BikBok Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 well one of my dwarf gourami managed to wedge himself in a piece of driftwood. There's a small tunnel like cavity. It's a wonder he didn't drown. He had been there all night because when I went to bed I did see him in there but thought he was just hiding out and would come out by himself. My female betta swims in and out of there regularly as it's not a full tunnel just a hole in the wood. Anyway, this morning, With some effort I managed to free him but his head and underbelly is scraped. And dorsal fin looks a bit tatty from where he must have been struggling to free himself. The head is the worst, and is missing a patch of skin. I have male betta in a lightly salted 21L tank and thought the salt would be good for the gourami while he heals . I haven't put him in yet but I suspect they will not get on. Any advice what to do with the gourami ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 I agree that its not likely to be a good thing putting them together. Can you contain one of them or both of them within the tank so they can not get too close to each other. If they are both male they may fighter and if the gourami is female the male betta may still annoy it. You're not really going to know until you try it but it may be too have an alternative close at hand. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 I could probably separate them within the tank. The dwarf gourami is still in the main tank and has perked up since this morning and is now eating. I will see how he goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 pics of the injured fish the driftwood you can see below is the piece he got stuck in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 little salt and he'll be alright. as long as your water is nice and clean you won't have any thing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 Owch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 Owch! I know - silly fish! hope he doesn't try that again. He really was quite stuck and I thought I was going to kill him just trying to get him out. How about daily salt baths, as I'm not keen on putting salt in this tank because there's kuhli in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 How about daily salt baths, as I'm not keen on putting salt in this tank because there's kuhli in there. so? :lol: it'll be fine. really. you don't need a lot of salt. but if you really want a salt bath will be A-OK too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted June 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 UPDATE I'm quite pleased with how Elvis is healing, he's doing great and the head wound especially has improved heaps! I added a little bit of salt to the water and also gave a daily salt bath in a higher concentration for a few days, and added acriflavine to one of those. Now if he can just avoid getting the ICH that has manifested in my tank on another fish, he should be fine. Dorsal fin will take a bit longer to regenerate but he was putting it up today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 well done - he looks so much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted June 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 well he was starting to look almost back to normal. Wound on top was barely visible and the dorsal fins were repairing themselves. ... until ..... the STUPID FISH DID IT AGAIN!!! We got him out and he is all scratched and battered again but is swimming around happily this morning. Back to the extra water changes and salt baths which seemed to help last time. As for the driftwood , it's out of the tank and air drying. Then we will tunnel out the hole so it is big enough for him not to get stuck again. All i can say , is stupid fish! the other gourami has more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted June 17, 2010 Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 Perhaps it is time that you sat him down and had a wee talk with him about all the grief and aggravation he is causing you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 Perhaps it is time that you sat him down and had a wee talk with him about all the grief and aggravation he is causing you? Evidence of a mother right there :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 He's not being chased is he? I can't image why a fish would do it twice although I do believe their memory is about 3 seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted June 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 He's not being chased is he? I can't image why a fish would do it twice although I do believe their memory is about 3 seconds. He see's the kuhlis in there and think's there's food to be had! The kuhlis do sometimes take food in there. Anyway , it should be safer for him now as the opening is big enough for him to get out the other end. He is the dominant fish in the tank and does any chasing but usually just the other dwarf gourami at feeding time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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