Worried about my fish!!! Please Help!

[cdtcommander]

I am really new to the forum thing so I hope I am doing this right. Anyhow I have 6 new fish. I just got them about a week ago. I have two Dwarf Gourami's and 4 Sunburst platy's. All of them seem to be doing fine except one of my dwarf gourami's. Yesterday I noticed him just floating in the corner of the tank (and was relieved when he was still alive) but now he has gotten worse. He wont eat and has just started lying on the bottom of the tank in the corner. I have read some web sites on diseases but I have no idea what might be wrong with him. I dont know if this has anything to do with him being sick but when i first got him he looked like part of his mouth was torn and hanging and now it looks like a chunk is missing. To sum it all up

-he lies on the bottom of the tank (breathing visably)
-wont eat
-did notice him come to the surface quickly and then returned to the bottom
-possible tissue damage to his mouth

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help him I cant just sit here and watch him suffer. Thanks for any help you can give.

note: I havent tested the water yet (I have to get stuff to do that today... but not sure if that is the problem because the other fish are fine... but then again I am new to fish)

 

[WILDER]

How long has the tank been set up, i would recommend a water change, get water tested and tell the lfs to write the reading down, if he mouth is being eaten away, it sounds bacterial, i suppose there is no hope of issolating him.

 

[cdtcommander]

I could isolate him (I live in a dorm so I would have to buy a bowl to put him in) If I did isolate him should I use the water from the tank or treat fresh water and bring that to temp. then put him in it.


To answer your question the tank has been set up about a week. BTW I really appriciate your quick response.

 

[Bloo]

Firstly

I'm afraid I have some bad news
If your tank is a week old and has all that fish in already - that's the reason they are dying

Your tank is going through something called a "cycle" at the moment.
This refers to the Nitrogen Cycle.

Your water conditions are currently "poisonous" to the fish and that's why they will start to die. For your Gourami it sounds like it's too late I'm afraid.
He's probably already been "poisoned" by the toxic water conditions.
You can't really isolate him as you don't have a hospital tank that's "cycled" and with a heater.

There are 2 ways in which to get a tank ready for fish.
The most commonly known and used, is the "Fish Cycle method"
The way, you set up the tank, decor, water etc. and add a couple of hardy fish after a couple of days. Then a week later a couple more etc.

The other (better, safer and preferred way) is the fishless method.
This is done by adding pure ammonia over a period of time until the tank is cycled and ready for the fish. See more about fishless cycling here.
However, this is obviously not an option for you, as you've already added your fish.

You need to get yourself a test kit for nitrite and ammonia (and preferably nitrAte and pH as well). Once your ammonia and NitrIte readings are zero, you can add some more fish. Until then, you will have to do small and regular water changes on a daily basis to try and keep these levels down and less toxic for the fish.

Remember to add dechlorinator to your tank as well and whenever you do your water changes. Water changes should generally be done (in a stable tank) on a weekly basis of around 25%.

I hope that helps

 

[black angel]

Did you get two male gouramis? how big is the tank and did you notice any fighting?
Something else to consider.

 

[WILDER]

Follow bloozoo2 advice, but i would issolate the fish with the poorly mouth he needs treating if it not to late with an antibiotic like tetracycline which you don't want to be using in the main tank.

 

[cdtcommander]

I think they are two males (they have stripes and my understanding is that the females dont) There was no fighting although I did come in one day and I thought that I saw one of the sunburst platy's nipping at my gourami's tail but that hasnt happened since...


I am going to go work on changing some of the water and isolating Sushi (my sick fish...)


Thanks for all of your help....

 

[WILDER]

What's your location if you don't mind me asking for a med.

 

[cdtcommander]

I live in san jose Ca....

 

[kat and james]

you said that the gourami's mouth was damaged when you bought him.. just one thing to add, it isn't advised to buy fish who look ill or aren't very active, i know the temptation is to give them a good home, and look after them, but chances are they won't live very long, and could pass on whatever they have to the other fish in your tank.
good luck with sorting out your tank! and welcome!!

 

[cdtcommander]

I actually didnt notice him mouth until we got him home and didnt really think to much about it... and he was more active then the other Gourami that we bought.

Anyhow I want to thank everyone for their help... but Sushi didnt make it
But the other fish are still doing great!

Thanks again

 

[Bloo]

Oh dear sorry to hear it didn't sounds as though there was much hope for Sushi.
Hope things improve !

 

[dwarfgourami]

Sorry to hear about the gourami, poor little thing.

Just a couple more words of advice:

Don't buy any replacements until your tank is cycled. (Read the pinned topics on cycling as mentioned and get yourself a test kit).

Don't buy any replacements until you have checked that your tank is big enough to cope with them. Overstocking leads to death.

If you do buy more fish, after the cycle and if the tank is suitable, do not buy another male gourami. Dwarf gourami males are aggressive and territorial, and can only be kept more than one if you have a large shoal in a large tank. Female gouramis are fine with each other though.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for loss, R.I.P.

 

[cdtcommander]

Your advice is well noted. I didnt plan on getting anymore fish at all.. but maybe one more in time. Next project... make the tank more fun (so far its boring.. they only have a little statue of roman columns....) I really want to add live plants to it. But I am not sure how my work they will be so I am still thinking about it (and trying to find information on care and such.)

I am glad to see my other fish still swimming around like crazy though (thats not a sign of anything wrong is it? lol)