HELP! ...

[virgin fishkeeper]

After buying my thick lipped gourami a female today, i noticed that my old one is extreamly fat/swolen in comparison. He seems happier now and has been bonding with his new mate, but the poor little chap looks far from normal. His scales look as though they are sticking out and he has started laying on the bottom of the tank (sometimes).... Can anyone tell me what the problem is? Sorry if i seem stupid but im quite new to this and would appreciate any help.

 

[kimbowee]

Sounds like it could be dropsy but I am not sure. Maybe you would want to post this in emergency section as you may get help faster. I have never had a fish with dropsy so not sure what you can do for it. From what I have read if the scales are sticking out or if the fish is pinecone shaped it is dropsy. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[sylvia]

Yep. almost deffinately dropsy. Your fish has an internal bacterial infection and, though you could try feeding with antibiotics (particularly added to the food), this stage where the scales have begun to stick out is rather far gone and usualy it's too late and has become untreatable. Make sure you isolate this fish to another tank as, when (if) he dies, the other fish could also catch it. It's up to you whether you treat or not though it's worth a try. If he stops eating it's probably time to euthanise if any treatment is not having obvious beneficial effects.

Just in case, if the fish will eat them, try feeding a de-shelled green pea now - crushed or otherwise. If it won't take this but is still eating, try some frozen daphnia. Do this before starting any antibiotic treatments (but do isolate right away) just in case all you have is a bloat/constipation issue (which should then resolve itself - or show improvement - by the next day).