Dwarf Gourami Update: Good News!

[LilMuppet]

The Gourami has Tetra Prima (Granular Food) and Tetra Min (Flake Flood). I feed them once a day in the evening. He lies on the bottom flat out and now there are some visable marks because he also will go along the floor with his mouth to balance. I don't see the point in your euthanasia comment, I've already said it would be a last resort if he was no longer fighting, so please don't suggest I'd do it just for the sake of it, I love the fish.

 

[LilMuppet]

Managed to get a shot of him when he's just hoovering, when he swims he's not 'balanced'.

 

[-germ-]

Sorry, no offence intended....

 

[lilfishie]

keep him in shallow water for a few days, fast him then try the pea again, worked well for my betta

 

[LilMuppet]

There is no way I could separate the Gourami from the other fish, our other tank is in use.

 

[lilfishie]

could you get a plastic breeder? leave the bottom in and instantly shallower and you make sure he get the pea no the other fish

 

[LilMuppet]

At the moment I'm pretty stuck with my parents away and exams going on (Friday & Monday). I could feed them when the Gourami is near the bottom, so he doesn't get any food this evening (or very little) and then give him some peas tomorrow before my afternoon exam. That way he's almost had nothing for 48 hours. (Yesterday evening he only got half a piece of granular food as he realised too late it was feeding time) When I fed him some peas the other day I was quite successful in directing it 'his' way, quite strange for him as he normally doesn't like to be near fingers!

 

[*Fishkies*]

Also you could try using a turkey baster, and suck up the peas, if you mush them up a bit. This would work well for the food too. Just suck it up with the turkey baster and then put it in the tank near him and squirt it back down.
Turkey Baster...It's like a syringe. I find it very convient for feeding sick fish sometimes. I have smaller ones though.

Good Luck!

 

[LilMuppet]

Thanks for that idea, got one to hand so will try using that.

He had some of the mushed up peas this evening as he was coming to the surface and his trust in me seems to be growing, as he isn't darting away from my fingers.

 

[LilMuppet]

This morning the Gourami is swimming correctly again! Seems like the peas finally worked. His colours are good, but above them and around his mouth look like they've suffered from him being on the floor.

Hopefully this is the start of a full recovery and him being nicer to me in the future.

 

[WILDER]

How does his mouth look.

 

[LilMuppet]

The best thing to compare it to is like when we get dry skin and it starts to come off a little like thread. He's eating ok but still not quite balanced.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Awe glad to hear he's finally doing better! That's great news!

As for his mouth, sounds like that may be from laying in the stones and being ruffed up in them.