Sick Dwarf Gourami

[fisharepeopletoo]

My male dwarf gourami has a 1/8 inch approx. wound on its bottom fin, very near to the tail. It appears to be almost hollow, and can be seen through the fin from the other side. the wound is a pinkish color and hs no scales covering it. I will try to post a pic. It is a fairly new tank, about 2 months old. It is 10 gal and was cycled using pristella tetras. I did a 50% water change when I noticed the spot. There are currently 4 pristellas and the gourami in the tank. A small pink spot was on the side of the fish when I brought him home (didn't notice it in the lfs) a few weeks ago, but it was tiny and disappeared almost completely. Now where it was, there is this hole. I didn't notice how festered it looks until after the introduction of the last 2 pristellas. Does this sound like an ulcer? Is there something more common to dwarf gouramis that is more likely? What is the most effective (and cost effective) way to treat this? Would you recomend treating the tank or just the fish? I know that you may not be able to help without a picture, but I would appreciate any posisble ideas that I can research further.

 

[WILDER]

Bacterial start of as a pinkish red spot and soon eats away at the skin causing a hole.
I would isolate the fish and use a bacterial med.

 

[fisharepeopletoo]

I have been treating the Dwarf Gourami every since my last post with Melafix. The redness around the wound has dissappeared. He now has a small clean hole. You can see right through it. It seems as if his sore is getting better, but I'm still concerned. He has been excreting what seems to be way to much waste. Every time I look at him he's swimming around with about an inch of it trailing from him. What color should his excrement be? I have seen white, blackish, and redish this week. Also his scales have turned light, almost white at the front of his dorsal and pelvic fins. Does anyone have any advice. Is this more than a bacterial infection, or should I just wait it out?

 

[WILDER]

Have you been feeding any bloodworms.
Melafix is no good for holes you need a stronger bacterial med.
States maracyn one and two, uk, myxazin by waterlife.

 

[fisharepeopletoo]

no, no bloodworms.
Thanks for the help, but he passed this morning.

 

[WILDER]

Sadly to say if you been seeing red poo you could be dealing with internal parasites.

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/nematodes.shtml

 

[fisharepeopletoo]

When we found the poor thing dead in a plant we took him out and disposed of him. Did a 50% water change immediately and another 50% change the next day. Should I be treating the rest of tank for a posible parasite infection? None of the other 4 fish seem to be showing any signs of harm, but I would really hate to lose them all.

 

[WILDER]

Need a location for a med.

This thread should help.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=173443

 

[fisharepeopletoo]

Need a location for a med.

This thread should help.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=173443

Sorry, I was trying to ask if I need to treat at all?

 

[WILDER]

Yes treat the whole tank.