Help - Gourami Sick

[charlie_em]

Bought three gourami on monday. One honey and two dwarf.

On thursday evening I noticed my stripey gourami had a discloured (white) patch on his side. I immediately put in an generic fungus control medicine as it was the only thing I had to hand.

By thursday night the discoloured patch was fraying/peeling around the edges and on Friday it had some red in the middle. Today it is double the size and is extremely sore looking. I've been checking and nothing seems to be attacking him (the only other things in the tank are three black mollies, neons and the other two gourami).

What can I do for him? he's a beauty. He tries to come up for food but is too slow and there doesn't seem to be any left for him when he gets there, and he does swim around from time to time.

Should I put him out of his misery and if so how? What is this problem? Is it something I've done? All other fish are okay. If it is treatable, how?

Poor fish.

 

[WILDER]

That type of fish are very prone to bacteria infections, sounds like it started as columnaris and now developed into an ulcer, you will need to do some daily water changes on the tank, can you issolate the fish as you are going to need an antibiotic like tetracycline.

Not the writer of this information below.
Columnaris (a.k.a. Mouth Fungus)



Symptoms:

An infected fish will have off-white to gray cotton-like patches on the head, fins, gills, body and particularly the mouth. In time, these areas will develop into open sores. Gill swelling may occur, gill filaments may stick together and excessive mucus may develop in the gill area. Rapid breathing can be seen. Fins may deteriorate to the point of leaving the fin rays bare. Muscles may be inflamed and capillaries may rupture. Fish, particularly livebearers, may exhibit "shimmying". Infection may be acute (killing an infected fish within hours), or chronic (lingering for several days before eventually killing the fish). As with most diseases, not all symptoms need be present.



Cause:

The bacterium Flexibacter columnaris.



Treatment:

Ensure that your water conditions (e.g., Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Nitrate levels, and water temp.) are within their proper ranges. If not, perform a water change and/or treat the water accordingly. Recommended medications include: Furanace, Fungus Eliminator, Fungus Cure, Furacyn, Furan-2, Triple Sulfa, E.M. Tablets, Tetracycline, or Potassium Permanganate. Medicated foods are also recommended. Columnaris can be highly infectious and may quickly kill all aquarium inhabitants; therefore, early treatment is essential. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated.

 

[charlie_em]

That type of fish are very prone to bacteria infections, sounds like it started as columnaris and now developed into an ulcer, you will need to do some daily water changes on the tank, can you issolate the fish as you are going to need an antibiotic like tetracycline.

oh no. I have been doing daily water changes so at least I'm doing the right thing. I don't have a quarantine tank though. Perhaps I ought to get one tomorrow. Where do I get antibiotics from? I'm sorry to sound so ignorant I just don't know. Is it worth still treating with the anti fungal stuff?



PS. Thanks for that I didn't see the second part of your post.

 

[WILDER]

If in the uk you will need interpet anti finrot and fungus, plus interpet anti internal bacteria med, good luck.

There on this page.
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z105232.asp

 

[charlie_em]

If in the uk you will need interpet anti finrot and fungus, plus interpet anti internal bacteria med, good luck.

There on this page.
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z105232.asp

Okay well the good news is that I'm using the anti finrot and fungus stuff anyway. The bad news is that its not helping at all. The poor thing is getting worse by the hour it seems like, just been in to check on him for the billionth time this evening and really does look even worse, he has frayed bits hanging off him.

I'm such a wuss but I'm finding it quite distressing. Poor thing. Will this have been something I've done do you thing?

 

[WILDER]

That why you need the bacterial med as the finrot med dosn't work on it's own, i've had it with guppys and you have to use both, it would be best if you could isslate him, as he sounds in a bad way, and i don't think he will make it with out the bacteria med, sorry.

 

[charlie_em]

That why you need the bacterial med as the finrot med dosn't work on it's own, i've had it with guppys and you have to use both, it would be best if you could isslate him, as he sounds in a bad way, and i don't think he will make it with out the bacteria med, sorry.

It's okay. I feel pretty pessimistic to be honest and suspect he won't last too long as the wound is getting worse very quickly and Although I can get to the pet shop tomorrow I dread to think what state he'll be in by tomorrow.

 

[WILDER]

Try him on a salt bath one teaspoon to the gal, don't want to add to much salt with the red sore it might sting, usually half an hour the for the salt bath but start off at 10 minutes, if he keep floating upside down or freaking out, remove him straight away.

http/ukdiscus.com/ken_thomson_salt.htm

 

[charlie_em]

okay, sorry to bounce. The first gourami died

Now my second gourami appears to have exactly the same thing. He has a tiny sore on his side. I've been and got the bacterial med.

I'm still doing regular partial water changes so thats okay. My question is this:

I was using the fungal and fin rot medication and now I have the bacterial med. Can I use them both? Wilder you said that one wouldn't work on its own but I'm concerned about using both incase there is too much medication in the water plus both bottles say "not to be used with similar medications".

Any advice?

 

[WILDER]

You can use both alot of fishkeepers have too in the uk for columnaris, plus is has developed into a sore, so if definately needs a bacteria med in there, try the finrot med at half dose if you are worried, you can mix meds but not advisable in a main tank, that why is always best to issolate them, you can buy meds like tonic and they are mixed in small doses of bacteria,fingus, and parasite, run an aristone as the meds will take the 02 out of the water, or increase filter aeration, good luck.