Sick Or Pregnant? Help!

[lozzlaws]

Hi, im new here, been reading the messages and there sems to be a lot of sound advice so here goes..

Weve got some honey gouramis, the tank is well established, no other illness, no new fish, plants or rocks etc added for a long time, but one of the gouramis is so hugely fat it cannot get about properly. It can swim about for food and is eating, but it generally spends its time hiding behind rocks on the gravel. I have no idea if its pregnant (its absolutely enormous) or very ill and needs to be euthanised.

Ive tested the water, all is well, no other fish are ill or showing any symptoms, the big fat fish looks fine apart from being huge, the scales look fine, but I dont know if its pregnancy or dropsy. I am not sure if its even male or female, I cant tell the difference. Would a gourami normally mooch about on the bottom when pregnant? Does it lay eggs or bear live young?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks,

lozzlaws xx

 

[WILDER]

Only thing I can suggest for now is an epson salt bath, and some shelled peas.
http/www.fishjunkies.com/Treatments/salt.php

 

[n3ont3tra]

Also, to answer one of your questions, they lay eggs.

 

[zoekin8yg]

they are egg layers so dont get pregnant but they can get full of eggs, also could be constipated, or it could be dropsy.

 

[Majjie]

No help with the illness, I'm afraid - I'd follow Wilder's advice.

But following on from one of your other points: in Colisa chuna (Colisa sota) the females tend to be paler in colour and mine have a darker horizontal stripe along their bodies. The males are darker and when they are feeling well/sexy they have yellow dorsal fins and develop a bluish black tinge to their underbellies.