Dwarf Powder Blue Gourami

[njnauticalnut]

My dwarf powder blue gourami has something on his left gill. I can't really tell what it is, it isn't red, it actually looks sort of like a bit of flesh hanging out of one of the little lines which is open on the side of his gill.

Does anyone know what this is? And how I should treat it? You can see the tank size and his tankmates in my sig.

I am also gonna post this in the fish emergencies forum, but thought as you all are gourami experts, Iad also post here.

Thanks.

 

[tekknocolor]

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but here is a link containing fish diseases. Check and see if your fish has symptoms of gill flukes ...

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10266

 

[njnauticalnut]

Thanks for the link. He is showing none of the symptoms of any of the diseases listed there. It is not gill flukes based on the definition and the picture.

It is on his gill, but not at the bottom of it, in the middle of it and there is a crack in the side of his gill and this small spot coming out of the crack. He is acting fine, just wanted to know if there is anything I should be doing for him. It may be a small wound, but it is not red.

 

[wuvmybetta]

It's an internal parasite They're somewhat frequent in gouramis lately with terrible sad endings. You need to treat with an anti-parasite med ASAP. Here's a related thread where I posted some links to parasites and another member has ofered the info that he has.
http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=46405

 

[njnauticalnut]

I have read through the thread from the link. Thanks. Though the spot does not really look like any of them, the fact that one dwarf gourami died after having him a few days (no spots on him) and the flame dwarf is dying as I write this (no spots on him either though today I have noticed a couple of almost holes in his tail fin but could be from the other fish fin nipping all day). Both gouramis that died, are dying seem swollen in the belly, but no other signs of it being dropsy.

I have to assume it is one of the parasites. The problem is which one and how do I treat it? Also is it contagious to the other fish in the tank? Should I quarantine the gourami? I have an empty 5 gallon that I could put the gourami in tonight once I get a new filter (the filter died last night)? He is showing no signs of stress, practically will eat from my hands, no labored breathing, no darting, no scratching or scraping on things, excellent appetite, just this spot.

I want to make sure I am treating with the correct antibiotic.

Thanks

 

[tekknocolor]

This makes me want to leave work, go home and check on my gourami! I hope you find what ails your fish and I hope you the best of luck. Keep us updated on his conditions!

 

[wuvmybetta]

It seems to not be as contagious as one would think. But if you have a quarantine tank then by all means,move him just as a precaution. I lost 2 dwarf blues to this and from my observation, it appears the parasite was eating it's way from the inside, out.
...from what I've seen and heard,it starts out like a pimple and bursts into a wound.

To treat it you'll need a med for parasites, I don't know name brands because I'm a natural remedy freak. I would treat it with a copper based mineral personally. Most over the counter fish meds that treat prasites are copper based anyway.

But is this even what you're dealing with? They could have an internal bacterial infection, since you've seen no open wounds or flicking. You must decide or diagnose which it is before you begin treatment. Have you seen any white poo?

 

[njnauticalnut]

Wuv,

Thank you.

I'll start from the beginning...

Tank fishless cycled 2 weeks ago was converting 5ppm of amonia in 24 hours. I added fish a week ago Saturday. The first neon blue dwarf gourami seemed okay at the lfs, but had labored breathing from the moment he entered the tank. I posted on here in chitchat and most folks thought it was stress. The amonia spiked a bit in my tank last week to .5ppm, but is now down to .1ppm. He ate maybe once or twice in the few days that I had him, but basically stayed in the plants or at the top of the tank in the dark. The day before he died, his belly seemed a bit swollen, but as I did not have him long, really couldn't tell if this was new.

The flame dwarf gourami has never had labored breathing. He also stayed in the plants or in one of the big holes in a rock most of the time. Occasionally would go over to the gasping neon blue in an almost protective way. Stayed close when he was dying. The flame has rarely eaten and today I found him laying on his side on the bottom and then he would swim to the top and stay up there under the filter. He is now again in the corner and is on his way out, barely breathing.

