Pearl Gourami Dying?

[jasoncbc]

i have one pearl gourami in my 20 gal tank, and it's the longest habitant of the tank now
aroudn2 months ago, i noticed that around his gills it was getting a bit damaged and "broken" , i thought that the other fish had bit it (but it is the biggest fish in my tank)

arond a week ago, a single red spot started to appear on its left gill....and ever since it has been getting bigger

what is this? also....the fish now isnt as active, and doesnt eat a lot or dosent eat at all....

help please ^^

my tank has 8 fish including the gourami...4 platy's..2 swordtails and a pleco

checked my water...ph is 7 and ammonia is 0

 

[WILDER]

How big is the red spot and does it have a circling of white around it.
Does it look hard of soft like filled with fluid.
Is the fish laboured breathing.

 

[jasoncbc]

the spot isnt a bulge, and there is no white things around it, but its around the area of its damaged gills..

and i think the fish has a hard time breathing...it spends time at the top of the tank often

the spot is medium in size

 

[WILDER]

If his breathing hard he's not going to make it.
I would issolate the fish and try a bacterial med, but must increase aeration, should of been treated earlier, sounds like it advanced now.

Do the gills have a red and white mottling with the red spot.

 

[jasoncbc]

thats the red dot...

and it is not visible, but around the red dot, the gills are a bit damaged
i can also see a tiny red spot on the other gill forming

 

[WILDER]

Not good looks like a blood spot to me.
Does the fish flick and rub just to make sure.

 

[jasoncbc]

the fish doesnt flick or rub, but it is quiet inactive, moves slow, etc

 

[WILDER]

Justed wanted to check its a bacterial infection which gouramis are very prone too.
The hard breathing is a concern but if you get going with a med he might stand a chance, but to be honest the odds are not good.
Can you issolate the fish and whats your location.

 

[jasoncbc]

okay i will isolate the fish, im from canada lol

last time isolated a fish it died quick

 

[WILDER]

If you can issolate an antibiotic like tetracycline as it would wipe the bacteria colony out if your filter.
Maracyn one and two.
But they are american meds so don't know if you have easy excess to them.
Do you have a bacterial med in at the moment.

 

[jasoncbc]

unfortunately no..only have ick treatment stuff

and it will take a while for me to get one beause i have no means of transportation (im only 15 lol) and no money haha
damn.

 

[WILDER]

Not good then as there no time to wait to be honest.
I would still issolate him don't want the other fish pecking at a dead body.
Good luck.