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My Sick Dwarf Gourami...


Funkytown

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Hi Guys.

I was doing so well. The tank cycled fine, ammonia and Nitrites returned to 0, I was doing partial water changes every week. pH has been around 7. Temps have been a bit hot at around 28-29, but I haven't worried too much about it...

I added a bristlenose and a few platties to my Aquaone 380 last week, as the last batch of fish, joining their 3 corys and one dwarf gourami tank mates, and I noticed that the dwarf gourami didn't seem to be eating as much. I figured the platties were just beating him to it, and I overfed them before anyway, so I didn't worry too much. That said, he hasn't looked as happy having to share his space with the boisterous platties.

Yesterday I decided to add some zuchini (sp?) to the mix, to compensate for any food the the Gourami was missing out on. I read that they like it, and I figured that a wee chunk would give him some sustanence that he could nibble on at his liesure. I washed it and cut the skin off. There was limited interest, but some.

This morning I went to feed them, and noticed he was "facing" up. He's still swimming around and giving it a go, but he doesn't spend much of his time in the normal horizontal fashion. He does all his swimming with his "side" fins (can't remember what they're called) and doesn't get his tail into it at all. His back looks a little crooked...

I don't have a quarantene tank. Any thoughts? What should I do? Do these fish recover from stuff like this, or is it best to pull the plug on him?

Also, a couple weeks ago I noticed a grey-silver patch on one side of his "cheeks". It looked like a bruise/burn of some kind, but he looked otherwise fine, so I didn't sweat it. It's faded somewhat now, but is still there.

:(

Thanks, Brian

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Other people don't seem to have problems but whenever I tried to put dwarf gouramis into a community tank they got bullied. I found them very timid whereas others claim they are stroppy.

Sounds like he has problems though but not sure I would pull the plug yet. Have you got a breeding net you could separate him into to give him a chance to recover?

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Thanks Caryl,

No, no breeding net. He was one of the more dominant ones from the tank when I bought him, and he's pretty good at keeping away those that get too close, and none of the other fish in the tank pay him much mind. I don't think he's being harrassed...

I did a big water change just in case it was something in the water, and he "seemed" to perk up a bit. I'll just see how he goes.

Any other thoughts...?

Brian

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Any other thoughts...?

Are you sure it "is" sick...?

Ok... the story so far is that you went to the shop and someone scooped this poor little guy out of his tank, after perhaps chasing him around for who knows how long... then you bring it home and plop it into a strange environment, where it found itself being harrassed by these other fish, so as a result it has gone off its food and is perhaps looking lethargic.

Its probably thinking.. "Where did all my mates go"

Try getting a mate for it.

It may just help.

Bill.

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Thanks Bill,

It's been in the tank about a month, and it was looking GOOD a week ago. It doesn't look like it's able/willing to swim properly now, and can't stay horizontal, and "faces" up all the time now. It used to sleep in the top corner of the tank, now it's sleeping on the ground. In fact, that's where it's spending most of it's time now, as it gets some assitance staying upright by resting its tail on the substrate...

I'm no expert, but it *looks* sick to me. It did swim up to get some food this morning. Does anyone else think it might just be lonely? Are you suggesting I get a female?

It IS still kickin' though, and doesn't seem to have deteriorated further. Maybe you're right.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Thanks,

Brian

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He is in a ten gallon tank along with a platy, a balloon mollie, a neon tetra and another dwarf gourami. All the fish seem to get along fine and don't bother each other. The sick gourami isn't showing any outward signs of being ill. His fins look fine and I'm not seeing any ich on him. He does seem to have lost some of his reddish color, however. Right now he is actually upright, with his tail on the rocks of the bottom of the tank but he is not moving. He doesn't seem to be gasping for breath but at the same time he is not putting much effort into breathing.

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Try message broad, Diseases. I have a posting there titled White around mouth. There is a link on the reply I received that migth help. Sorry could'nt cut and paste link as I'm only a timber worker and my one finger is getting sore typing.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Sometimes its due to feeding everyday, you can only feed your fishes once every two day no matter how much fish you've got. Their stomach are the same size as their eyes so you can figure out how much to feed them. By feeding htem everyday the water become toxicated and parasites grow too quickly and so you fishes usually developed swptons and die... :D

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