The powder blue dwarf gourami named Blue has always been social and eats at every feeding. He spends most of his time swimming around. He had a mishap last week when I was doing a water change. I used my little siphon vs my python and was emptying the water into two buckets. I walked away for a minute to empty the bucket and Blue got himself inside the siphon. I got him out and did not notice any tears or anything from that episode. H ehid for awhile with his tailfin clamped, but in a very short while he no longer seemed stressed and was back swimming about and coming to the top when I fed them and even coming to the front when I approached the tank. Today was when I noticed the spot on his gill. He is showing no other symptoms and has shown no symptoms previously.

Based on reading the links on Chilodonella, Argulus, and A.Invadans, at this point that does not seem to be his diagnosis as he is not presenting the symptoms mentioned.

It could be skin or gill flukes though it is not red, no noticeable mucus, and he has no labored breathing. It may make sense to at least give him salt baths. My concern is putting him in a small tank all alone may stress him out. Are gouramis okay by themselves? I want to make the right decision and do not want to jump to a hasty conclusion.

Really appreciate your help.

 

[njnauticalnut]

Oh and almost forgot have not noticed any white poo, actually have not noticed any poo from Blue!

 

[wuvmybetta]

hmmm

If your fishless cycle was turning over 5ppm's of ammonia in 24 hours, it should be more than healthy enough to feed off of the ammonia of just a few fish You shouldn't have any ammonia readings at this point, that's the purpose of a fishless cycle. Did you do a large water change after the cycle completed,before adding fish?

The behaviour you've mentioned points to possible ammonia/nitrite or nitrate poisoning? What do the nitrite and nitrate test at?

 

[njnauticalnut]

I did a 25-30% water change before I added the fish as the readings were Amonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm and nitrate 20ppm.

The nitrites have remained at 0ppm as have the nitrates since the cycle was complete with that last water change before adding the fish. The nitrates are not rising because once the amonia went up to .5, I started doing daily 20% water changes. I am not sure why there was a small spike in the amonia, makes no sense. The amonia is currently at .1 so it is a very trace amount and I am hoping by tomorrow for it to be 0. It could have possibly been amonia poisoning, but not nitrite or nitrate. Could this have anything to do with the powder blue's gill problem?

 

[wuvmybetta]

I'm not sure if that is exactly what is causing deaths and problems. I wonder if they're false readings, sometimes certain dechlorinators will fudge up your results for a day or two.

I'm really hesitant to recommend that you treat, that's completely up to you.You say that overall he seems well. The other gouramis deaths don't sound like the symptoms of parasites The bump you've mentioned is the only thing that alarms me.

If it seems to worsen you'll have to treat. If you notice it getting bigger don't wait ,move him out of the tank and give him some meds .Moving him won't stress him if you do it quickly. Set the tank up and fill it with water from the other tank and move him right into it. Use a handful or two of gravel or some media from the filter, then stay on top of your water changes and pamper him. Maybe add a little bit of salt.

 

[njnauticalnut]

Great minds think alike... I went to the lfs and picked up a copper-based medication for him and decided to only use if I need it, but I'd prefer to have it on hand. I also got a new filter as the filter on the small tank blew last night. That tank should still be cycled as less than 24hours without a filter shouldn't cause a major cycle. I am going to put in a bit of amonia to continue to feed the bacteria.

The gourami is still the same. The spot actually looks more like a cut than a growth, but not red at all. I'll keep a close eye on him and treat if it gets larger or looks worse or emore irritated or if another one develops.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Right on
You've got it under control. Let's hope that you're just paranoid from the other gouramis dying on you and it is just a scratch

 

[njnauticalnut]

A quick update, Blue is still doing fine, no change in the fleshy sore, not red at all, not larger, but not smaller either. He is eating, actively swimming around, not flashing or scraping. So I am continuing to watch him and see if anything changes, like hopefully this thing healing! Thanks again.