Chocolate Gourami

[RMP]

I'm hoping there is a gourami expert out there who can help me with chocolate gouramis. I recently set up a new tank, and two days after I set it up, the first fish I put into it was the chocolate gourami. Now, I realize that was a dumb move. He came down with ick shortly thereafter. My question is this:

I have read chocolates are very susceptible to ich. That being said, with ammonia, nitrate and nitrate at zero during the time I had them (API test), what stress was present to give them ich? They are in R/O water, hardness is around 2gh. PH around 6.4. Lots of driftwood, the water is yellow.

Rather, a better question, how can I make sure that in a month when I get a few more chocolate gouramis for my then-cycled tanks, how can I make sure the parameters are such that this fish does not get ich?

In a sense, I set this tank up with the intention of holding chocolates as the centerpiece. I am off to a very bad start.

Trying to understand,
Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Mcbenthy]

I'm hoping there is a gourami expert out there who can help me with chocolate gouramis. I recently set up a new tank, and two days after I set it up, the first fish I put into it was the chocolate gourami. Now, I realize that was a dumb move. He came down with ick shortly thereafter. My question is this:

I have read chocolates are very susceptible to ich. That being said, with ammonia, nitrate and nitrate at zero during the time I had them (API test), what stress was present to give them ich? They are in R/O water, hardness is around 2gh. PH around 6.4. Lots of driftwood, the water is yellow.

Rather, a better question, how can I make sure that in a month when I get a few more chocolate gouramis for my then-cycled tanks, how can I make sure the parameters are such that this fish does not get ich?

In a sense, I set this tank up with the intention of holding chocolates as the centerpiece. I am off to a very bad start.

Trying to understand,
Thanks,
Ryan

Hi Ryan,

Stress wise, being netted, pulled out of water, poured into a bag, put into a car/bus etc, transported miles to a new box, (acclimatised at all?), poured into a new area, on display. Seems like quite a stressful experience

On top of that, gouramis are very sensitive to poor water conditions, so even though the kit may say you have no ammonia or nitrites, the small amout that is present and building won't help things!

I would suggest that you post in the nebies forum and the tropical discussion forum and see if you can't get some conditioned media off of somebody. Where abouts are you based? If you're near the stoke area, feel free to pop over and grab some well conditioned media from my tank

Also, be aware that Ich is always going to be present, and I would expect it to flair any time there is a significant stress put on the system so it is.

ALSO; post a few times in response to this to try and get your post count up to 10, that way you can send and recieve personal messages

ps. welcome to forum, best of luck on your journey to becoming a better fish keeper

 

[RMP]

The tank may still be cycling though i added media from an established tank. Have some plants.

Tested water last night ammonia nitrates and nitrites all zero.

At this point i really dont know the source of the stress.

I had the opportunity to add another chocolaye gourami and he got ick overnight. All this while i am currently treating for it! How could it spread? None of the other fish have it now.

I even switched to AP quick cure.

Thanks for offering media. I am in the new york city area.

Could it be the driftwood i added ? I washed it but did not boil. Maybe it released terrible bacteria.

I have also done about 3 30% water changes in the past 2 weeks coinciding with the treatment schedules. Maybe the 85f temp is stressing out the chocolates?

I should add the water should be perfect for chocolates with pure ro water in tank mixed with a little well water for minerals.