Gourami Breathing

[jr1104]

Don't know if this is the right forum for this, but it doesn't seem to be an emergency. I have a 2 1/2 foot tank, and it has a couple of Moonlight Gouramis in it (along with other fish). I have a bit of slate leaning against the back of the tank as part of the decorations, and I have recently noticed that one of my gouramis is staying behind there a lot. It also seems to be breathing very fast, at least compared to the other fish it is. Is this normal?

 

[WILDER]

No, need to look at your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, could be parasites but gouramis are more prone to bacterial infections, as his tummy swollen up, and has his colour darkened or gone pale.

 

[jr1104]

I have checked Ph and Ammonia, Ph is between 6.5 and 7, which is what it has always been, and ammonia is at 0. I can't do any of the others without new tests. Also, it's tummy isn't swolen up. I have just noticed now that the other gourami sometimes chases him around the tank, then when finished he will go back under the slate. His colour is slightly darker, although I don't know if this is because of shadow or not.

 

[WILDER]

I would get your water tested fast, for now i would recommend a water change.
Darkening in colour can be an indication of a bacterial infection, plus they can heavy breath as well.
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.

 

[jr1104]

I have found tests for the Nitrate and Nitrite, and according to the charts they are both within safe levels. It seems to be fine when it goes to the toilet, atleast it's the same as the other fish. I have done a partial water change within the last day, and I cleaned the water with the correct chemicals like normal, so I don't think that changed anything.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I have found tests for the Nitrate and Nitrite, and according to the charts they are both within safe levels. It seems to be fine when it goes to the toilet, atleast it's the same as the other fish. I have done a partial water change within the last day, and I cleaned the water with the correct chemicals like normal, so I don't think that changed anything.

What types of fish do you have in the tank and how many? Is the tank planted at all and if so how much roughly(i.e. just a couple of odd plants here and there, or some really densly planted areas, or the hole tank etc)? How many galoons/litres is it exactly do you know?
Hiding a lot can be a sign of stress, gouramis can be difficult to stock with other fish and particually each other, they are slow but can be agressive, and tend to be targets of fish prone to nipping.

 

[Neal]

You can try to increase aeration, as all my fish were breathing heavily and at the top of the tank, and luckily I clicked straight away and inserted an airstone and then they were fine!
Regards,

Neal

 

[jr1104]

The airation part I have already done, since I was also noticing all my fish were breathing fast. I look at my filter and found it wasn't pumping any air because of a blockage. I have now fixed that and all my fish are fine, except this gourami. Me and some friends have narrowed the problem down to stress, probably from bullying. I'm either going to get another gourami, to stop the aggressivness in this one, or I'll sell my gourami to my friend. I don't want to let him go, as they were a good pair, but this bullying has just started recently. Any idea why?