Sick Gourami

[nickward_uk]

well, came downstairs christmas day to find one of the dwarf gouramis was dead. It had looked weak for a few days - lethargic and pale - but it seemed to pick up at feeding times... and in retrospect, it looks like it hadn't really grown in the few months that we'd had it. The bigger gourami, which was one of the first fish to go into the tank a good few months ago, grew quite quickly however this has also now become increasingly lethargic - its hiding away, and resting on the bottom - also noticed it's poo looks whiter, and less uniform than befor there are thicker and thinner bits, rather than roughly all the same thickness as before. Also its coulour on the upper silvery part is not as shiny as it was..

...any clues as to what it could be? And, what I can do - considering none of the lfs around here are open now 'till next week...

 

[cane76]

have you tested your water for nitrite,ammonia and nitrate?

 

[nickward_uk]

have you tested your water for nitrite,ammonia and nitrate?

ammonia and nitrite are both at 0, I'm having an ongoing battle with nitrates, however, as the tap water is already at something like 40ppm, so I'm doing regular water changes to as it soon creeps back up in the tank... I've got green-x at work in the tank - but it's not working as well as I'd hope, so I'm planning on getting some small plants in there once the shops reopen

 

[tttnjfttt]

what exactly is green-x?

Whit stringy poop is often the sign of internal parasites. Is its belly beginning to look sunk in despite eating?

While looking for a link to give you wiht more info (I thought i had it bookmarked, i didnt) I found this site http/www.loaches.com/faq_parasites.html Even though it is about loaches, the info in it is still relevant. One sign they pointed out was not growing despite eating. I have no idea about the treatment they are recomending, as I have never used it before. Where exactly are you loccated? It is hard to recomend meds without knowing that

 

[nickward_uk]

what exactly is green-x?

Its a phosphate and nitrate remover: http/www.petluvers.com/Hagenf-35.html

The belly on the gourami hasn't changed - the upper part of the body has got narrower though, although this was far more pronounced on the smaller gourami than the bigger one...

I'm in leicestershire, UK, btw