based. Sophia, the loaches love the snails, but they don't seem to be keeping up with the lot that came in with the last lot of plants lol. Lazy toads lol.

The valid advice I've received on here for my phosphate issues (among other probs) has been to move away from flake food, and more towards live food. I have a 215ltr 4 Dwarf Gourami 6 young clown loach 4 ghost cats and Bob the bristle nose Aside from visiting the LFS to start up, is there any advice from current members in regards to breeding live food for a beginner? Any traps or things to avoid? Any things you wish you'd known about before you started? Every little piece of advice I get on here seems to be one stop closer to my tank recovering from goo and sick fish hell.

Cheers for your responses. LFS x 2 aren't that much of help re plants. I've ordered some Indian Fern of TM. Hopefully this lot turns up unlike the last 2 TM purchases.

Hmmmm, I asked several sources before getting them, and all said they'd be fine with territorial barriers, but why am I not surprised lol.

All appear to be male from my reading, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

The other 3 Red by danaj2009, on Flickr IMG_1134 by danaj2009, on Flickr The smallest of the 4 the end for Ira by danaj2009, on Flickr

I was of the understanding that male dwarfs have colour, and the females are smaller and brown? I believe all of mine are male.

They can if not allowed territories. My Dad kept Gourami for years (dwarf), and I never saw this. Only saw real aggression when there weren't enough visual barriers provided. Thought I'd provided that but perhaps not.

Yeah, read that but thanks. It must be food, and the decaying plants are a given. A bit of a vicious circle really. The tank kills the plants, the plants poison the tank. So, the shops haven't been of any help. Best non or low phosphate foods?

Thank you Sophia lol. Latest update... I called the council and had my mains flushed. Added Clearmax to the hood filter as advised by the rep, happily take further advice on this re removing phosphate. Appears to have had no impact. Tap water still reading 0 for cold, and .5 for hot water cylinder. 30% water changes every 4-5 days, incl gravel siphon and moving rocks. PH 7.8 (usual for this tank) Ammonia 0 No2 0 No3 40ppm (water change yesterday, about to do another after this reading) P04 2.5 (WTF!!!) Feeding once per day. I found a grey hair today....

They are dwarf, so all male. He is the largest, two are slightly smaller, and one is juvenile. They have clear areas for territory, although lacking in height through the center of the tank. Any suggestions to ease their aggression? I've had other suggestions of adding females. A) some say this would make it worse and B) near impossible to find female dwarfs

Yes, there are 4 of them in a 215 ltr with lots of plant coverage and caves. Never had issues prior to this. The other 3 are smaller than him.

Where are you based? I'm midst the same nightmare.

Same fish in September. Blue Gourami by danaj2009, on Flickr

Anyone know what's up with my Gourami? Given he's about 10 months old, but was fine a couple of days ago. Only change is the addition of an artificial plant this afternoon. He's still eating, but has wounds on his sides and his mouth has been ripped to shreds. His entire mouth is just a mash of skin and flesh. All the other fish appear fine, no white spots or ulcers. Just this boy.... Is he old and on his way out, or has he come down with something very quickly... Blue right side by danaj2009, on Flickr Blue mouth 2 by danaj2009, on Flickr Blue mouth by danaj2009, on Flickr

Oh yes, I know it's common to have algae to some degree. My problem is how much of it. It takes over everything. The plants rot within a few days regardless of type.

It's back. BBA spotted this morning. New plants are rotting, slime building. I'm collecting what ever rain water is available, I've added clearmax to the filter and have stopped using water from the hot water cylinder. Water changes twice per week, light and food limited. P04 still raised, PH near 8, all other levels within normal. I give up. I really just give up

Loaches are brilliant for snails. I have 6 clowns and watch them play amongst each other with snail shells lol. Clowns do grow, and I only have a 215 ltr, so as they grow, and other fish pass with age, i'll upgrade for my loaches as required.

Barbs can be nippy. I've seen them together, but I stuck to more peaceful communal fish just to be safe. My cats are happy as larry with Gourami and clown loaches.

What would you classed as undersized? I have 4, along with 6 loaches, 4 glass cats and a B/Nose in a 215 ltr.

Interesting that you can see the initial onset of bba in the first photo...that java didn't last long..

I love these guys, as my father kept them. They just feel like home. The LFS told me when purchasing, that i'd be lucky to get more than 8 months from a young fish. Is this correct? I ask as after the recent tank issues (as per my previous threads), I've found that Red has lost his colour. His blue is non existent and his red is very dull. This is him 4 months ago. Red by danaj2009, on Flickr Now, this is him. Poor boy has been through ammonia poisoning, now apparent phosphate issues, and never really recovered from the temporary home I set up while gutting the tank. WP_000950 by danaj2009, on Flickr WP_000936 (2) by danaj2009, on Flickr

Cheers, the tank was gutted as per earlier in the thread, the plants were already changed and I already have a b/nose.