Please Help! Sick Dwarf Gourami.

Saturnine · Aug 17, 2013

Hello,

My male dwarf gourami, which I've had for two months, hasn't been himself a couple of weeks now. He spends his time either in a little cave I built, or up in the extreme top corner of the tank behind the filter. He hasn't been eating (even when I drop food right near his mouth) and he doesn't move very much at all. He's looking very thin and pale too.

Tonight I noticed what appear to be some black/dark patches around his gills. I've attached a picture. It's not the best but it's the best I can get at the moment. Any idea what's wrong with him? How can I treat him?

Thank you for your help.

Saturnine · Aug 17, 2013

In my panic I forgot to say that water conditions seem fine:

Ammonia: 0
pH: 7
Nitrate: 25
Nitrite: 0

Ive also attached a slightly better picture.

Paradise3 · Aug 18, 2013

It sounds like the Iridovirus which all Dwarf Gourami's carry these days unfortunately.

It can take as long as a year to slowly kill them but most likely you will only have a DG that carries Iridovirus for 2-6 months.

DoubleDutch · Aug 18, 2013

Agree, this fish is dying. Sorry !!!

fm1978 · Aug 18, 2013

Oh dear, that's not a well little fish, I'm afraid.

It's unlikely to survive what it has, unfortunately. Do you have any other DGs in there with it?

Paradise3 · Aug 18, 2013

fm1978 said:
Oh dear, that's not a well little fish, I'm afraid.

It's unlikely to survive what it has, unfortunately. Do you have any other DGs in there with it?

Iridovirus is a killer, no cure for it so it's just "Unlikely" if my diagnosis is correct - It's inevitable unfortunately

It's a shame DG's carry the Iridovirus nowadays as they are nice fish but they die so easily because of the Iridovirus they carry

fm1978 · Aug 18, 2013

Paradise3 said:
Oh dear, that's not a well little fish, I'm afraid.
It's unlikely to survive what it has, unfortunately. Do you have any other DGs in there with it?

Click to expand...

Iridovirus is a killer, no cure for it so it's just "Unlikely" if my diagnosis is correct - It's inevitable unfortunately

It's a shame DG's carry the Iridovirus nowadays as they are nice fish but they die so easily because of the Iridovirus they carry

Hehe, I know, I was attempting to be gentle and subtle on a sensitive subject.

You're absolutely right, if I were being honest, this little guy is unlikely to last for very much longer, sorry OP.

The reason I was asking if there were any other DGs in there was to suggest that it would also be infected. If it wasn't showing any signs, the OP could 'try' to quarantine... probably not possible/effective due to the severity of DGD...

Sorry, OP!

Liv15 · Aug 18, 2013

The dark patches on the gills are usually ammonia poisoning. We're your ammonia levels up before?

Saturnine · Aug 18, 2013

Thanks for your advice guys.

What makes you think it's iridovirus? I'm keen to learn the signs and symptoms. Is there anything else it could be which could be treatable? Even if he's got a 5% chance of survival I'd like to do everything I can for him.

Paradise3 · Aug 18, 2013

Saturnine said:
Thanks for your advice guys.

What makes you think it's iridovirus? I'm keen to learn the signs and symptoms. Is there anything else it could be which could be treatable? Even if he's got a 5% chance of survival I'd like to do everything I can for him.

The dark patches, lethargy, emaciation and colour of the fish all point to Iridovirus unfortunately. Which is incurable.

Saturnine · Aug 18, 2013

Aww what a shame. Poor little guy hey. Losing most of his colour now too. Almost looks female. I assume he hasn't long left.

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Please Help! Sick Dwarf Gourami.

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