Gourami died, other one not looking good

[steelo]

Hi everyone,

I recently completed a fishless cycle of my 45 gallon aquarium and stocked it with 12 neons, 6 rasboras and 2 gouramis. During the first 2 weeks, the gouramis seemed to be doing great, they were active and would swim up to the top during feedings. Well, I've noticed both became more and more lethargic and they no longer care to come up for food. I lost one of them last week and the other just continues to hide inside of a log. I'm afraid he's just starving himself to death. All of the other fish seem to be doing great and are very active. The rasboras seem to hog all of the food and since the remaining gourami doesn't seem to care to eat, I fear he's not getting anything.

I've been changing about 40% of the water every week and levels should be perfect. I've also read that they need shade and I think the log provides pretty good hiding spaces. I have the light on a timer to come on when I wake up for work around 7 and turn off around 6 pm. I've shortened their daylight hours hoping it will give them more rest - Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Colin_T]

Test the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. If there is any ammonia or nitrite, or a nitrate reading above 20ppm, do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day until the levels are 0.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

---------------------------
Gouramis need floating plants and Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is the best plant for them. It floats on the surface and grows rapidly. If you get too much you can plant it in the substrate.

---------------------------
11 hours of light per day is fine and not causing the problem.

---------------------------
What sort of gouramis are they?

Can you post a picture of them?

If they are dwarf gouramis (Trichogaster lalius) or any of their colour varieites, the fish could have the Iridovirus.

 

[steelo]

Test the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. If there is any ammonia or nitrite, or a nitrate reading above 20ppm, do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day until the levels are 0.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

---------------------------
Gouramis need floating plants and Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is the best plant for them. It floats on the surface and grows rapidly. If you get too much you can plant it in the substrate.

---------------------------
11 hours of light per day is fine and not causing the problem.

---------------------------
What sort of gouramis are they?

Can you post a picture of them?

If they are dwarf gouramis (Trichogaster lalius) or any of their colour varieites, the fish could have the Iridovirus.

Hi Colin,

Yes, they are dwarf Gourami's. Tested water - nitrites 0, ammonia 0, nitrates 10.

 

[steelo]

Test the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. If there is any ammonia or nitrite, or a nitrate reading above 20ppm, do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day until the levels are 0.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

---------------------------
Gouramis need floating plants and Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is the best plant for them. It floats on the surface and grows rapidly. If you get too much you can plant it in the substrate.

---------------------------
11 hours of light per day is fine and not causing the problem.

---------------------------
What sort of gouramis are they?

Can you post a picture of them?

If they are dwarf gouramis (Trichogaster lalius) or any of their colour varieites, the fish could have the Iridovirus.

I went to the LPS a few weeks ago, but they did not carry any floating plants. I do have a few other live plants that I've seen the gourami nibble on. Now, it just hides inside of the log 95% of the time. The fish is getting quite thin but no noticeable sores or marks on it.

 

[trash.binh91]

Could it be iridovirus?

 

[steelo]

Could it be iridovirus?

I don't think so, from what I understand it causes really nasty sores. The fish 'looks' normal, it's just losing weight because it refuses to come out from hiding.