Spinning, Twirling Gourami

[TrainRek77]

Request Help

Tank size:29 gal planted
pH:7.2
ammonia:less than .25 ppm but traceable, tank was recently cycled and fish added a week ago
nitrite:0
nitrate:10
kH:don't know
gH:don't know
tank temp:76

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): I have 2 golden gourami's in a new 29 gallon tank. One is twirling its self around on the bottom of the aquarium. With almost no stop, maybe for less than a minute he will lay on the bottom next to a plant. These symptoms started this morning. I noticed yesterday the fish frequently rubbing on plants. The fish has sores on its head from the abrasive gravel. The other, until tonight, was rocking back and forth. I am more concerned with the twirling one because he will not stop, nor does he seem to have the ability to swim to the surface.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: I have done frequent water changes. 3 20 percent changes in the last week because of the recent addition of the fish.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: I believe the twirling fish may have a fungal problem so I added a half dose of pimafix.

Tank inhabitants:Only the two gourami. About two inches in length

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Some mondo grass and anubias plants

If he doesn't show some kind of improvement by the morning I'm afraid I should probably put him to sleep. If you know anything about this kind of activity and may be a cause I will appreciate the help. Thank you.

 

[AnimalHouse36]

I'm not one for diagnosing fish, but since no one is currently here to offer you any other advice, I'd do as close to a 100 percent change as possible.

Rubbing on sand is often a sign of stress, do you have a stress coat that you could add to the water?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Ok, you probably already know that that ammonia reading should be zero when you have fish in the tank, so changing the water to keep this always below the 0.25 reading you are getting is really important. High ammonia can sometimes cause this type of behaviour but yours seems too low for that (you still need to be making it zero though).

Have you fed them any live food, particularly tubifex worms? I ask because his behaviour sounds like whirling disease, which is caused by a parasite, and enters the tank through live food. It affects the inner ear of the fish which causes the whirling behaviour and because your fish has head sores he's clearly rubbing in that area.

There's no cure (that I'm aware of) and euthenisisng him is the kind thing to do.

A GH reading would have been useful too as if this is very low that may also cause this type of behaviour.

How long after their introduction to the tank did this behaviour start?

 

[TrainRek77]

I have not fed any live foods. They mostly like to eat the anubias leaves and a little flake food. Today he seems to be doing a little better. He's made it to the top of the tank twice in a five minute period. As far as the gh reading I know that I have very hard water so I use one quarter distilled water from the grocery store. I'll get a GH kit today to test the water parameters if you think that will tell us more. They have been in the tank for one week and three days. I will take care of the slight ammonia reading tonight with another 20 percent water change. I'm hoping his improvement is due to the medication. The other gourami seems to be much more relaxed also. Are there any fungal conditions that may cause this type of behavior?

 

[TrainRek77]

Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. Both of the gourami are doing much better. After reading for a few hours about fish diseases I've found what seems to be the solution. The behavior of the large male can best be explained by a swim bladder disease. From what I understand, it is caused by an internal bacterial infection. The female that was rocking back and forth, her behavior seems to best explained by what some people call gourami disease. Also caused by a bacterial infection. I think the slight improvement after the fungal medication is do to the antibacterial properties in the medicine. I did a water change and medicated with a half dose of melafix. Both gourami seem to be feeling much better. The female returned to normal first. Last night the male would swim fine for a few seconds and sorta have a "dizzy spell." He would just thrash for a few seconds, then return swimming. Sometimes he would end up face first in a plant and just get stuck. The sores on his face are healing now and I haven't seem him have another loss of equilibrium in an hour and a half. Colors in both fish seem to be more vibrant. Especially the non-dominant colors like the light blue and red on the anal fins.

I hope they continue to get healthier. Thanks again.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Great investigative work by you there, well done! Let's hope the little chaps fully recover.