Dwarf Gourami - In Trouble

[GibsonSmith]

Hello all,

My Dwarf Gourami is in big trouble. As you can see in this post: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/345116-tropical-tank-problems/ I was having a problem.

I have been treating the tank for 4 days now with Melafix, it seemed to be working. The red patch went clear then seemed to heal.

However, yesterday the Dwarf Gourami started acting quite lethargic, not really wanting to eat etc. Just had a look in the tank and he now has a new, larger red sore round his gill. He's also not swimming well or eating at all. To be honest, I dont think he's going to last the night

My questions are;

Can he be saved? If so, how? I can hit the pet stores for meds first thing in the morning.

If he can't be saved, should I put him out of his misery?

Thanks,


David

This is a picture of the original problem. The red blotch is a lot larger now.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Well, unfortunately he didnt make the night

 

[StoopidFish]

Thats a shame, sorry, I wasn't around last night to post any advice I could have offered

Was the blotch on him an external wound, or internal, possibly internal bleeding?

 

[GibsonSmith]

The first blotch simply looked like a scale had been removed, no bleeding but it was red.

The new one that appeared yesterday was much larger, about 3 times the size of the one in the picture, which started just below the old blotch and went under the gill.

It didnt look like internal bleeding but I am a newbie when it comes to these things, not even been keeping fish for a year.

Devastated now, I have spent a fortune on the tank, meds and of course fish and they are all, dying on me very frustrating when all my test kits (more money) say the water is almost perfect.

My father used to keep tropical fish, he literally just put tap water into the tank, warmed the water and put the fish in, he had two fish die over a year! Starting to think I am cursed.

If there is an infection in the water, what should I do? Start again? What do I do with the remaining fish?

 

[roadmaster]

The fish pictured are prone to irodovirus. Google.. Dwarf gourami disease, or irodovirus among Dwarf gouramis.Were it me,, and the fish has been removed,,I would maintain weekly maint and observe the remaining fishes.if other fishes begin to exhibit similar syptoms,I would remove,euthanize them.
If reamining fish don't appear to exhibit same symptoms, then after ten to fourteen days,,I might consider a honey gourami or Pearl gourami which are noted to be hardier species.
should you (heaven forbid) continue to lose fish,,i might consider tearing down the tank after disposing of currnt resident's and begin a new after srcubbing everything used in the tank and washing the gravel or boiling it if new substrate is not in the budget.

 

[StoopidFish]

^^^Good advice^^^

I hope you have no future issues. Good luck.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Thanks for the advice... never knew it would be this difficult to keep fish. Thank god i never went down the Marine route first.

I'll keep an eye on the remaining fish... tank looks so empty

Thanks,


D.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Just read an article on Dwarf gourami disease, interesting but upsetting stuff. The garden centre where I bought the Gourami from assured me they (i got two) would fit well into my community tank.

He was a self confessed expert so i trusted him. He never mentioned the issues raised in the article.

 

[StoopidFish]

Just read an article on Dwarf gourami disease, interesting but upsetting stuff. The garden centre where I bought the Gourami from assured me they (i got two) would fit well into my community tank.

He was a self confessed expert so i trusted him. He never mentioned the issues raised in the article.

yeah fishkeeping is harder than it seems.

But that means its extra rewarding when you get it right!!!

 

[GibsonSmith]

Think i'll be on here asking about potential problems with particular fish before i purchase from now on .

 

[StoopidFish]

Think i'll be on here asking about potential problems with particular fish before i purchase from now on .

Seems to be a good idea.

 

[-Craig-]

Both my Gourmis died in one week with this disease, I was going to put them to sleep as they were so bloated up and colourless but as i was going to i found them dead.