Pearl Gourami In Trouble.

[CBBP]

My one pearl gourami has a red hole like thing on its gill. What can i do?

 

[dixaisy930]

What are your tank parameters?

Size of the tank?

Tankmates?

How long have you had the fish?

 

[CBBP]

I just got it a few days ago.. less then seven days. NirtAtes are rather high and i am doing 50% water changes every day to bring it down. I must have over fed them cause nitrAtes went really high.
Black Neons. about 25 or so.
6 SAEs and some cories that hide 90% of the time.
it is a 72 gallon.

 

[dixaisy930]

What are your ammonia and nitrite readings?

Is there anyway you can get a picture for us?

 

[CBBP]

Ammonia and NitrIte is 0 as it should be. NirAte is now 20 ppm. Picture ASAP.

 

[CBBP]

Okay I posted a picture. PS. Melafix does not stop it from getting worse.

 

[dixaisy930]

Yeah, Melafix isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Hm, it's hard to make it out.

How is the fish eating? I'm tempted to say it's bacterial, but I don't want you to treat unless that's definately what it is. Do you see any little worms, or any other kind of parasite type this around or in the red area?

It's actually a hole, correct? Not just a red spot?

Could you get a pic of your SAE? I'm wondering if one of them tried to snack on the gourami's slime coat. If it's a true SAE, I'd say it's unlikely, but if it's a chinese algae eater, it's possible.

 

[CBBP]

Yeah, Melafix isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Hm, it's hard to make it out.

How is the fish eating? I'm tempted to say it's bacterial, but I don't want you to treat unless that's definately what it is. Do you see any little worms, or any other kind of parasite type this around or in the red area?

It's actually a hole, correct? Not just a red spot?

Could you get a pic of your SAE? I'm wondering if one of them tried to snack on the gourami's slime coat. If it's a true SAE, I'd say it's unlikely, but if it's a chinese algae eater, it's possible.

It is defiantly not the SAE as they are truly truly SAEs. IF it is bacterial shall i remove the fish form the 72 gallon? is it totally gonna kill all my other fish? it is like a hole and sometimes there is a white thing on it other times not.

 

[dixaisy930]

Whatever it is, I think the little guy needs to go in a hospital tank.

That little white thing could be a parasite...or it could just be tank debris.

The red hole is between it's eye and gill, correct? Not on the other side of the gill correct?

I'm not real familiar with freshwater medications. I think there's a pinned topic about them.

I'm hoping someone can give you a second opinion. I don't want to misdiagnose this for you.

 

[WILDER]

The bad water quality has caused it.
Shouldn't be adding more fish till the cycle is done.
Gourmais are very sensitive to water quality.
Need more than melafix, can you issolate the fish.
Any red streaking in the fins, and is the fish heavy breathing.

 

[CBBP]

will it go away once water quality is good? and you are sure it is water quality and not some evil sickness?

 

[WILDER]

Nitrite can burn there gills.
What fish do you have as salt will help.

You could catch the fish, get a clean cloth and wet in tank water with a jug of the tank water, don't dip the cloth in the tank.
Sterlise some tweezers.
Wrap the fish in the wet cloth and gently pull the gill flap to onside and with a magifying glass take a look to see if you can see white worms behind the gill.

 

[CBBP]

it will burn their gill plate? you see where the hole is right? mm.. it doe snot seem as red now and there is not bad water. they only had nitrIte and ammonia the first few hours in the tank as I seeded it with stuff form wenother tank right after a small spike showed.

 

[WILDER]

I would still treat the fish with a bacterial med, but not melafix.
gouramis are more prone to the bacterial side.

 

[CBBP]

I got mayacani or whatever it is called. I am gonna treat the whole tank just because I am paranoid. Will it heart the bio-filter? I will get the exact spelling in a bit.