Afraid For My Gouramis !

SlyPolak · Apr 9, 2010

Ok, I have had these 2 opaline gouramis for about 6 months now and they have been doing great. They chase each other around but it does not seem like they are fighting just playing. Recently I have seen that one of them is missing a few scales right on its gill and i instantly noticed it was kind of red... I know it was'nt the other gouramis because this one is actually bigger than the other one so he usually chases the other. I dont know what this could be,( I figured the injury came from scratching on a rock while they chase each other around) I am afraid it might be some kind of bacterial infection because thats what I figure through reading more than a few posts. This is the biggest fish in my tank and the next size down is the other gouramis. I have a betta, 2 small angels, 2 small kissing gouramis and a farlowella... what I noticed the past day or so is that the injured one actually lets the kissing gouramis "kiss" him on the side, it seems like its cleaning it. The gouramis does not seem sick or anything, still eats like a pig, does not seem like anything has changed. PLEASE HELP!!!! I posted a picture but its not the best quality since the fish hate my camera

SlyPolak · Apr 9, 2010

PLEASE HELP......I AM WORRIED ITS SOME KIND OF INFECTION THAT COULD GET MY OTHER FISH SICK!

Curiosity101 · Apr 9, 2010

How big is the tank?

What are the fish in the tank?

What sizes (roughly) are they all?

What are your water stats right now?

Once you've answered that it should be easier to advise. From the picture it doesn't look too bad though.

SlyPolak · Apr 9, 2010

Its a 55 gallon tank with 2 opaline gouramis, 2 angels, 2 kissing gouramis, a betta and a farlowella. The 2 opalines are 3 1/2 to 4 inches....the injured one is slightly bigger than the other. The 2 angels are about the size of a half dollar (without fins) , the 2 kissing gouramis are almost 2 inches, the betta is about 2 inches (with fins) and the farlowella is 4 inches. Ammonia is 0 , Nitrite are 0 , and the Nitrates are 3 ppm.... dont know the temp. because my thermometer broke a bit ago so Im planning on getting a new one soon. And the redness is slightly darker than in the picture but its the best one I took. Any advice on if it could be an infection?

SlyPolak · Apr 9, 2010

UNRELATED to my gouramis worries....... I purchased the farlowella 2 days ago and I still havent seen it eat...I am worried because my tank has NO algea whatsoever...NONE, and I have been trying to give it pleco wafers and never seen it come close to the flakes that come down to the gravel. My mistake was scrubbing the tank,filtering gravel and swithching out almost all my rocks and fake plants about a week ago and then buying this curious catfish when I saw it at the pet store.

WILDER · Apr 10, 2010

What test kit are you using?

Does the fish show any of these signs.
Darting, or erratic swimming.
Flicking and rubbing.
Gasping, or laboured breathing.
Excess mucas on body or gills.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Any red pierce marks on the fish body.

If no signs of the above it dosn't sound like flukes.
I would issolate the fish and use a bacterial med.

SlyPolak · Apr 10, 2010

I used " Freshwater Master Test Kit " by Mars, but I think its too old so yesterday I ordered another one from Amazon and It should be here soon. It does seem to be swimming in a jerky movement but not all the time, just once in a while it "freaks" out for a second. Also, it seems to be moving its fins a little slower today also. I am afraid that it seems like the redness has also spread and both of its "side fins"(dont know what their called) are red at the base. You cant really see it in the picture but I circled where it is.

WILDER · Apr 10, 2010

Red at the bases of the fins is septicemia i'm afraid. Hard to cure once it advances.
Can you issolate the fish and use a bacterial med.

Keep an eye on the fish for flicking and rubbing, rubbing it gills on things in the tank, laboured breathing. And swimming in a jerky movement is a symtom of flukes.
Also sometimes other fish will peck at the gills when a fish has gill flukes.

Also get your water tested at the lfs. Ask them if they would write the reading down for you.

Septicemia

Symptoms:

Fish may have reddening at fin bases, blood streaks throughout the fins and body, small hemorrhages around the eyes. Dull listless behavior and lack of appetite may also be present.

