new gourmais sick?

[phishluvr]

A couple of golden gouramis I've had for about 3 days have developed a dark belly area. They were golden throughout when I purchased them and I thought it may just be digesting food, but it's been there since yesterday. Are they ill or is this normal for goldens? They're definitely not as pretty with this big black spot in the middle.

 

[sylvia]

Do you mean a dark spot like that which you might see on blue gouramies? That would be normal. (look at the first pinned topic - I think- for a pic of a blue gourami) Or do you mean the bottom half looks black? (in which case are you sure you don't have honeys? Never seen that before in goldens...) Or do you mean they are darker like they might have something inside them? - which could be worrying. What sex are they, how big are they and when you say goldens, do you deffinately mean the gold color morph of trichogaster trichopterus? Do they look bloated at all, have white, stringy poo or are acting lethargic or having problems swimming? And, of course, is your tank large enough for them and what are the water parameters?

 

[phishluvr]

It's a 75g with seven gouramis, a couple of rams and three kuhli loaches. Parameters are normal. It's definitely internal and the bellies do seem somewhat bloated. Maybe it's constipation? I could try the peas.

 

[sylvia]

Try the peas but it sounds like an internal infection to me and that would require treatment with antibiotics - prefferably added to food. Make sure it isn't parasites first though (sign is white, stringy poo).

 

[phishluvr]

thanks for the info. The poo is brown, so I'll try a medicated food for internal infection.

Is there one recommended?

 

[sylvia]

Any antibiotic would work realy. However, don't get a very strong one at first. Do feed a pea first to make sure this isn't the problem.

 

[phishluvr]

ok Thanks so much!