Sick Gourami

[Bexx]

I have a beautiful blue dwarf gourami, I got him this week. Today I looked in the tank and he is sitting on the bottom at 45 degree angle. He swam up to the surface relatively ok, I have cought him and put him in the fry trap. Theres fry in the bottom. e is just sat in there resting at 45 degrees in the corner. My first thought is swim bladder, but tbh I dont have a clue. I have started some swim bladder treatment but i dont have any aquarium salt. Any advice on what you think the problem is would be great. i dont want to lose him. x

1. Water parameters. Checked and all normal.
2. Fish symptoms, sitting at bottom of tank at a funny angle.
3. Tank is second hand new tank, fish have been in it for 4 days. While it was mini cycling fish were in another tank, accidentally knocked heater off for 3 days! but this was 3/4 days ago. This gourami coped with this fine but has become unwell today. Other tank mates are all well.
4. I have been using seachem stability and king british safeguard.
5. new tank mates are 2 golden gourami and these two gourami, all fish in my tank get along great, No bullying.
6. Tank size 160 litres

 

[Caprichoso]

How long has that tank been cycling for? My dear, I hate to say it but putting a sick fish in a breeding trap is going to stress it out even more. You said you started a swim bladder treatment but this isn't a good idea since you don't really know what the issue is. Never use medication unless you are absolutely sure of the condition the fish has as this can put further stress on the fish. He could have any number of internal things wrong with him, bacterial infection, ammonia poisoning, water temp stress, lack of oxygen, parasites, the list goes on and on....Also, having a hospital tank is better since then if you do decide to medicate, your other fish don't have to receive unnecessary meds. Since your water parameters are normal and the heater issue is resolved, you can only sit and wait to see what happens. I know that's not a solution, but the picture doesn't show any apparent disease to me. Maybe post all your parameters, temp, everything about your tank and then someone might be able to help you out. Another thing to consider is poor fish quality. Some fish stores don't sell very high quality fish so even if you're doing everything by the book, you can still have the occasional fish die on you.

Best of luck to you

 

[loraxchick]

SB can ba caused by rapid temp swings and even injury or constipation.
i would od a big waterchange, feed some cooked deshelled peas and fast the tank for a day. Usually SB sorts itself out.
all the best
cheers

 

[Bexx]

Hiya,

Thanks for the advice but the fish died the next morning. The tank is cycled, no ammonia, nitrites etc. It was either move it to here or it would have been bullied and pecked to death as I have got rid of my smaller tank.

Tried to feed it shelled peas, it wouldnt eat, but the other fish enjoyed them. The rest of my tank is healthy. When you are desperate you will try anything to save your fishies. I had to try something. I waited a while but had to start swimbladder treatment as from what I had heard it did look like this. TBH I think it had some kind of infection as from what ive read fish generally dont die from swim bladder. It was 4 days after my mishap with my heater and all of the other fish are ok. Fingers crossed they stay this way.

I loved this Gourami he was beautiful ;(

Thanks everyone for your advice. x