Cause:

Systemic bacterial infection caused by various bacteria, including Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Vibrio. The illness is often brought on by poor water quality or as a result of parasitic infestations or other infections. These bacteria enter the blood stream and circulate through the tissues causing inflammation and damage. Inflamed blood vessels in the skin and at fin bases stand out. Blood vessel and heart tissue damage cause hemorrhaging and consequently leakage of body fluids into the abdomen, which may lead to Dropsy.

Treatment:

Water conditions must be improved for all fish in the tank, regardless of how many fish are infected. Check your water�s Treat with Kanacyn or Tetracycline as well as with a medicated food if the fish will eat. If parasites are suspected, all the fish in the tank should be treated with antiparasitic medication. Using salt to help restore osmotic balance might be helpful.

SlyPolak · Apr 10, 2010

To add, I dont know if this is related or not but now both my angels have this cottony looking stuff on their fins and a little bit on their bodies. I guess it looks like a fungus of some sorts, they dont seem to be sluggish or anything either. I was wondering if both problems are related and if there is a medication I could buy to treat both at once.I attached a picture but you cant tell thee is anything on the fish because its gold so I tried putting arrows to where the "cottn" is showing up.

WILDER · Apr 10, 2010

Whats your location.

Uk. Esha 2000, pimafix.
US. Maracyn one, and two.

SlyPolak · Apr 10, 2010

Wilder said:
Red at the bases of the fins is septicemia i'm afraid. Hard to cure once it advances.
Can you issolate the fish and use a bacterial med.

Keep an eye on the fish for flicking and rubbing, rubbing it gills on things in the tank, laboured breathing. And swimming in a jerky movement is a symtom of flukes.
Also sometimes other fish will peck at the gills when a fish has gill flukes.

Also get your water tested at the lfs. Ask them if they would write the reading down for you.

Septicemia

Symptoms:

Fish may have reddening at fin bases, blood streaks throughout the fins and body, small hemorrhages around the eyes. Dull listless behavior and lack of appetite may also be present.

Cause:

Systemic bacterial infection caused by various bacteria, including Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Vibrio. The illness is often brought on by poor water quality or as a result of parasitic infestations or other infections. These bacteria enter the blood stream and circulate through the tissues causing inflammation and damage. Inflamed blood vessels in the skin and at fin bases stand out. Blood vessel and heart tissue damage cause hemorrhaging and consequently leakage of body fluids into the abdomen, which may lead to Dropsy.

Treatment:

Water conditions must be improved for all fish in the tank, regardless of how many fish are infected. Check your water�s Treat with Kanacyn or Tetracycline as well as with a medicated food if the fish will eat. If parasites are suspected, all the fish in the tank should be treated with antiparasitic medication. Using salt to help restore osmotic balance might be helpful.

For the past 2 days I have been seeing other fish "pecking" at the gourami, but it seems like he is letting them do it because he just gets vertical when they are doing it (head down,tail up). Should I put it in my QT tank or treat the whole community??

SlyPolak · Apr 10, 2010

Wilder said:
Whats your location.

Uk. Esha 2000, pimafix.
US. Maracyn one, and two.

I am in the US, Florida...... would any of these treat the septicemia, flukes, and fungus or do I have to do all seperate???

WILDER · Apr 10, 2010

The maracyn is bacterial meds.
Flukes also cause bacterial infections.

Get you a link to flukes so you know what to look out for.

Click on gill, and skin flukes.
http

/www.fish-disease.net/diseases/gill_flukes.php

SlyPolak · Apr 10, 2010

So should I isolate the gourami in a QT tank and treat for flukes, and do the rest of the tank with maracyn. Or what, I really DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO! Like I said the gourami has fluke , Im sure, and septicemia because it s REALLY red around the fins... and the angels have this cottony stuff growing on their fins and a tiny bit on their body..... What do you recommend I do because Isnt fluke contagious? HELP PLEASE

WILDER · Apr 10, 2010

Not totally convinced the fish has flukes yet.

I would treat the whole tank with maracyn one and two, or maracyn plus.
The meds might knock your water stats.

Keep a look out for fluke signs.

Afraid For My Gouramis !

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