Gourami - Close To Euthanizing

[lennifer]

I've got a gourami that's been steadily going downhill. It started becoming listless, and hanging around near the top of the tank gasping a few weeks ago. I assumed there was an oxygen issue but did a water test on all the usual factors and everything was fine, and in addition all the other fish are showing absolutely no problems. Since then it's just got worse and the last few days doesn't seem to be able to do much other than lie in one position, not moving and gasping. Also it's slightly swollen... but I've seen much worse on another fish which had dropsy once (and recovered), so I don't think it's that. We were about to euthanize but I figured I'd try a forum for any suggestions first. Unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank if it turns out that it needs treating with a medication separately from other fish. Any thoughts, or is it just time to put it out of its misery? The tank's due a water change, so I'll do that tomorrow but if it shows no signs of improving after that, I don't really have any ideas as I can't work out what the problem is.

Tank details: 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, 20-30 nitrate, 30-40 litre. Other fish include 5 danios. ph is quite high, but has always been high as it's just my tap water. Only recent change was newly added plants a couple months ago (though that was a little while before fish started showing symptoms).

 

[DJH584]

Is this a dwarf gourami? If so, from what I have read, they are not as hardy as they once used to be and their immune systems are weaker.
They are, apparently, susceptible to iridovirus as is one of the other gourami species. A report I read said that 22% of dwarf gouramis imported to Australia were infected with this virus. It is fatal and also from what I have read there is not a cure for it.
As regards water PH, again from what I have read, this really should not be higher than 7.0 and no more than 7.5.

We had two of them. One was bullying the other and that second one showed the signs that your is. We had them in water with a PH of 8.0.
If I had know then what I know now, we would never have bought them.

One was returned to the LFS as fit as a fiddle. I will leave it to your imagination as to what course of action I had to take with the other one. Suffice to say I was not a happy bunny for a good two to three days afterwards.

Hopefully someone else here will be able to assist you to rescue your fish - I sincerely hope they do.
If not, then I think you know what you may have to do.
Good luck.

Regards

David

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Sounds something very similiar to what i went through a little while back..
Here is the thread and it's answers to what happened to me---> http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/390353-euthanasia/page__p__3280135__fromsearch__1#entry3280135

In the end though, it was 2 short, sharp knocks with the blunt end of a wallpaper stripper tool that done the job.

Terry.

 

[mhancock]

I've got a gourami that's been steadily going downhill. It started becoming listless, and hanging around near the top of the tank gasping a few weeks ago. I assumed there was an oxygen issue but did a water test on all the usual factors and everything was fine, and in addition all the other fish are showing absolutely no problems. Since then it's just got worse and the last few days doesn't seem to be able to do much other than lie in one position, not moving and gasping. Also it's slightly swollen... but I've seen much worse on another fish which had dropsy once (and recovered), so I don't think it's that. We were about to euthanize but I figured I'd try a forum for any suggestions first. Unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank if it turns out that it needs treating with a medication separately from other fish. Any thoughts, or is it just time to put it out of its misery? The tank's due a water change, so I'll do that tomorrow but if it shows no signs of improving after that, I don't really have any ideas as I can't work out what the problem is.

Tank details: 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, 20-30 nitrate, 30-40 litre. Other fish include 5 danios. ph is quite high, but has always been high as it's just my tap water. Only recent change was newly added plants a couple months ago (though that was a little while before fish started showing symptoms).

It may be worth looking into Dwarf Gourami Disease (if it is a dwarf), if that is the problem then there is little that you can do about it other than not replacing the fish with more dwarf gourami as the disease may be in the tank. I lost mine for this reason by buying an infected fish from LFS, and could not find a definitive answer as to how long the disease would stay in the tank other than disinfecting it and cycling all over again.

 

[lennifer]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I hadn't heard of this dwarf gourami iridovirus disease but the symptoms (except for the lesions - none I can see on my fish) do sound very similar. Sounds like he's a goner then. I'm just surprised it's hanging on in there so long! Also, surprised it took so long for symptoms to appear as we've had this fish for probably at least 6 months now. Would that tie in with this disease? And can I assume that the other fish should be ok and not effected by the disease? It's good to know I should avoid anymore dwarf gourami for the near future though...

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I hadn't heard of this dwarf gourami iridovirus disease but the symptoms (except for the lesions - none I can see on my fish) do sound very similar. Sounds like he's a goner then. I'm just surprised it's hanging on in there so long! Also, surprised it took so long for symptoms to appear as we've had this fish for probably at least 6 months now. Would that tie in with this disease? And can I assume that the other fish should be ok and not effected by the disease? It's good to know I should avoid anymore dwarf gourami for the near future though...

I had mine for 7 months before he showed any signs of ill health. It maybe better for him to put him out of misery, but that's purely personal opinion. What you should also do is keep a close eye on your water tests for a while SHOULD he be a goner anytime soon, remembering to keep your water extra clean, just in case.

Terry.

 

[lennifer]

Yes I'm sure we will be putting him out of his misery shortly. I just wanted to doublecheck with some fellow fishkeepers about what he might have. Plus last night when we tried to catch him to do just that he was zipping all round the tank to get away, so I figured maybe he had some more life left in him yet!

Does anyone think it's at all possible for this virus to have been transmitted by the plants I bought in December? It's a lot more recent than when we originally bought the fish, and I believe they were imported from Singapore. I'm guessing it's unlikely... but just thought I'd ask.

 

[gforce17]

I've lost 3 male Dwarfs over the past 6 months - beautiful fish, but when they succumb to the disease there's nothing you can do to save them. Each of mine had no outward physical signs of illness at all. The female I've got left is in good health at the moment but you never know when the disease is going to strike. Hopefully it won't. Good luck!