Dwarf Gourami Death =[

[xamy_valox]

I've come down this morning to see one of my 3 male dwarf gouramis lying on the substrate. He was breathing, quite rapidly so I gave him a little shove to see if he would just get up but instead he went crazy and swam in like a circling motion like a dizzy swirl. He then floated back down to the bottom. I don't know if I was right but I decided the nicest thing was to euthanise him, especially as I don't want whether it is infecting the whole tank.
What could it be? As I look at the other 2, one looks very bloated, yet I haven't fed them since Saturday so it can't be through food. Could it be swim bladder? The one that's just died was normal though, no bloating or change in physical appearance at all.
I've only had these guys just over a week =[ and I did a water change yesterday.
Amy xx

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I've come down this morning to see one of my 3 male dwarf gouramis lying on the substrate. He was breathing, quite rapidly so I gave him a little shove to see if he would just get up but instead he went crazy and swam in like a circling motion like a dizzy swirl. He then floated back down to the bottom. I don't know if I was right but I decided the nicest thing was to euthanise him, especially as I don't want whether it is infecting the whole tank.
What could it be? As I look at the other 2, one looks very bloated, yet I haven't fed them since Saturday so it can't be through food. Could it be swim bladder? The one that's just died was normal though, no bloating or change in physical appearance at all.
I've only had these guys just over a week =[ and I did a water change yesterday.
Amy xx

Do you have your own test kit? If so, post a complete set of water results and it will help the experts on here answer your questions. Did you cycle the tank? How long have you had it? Any new additions?

Terry.

 

[xamy_valox]

I've had the tank running myself for about 2 months I think however it was given to me by my brother who had been running it for almost 4 years, I had his sponges and everything from the filter and so the tank was already cycled.
Yeah I have the API test kit, I'll do it in a bit (as I have to go out in a sec) and will post the results. The only new additions were the 3 dwarves. Any before that we're my German Blue Rams but that was a while a go now an they have been fine.
Since having this tank in the last say 2 weeks I've had 1 harlequin rasboras die (which I put down to old age) my betta (who had a very badly damaged mouth) and then this gourami. Please help =[
xx

 

[soybean]

If you've only had them a week and no other fish are unwell, they've probably brought it with them. I'd be letting the shop know.

 

[xamy_valox]

No other fish appear to be unwell. I've already rang the shop and they've said they only have a 48hr guarantee so it's out of their hands =\ Maidenhead!!!!!! I don't know why I bother going back there!

 

[soybean]

That's ridiculous. Three ill dwarfs suggests a big problem with their stock. Test your water to eliminate that, isolate the sick fish so they don't transmit illness, save a sample of your water in case they ask for one, do a big waterchange, and then kick backside.48 hrs is nothing, they should know better. Speak to the manager.

 

[ZoddyZod]

So you have 3 male DGs in your tank?

Are you aware that these fish do not like other males in their tank. Placing more than one in any tank is a risk. Could it not be possible that one of them was bullied to death by the other two? Now then weakest of those two could be under threat from the dominant fish.

Also, DGs are notorious for being unhealthy and fragile.

 

[xamy_valox]

I was told I'm fine to have multiple males as long as a female isn't in the tank. I've had no aggression issues with them whatsoever, they each had their space in the tank and have been fine.
I haven't got a spare filter, but I have a tank and a heater that I can put them other 2 in for now, will that be ok? As soon as I'm home I'm going to test my water as make sure it's not me. I'll try the shop again but I doubt I'll get anywhere, if another dies which is suspect will happen with the bloated one then its got to be a bad batch surely?

 

[soybean]

I wouldn't keep more than one male - you never know when one might snap. Males should really be kept alone or with two it three females, though even then you'll get ones who won't tolerate any others. Mine used to live happily with most fish, but now he has to live alone but for some young guppies - and they still get snapped at.

Do you have an air pump? If so you could stick a wodge of cycled sponge over the airstone, et voila, mini sponge filter.

I'd keep trying the shop. Yes dwarfs can be very sickly but I got mine, in my avatar, from an MA and he's perfectly healthy. If I bought ANY three fish from them and they all got sick within a week I would kick up a fuss. One would be classed as one of those things, three is obviously a problem. Preferably I'd take them back, dead, and ask to speak to the manager - on the shop floor.

As an alternative, try a male and two or three female honey gouramis.

 

[xamy_valox]

I wouldn't mind so much, but the shop isn't even local, its a motorway journey away and at present I have no car!!
I haven't got an air pump no =\ They seem to be acting fine other than staying very close to the surface. If I don't have a pump would it be better to keep them where they are and see how the hold out? And just keep up with big water changes every other day?
If they do hold out I might consider giving one away to my friend then if they are going to be incompatible. I'm so frustrated, Ive had such an awful day! I'm sick of rubbish customer service! Ive had a morning of it with my car, and now the fish shop are refusing to take any responsibility for these fish which are obviously ill for reasons out of my control! I've spoke to the manager and he has said the same and has also said there is no point in bringing the fish as I have euthanised it so apparently its now my fault its dead.
I'm giving up where they are concerned, just want to know what to do with the fish now. As it turns out my mom threw away the smaller tank so its going to have to be a plastic box that they go in with a heater. I know its not ideal but its all i have, which is better, in there or where they are now?

 

[Greg_DS]

R.E keeping 3 together, how big is your tank??

On the death the same thing happened to me, he was doing backwards loops and died the next day, that was around 4 weeks ago and his companion I bought from the same tank on the same day has been fine.

 

[xamy_valox]

125 litre is the tank size.
My brother has come to my rescue, he has a 25 litre tank with a mini pump which he is gonna bring to me now so I can quarantine the other guys.

Have just done my tests:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0
PH: 7.6

My PH seems to have shifted quite a bit, last time I tested it was around the 6.8 mark, other than that everything seems fine.
What would a high PH mean?

 

[ZoddyZod]

125 litre is the tank size.
My brother has come to my rescue, he has a 25 litre tank with a mini pump which he is gonna bring to me now so I can quarantine the other guys.

don't put them BOTH in there. I would seperate and keep one in the 125L. DG's are prone to a certain bacetrial infection that doesn't hop between species, so one of them should be safe for your community.

putting both in the 25L only heightens the risk of bullying.

 

[xamy_valox]

How do I know that it is that bacterial infection though? I don't want to leave one in there incase it is passable!
They are actually staying together, like right next to each other.

 

[ZoddyZod]

if no signs of aggression, then go for it, but keep a very close eye on them in the 25L.

Can you get a pic of how the 'infected' one looks? Might help identify the cause.