Sick Gourami - Please Help

[roz]

Hi, I was hoping someone would be able to help me. Tank details are as follows:

28 gallon tank, fully planted, set up over 4 months ago
Temperature: 74 degrees F
PH: 8 (always high)
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: less than 10 mg/l (hard to tell from my testing kit)
Livestock: 1 adult male dwarf gourami, 1 adult female dwarf gourami, 6 juvenile preacox rainbowfish, 8 juvenile harlequin rasbora, 9 Yamoto shrimp

The livestock was introduced gradually and the water was tested at every stage. All fish have been healthy and happy and even attempting to breed except for the female gouramis.

The first one I had was fine for about a month, the male was building nests on a weekly basis, they were displaying to each other and all was well. Then she became listless, stopped feeding as much as she had been and hid in the plants for most of the time. She subsequently developed a white thread coming from her back passage. I took advice and was told she could be constipated and to feed only fresh food rather than flake. Unfortunately, she was found dead 2 days later.

The male seemed to be mourning the loss of his partner so I promptly replaced her. There wasn't alot of choice in the shop, only one female left. She did appear to have rather pink lips but the guy in the shop said it was fine and I stupidly believed him. Since being introduced to the tank her lips have developed some kind of growth where the pinkness had been, it kind of looks like blisters. I tried to get a pic but couldn't get proper focus. She had been feeding well but has now almost stopped and has started hiding in the plants as well. She hangs arount the top with her head up.

Please can someone help me with diagnosis and recommend a possible treatment. I don't want my male gourami to be a widower twice! Thankyou.

 

[black angel]

I take it you bought both the females from the same tank at the same shop? Can you in future get females from a different source as it sounds like his tank has a bacterial infection and your females had/have it. if you can isolate the female then that would be a good idea and kepp her water in pristine condition with regular water changes. Raise the temp a bit to 80f if not there already.
The meds for bacterial infections in the uk arent that great but as hers might be external rather than internal you could try whatever the shop has. If her poo goes stringy like the last one then its gone internal and the prognosis isnt good.

 

[roz]

If she doesn't make it I will certainly be seeking a replacement from a different source. I haven't separated her yet because I didn't have a hospital tank, have been doing some reading up and will go and get supplies.

As far as I can tell, I need a tank, sponge filter (no carbon), heater, airstone, thermometer and some flower pots or plastic plants for cover. Is that right? I've been told lighting isn't necessary.

Should I use tank water or conditioned tap water? And is it OK to use a new filter, surely it won't have any bugs in it?

Sorry to appear so ignorant, I had tried to do everything right and am kicking myself for not setting up a hospital tank earlier.

 

[black angel]

What you are planning sounds fine, but the tank shouldnt be any smaller than 5 gallons. It will take a long time for the filter to colonise and really I wouldnt worry about it too much and use about a gallon of tank water to help the female adjust to the new tank but no more and then use warmed declored water thats fresh. Keep an eye on the main tank in case any of the other fish get sick but keep doing lots of water changes and fingers crossed it will be ok.

 

[roz]

Thankyou for your help on this. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed now. I'm worried that if it is a bacterial infection, as you suggested, that it may have consequences for my other fish so will be keeping a close eye on them. Do you know of any treatment I can use if the others show signs of illness.

 

[black angel]

Over the counter meds arent that great so getting american meds such as maracyn is really worth trying for, maybe try ebay.
Wilder knows more about the meds you can get than me.

 

[roz]

Despite all the above, she didn't make it, so very sad but I guess it's part of the hobby. I have taken a few post mortum photos and will start a new thread in tropical fish chat to see if anyone has any ideas about what happened.

I'm worried about my other fish now, just in case it was infectious, so will be keeping a close eye. None of then are showing any signs of sickness but my male Gourami is going up and down the glass, guess he's mourning.

Thankyou for your help on this though, it's genuinely appreciated.

 

[black angel]

Im sorry she didnt make it. Keep an eye on the other fish and if you get any more new fish quarantine for a month before adding to the main tank.