Chubby Gourami

[linda1503]

Thanks Lynda B. Up to now George is still his usually self, just fed them and he's first in line as always! Just been to Asda but nobody seems to know what epsom salts is! I've heard of it but don't know which isle to search for it. Will have to try Wilkinsons tomorrow cos I'm sure they'll have it. Can't get there today!
Seems to me that I'll just get up one morning and he'll be dead even though he's ok now I do realise that he will probably 'go' all of a sudden. I'm using melafix and doing a water change daily from now, just hope the guppy fry can cope with it. I'll keep you posted, thanks

 

[linda1503]

Well, its been over a week now since we first noticed george was 'expanding' and after asking on this forum was diagnosed with dropsy. He hasn't got any bigger but certainly no smaller. He's still eating and acting the same as usual. Have treated with melafix and am going to buy some epsom salts tomorrow. (unfortunately the only time I can get some as my local supermarket have never heard of it!!) I keep expecting to find him 'gone' when I get up but no, he's still there looking out to see if I will feed him. Can ayone tell me how long a fish will live with this condition?

 

[-germ-]

Odd....
Could be a tumour.....

 

[linda1503]

Mmm never thought of that!! But it does seem like dropsy with the pineconing but I suppose a tumour would also do that with both his sides bulging. I guess its just a wait and see job! Poor little thing!
Anyway none of my other fish are showing any signs of going the same way so thats good. My son says he will dipose of him if it looks like he's suffering at any point. Will let you know how he gets on a a later date. Thanks all!!

 

[-germ-]

You never know, definately get the epsom salts tomorrow though....
Might be very helpful to other fish keepers if you could add a journal (if successfully treated) to the disease journal sub-forum on here?
Good luck to you and the fish

 

[linda1503]

Yes, I'll do that -germ-. Thanks again for all your help and support.

 

[borissimo]

I have had a few dwarf gouramis in the past and lost all of them - some definitely to dropsy. I actually took one to the local vet who gave me an antibiotic (tetracycline I think - can't quite recall) but it only had the effect of prolonging his life rather than curing him and I felt very guilty.

By coincidence I have a dwarf gourami (or 'thick lipped' I think they are, but they are small) and he has just this morning pineconed after looking a bit 'peaky' for a couple of days. I have been putting eSHa 2000 in the whole tank but this evening when I get home I am going to move him to a hospital tank. I am pessimistic though because, as I mentioned above, I have never successfully treated a case of dropsy yet.

Good luck with George - I hope you manage to bring him round.

 

[Lynda B]

With dropsy, you just never know how long a fish will linger. Really, all you can do is to keep an eye on him to judge his comfort level. Good luck and hugs to your fish!

 

[borissimo]

Just wondering how George is doing?

My little gourami looks awful, not eating now and staying in one corner, looking at me and I don't know what else to do.

 

[linda1503]

Also had a nice pm about George. He's still with me, no bigger but no smaller. Have given him a couple of epsom salt baths but don't seem to have done anything. He's still as feisty and first in line for food. The only difference was that last night he did a twitchy kind of 'dance' that I've never seen him do before so whether it is a tumour and is now starting to affect his brain I'm not sure.

As you can see from the pic that he is very swollen, both sides but until I think that he is suffering I'm just going to leave him alone and keep an eye on him.
Thanks for your consern and will post if anything happens. Sorry to hear about your gourami borissimo, hope your little guy gets better!

 

[Tom4Fish]

maby "he" is pregnent

 

[linda1503]

Don't think so, he was sold to me as a male, yes I realise that lfs's make mistakes but when you look at him through the top of the tank he is very pineconed! so don't think its pregnancy, wish it was then I wouldn't lose him/her!

 

[zakkp8]

Gouramies cant get pregnate they are egglayers.

Hopefully George dosn't have dropsey and gets well soon.