Sick Gourami?

[olevia]

My blue dwarf has been acting very strange lately. I bought him a couple weeks ago and he's been fine until a couple days ago. He usually swims through the bubbles in the tank alot, but the other day I woke up and didn't see him. After a couple of hours he emerged from hiding but soon disapeared again. He's back out now, but I don't think he's eating. His scales are less metallic than usual, and he just looks really shabby. I don't see any white spots or sores though. What should I do?

Edit: Now one of my female swordtails is chasing him and nibbling at his fins.

 

[WILDER]

Issolate him a fish will attack a sick fish.
Gouramis are very prone to bacterial infections.

 

[sylvia]

Also try trawling through some of the recent posts on sick dwarf gouramies (there are a large number unfortunately) so that you know what you can expect and what to do. Until you know what you're dealing with, you can only do what Wilder has already suggested.

 

[olevia]

He died yesterday. Along with my sailfin molly. Four of the seven fish I bought from my LFS have died, and within 2 weeks. It makes me a little wary. Ironically, the batch I bought from Walmart has been living happily for months with no sickness. Kind of odd.

 

[WILDER]

If you have lost that many fish and there no signs of flicking and rubbing I would add a bacterial med.
Good luck.

 

[sylvia]

Also increase the frequency of your water changes.

 

[-germ-]

Your tank stats; nitrite, nitrate, ammonia (and any other tests you may have) could also help point out any potential problems. How long has the tank been running? How big is it?