Dwarf Gourami Near Dead

[russkev]

Hi

I have come home from a couple of days away to find my last of 2 Dwarf Gourami's led on its side on the floor apparently still breathing. when I try to move it it starts to move again so I've left it. This morning the situation is the same although I wasexpecting to find it dead. What should I do as it seems cruel to leave it there as it is ?

Also I'm a little concerned of the cause of the death. On Wednesday I did a water test and noticed that the Nitrates were between 40-80 ppm. I did a 20% water change anyway as the water had also been looking quite misty. The Ammonia and Nitrites were 0 and Ph showning about 8.0. BTW A test on the water from the tap shows Nitrates around 20 ppm !

Also have noticed recently that my Mono has been harrassing the Gourami. So wondering of this helped towards its sickness. The other fish in the tank all seem to be fairly happy

6 x Neon Tetra's
2 x Red Tailed Guppies
2 x Cichlids (Not sure exactly which)
1 x Mono
2 x supra Tetra
1 x Albino Pleco
1 x Dwarf Gourami (Near Dead)

Anyone please provide any suggestions of the problem ? My initial thought was maybe that the water change was too much ! Normally I do a weekly 10% change !

Thanks

 

[OohFeeshy]

How big is the tank?

 

[russkev]

The tank is a Juwel 125 ltr. I've also realised that the water change was fairly soon after getting it from the tap and adding AmQuel Plus. Now I've also been reading that the water should be warmed first. This I hadn't done so it is likely that I've made the water too cold !

 

[OohFeeshy]

No, it isn't. Unless it was absolutely freezing, most fish can easily tolerate a hange in temperature. The water change shouldn't have had anything to do with it. I'd isolate the gourami for now, but it could be internal bacteria, which I've heard they're prone to. The mono, however, is a brackish fish, and are schooling, so I'd rehome the mono with someone with a brackish tank and other monos ASAP.

 

[russkev]

Hi

Yes thanks for the comment on the Mono. Little upset with my lfs who sold me the tank and Mono. I went back and said that the Mono is a Brackish fish and that I was keeping it in the wrong tank. He told me that he lots of others in freshwater without any problems. So I'm now stuck with a fish that I can't keep roperly as I have no more room for a special tank. The lfs won't take the Mono back so a little lost.

Whenever I say to the lfs that on the internet it says this or that he says don't belive everything you read on the internet. He has the local water knowledge etc.

 

[Genesis]

off topic, but dwarfs should be kept in groups of 3 (1 male 2 female) or more

 

[russkev]

Really. I wasn't aware of that. Had bought 2 males orgininally but 1 died of a fungal infection. I then brought 1 female but she died the next day and I believe that was due to being harrassed by the male.

The Gourami is still breathing at the moment so still hasn't died !

 

[OMA]

Glad this is here, i'm having a similar problem with my gourami after it's friend died it became lethargic and doing similar things, I've been treating for white spot though and the gourami seems to be getting better. Asking a lfs who i personnally know is great with advise after quizing her with a few known facts i'd searched for (she didn't mind and was impressed that i cared enough to do it), she said that i was likely to be an internal infection which you can medicate against with stuff life esha2000 or i think even primafix helps with it. (i'm gona medicate and i'll keep in touch if it works, likewise if you find a cure get in touch)

As for the mono, yes thay are nice and yes they supposedly can survive in less brackish water than some, they are brackish fish and should be rehoused, (find someone willing to take it on and fast for it's sake). They are also very schooling and should never be kept alone. Don't think your LFS guys knows squat, and is not the kinda guy i'd buy from if he isn't willing to help in such a crisis as with the mono.
Good luck though

PS:You didn't read it on the internet, you read it on a conversation with the other guys on this forum who really know their stuff and who's advice should be heeded.

 

[russkev]

Absolutely and thanks for the response !

The Gourami is still just alive and although breathing is not moving apart from the occassional twitch. It is not eating anything so guess it's only a matter of time. The sad thing is that the other fish are attacking it so now keeping it in a net near the surface. Not sure about medication as I'm sure that's may have caused the problem initially after also adding a fungus medication and also white spot.

Let me know how your fish is going please ?

 

[OMA]

He's getting a bit better, as for the attacking they should only attack any visibly weakness unless they are agressive, like angels, barb, even bettas

i just make sure that he has somewhere to hide like plants, i'd use caves but he gets kicked out for other cave dwellers

 

[OMA]

Hi again, i'm afraid my gourami has died. he was seemin better, but woke up yesterday morning to find him dead. hows yours though.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss, R.I.P. it died his as well.

 

[russkev]

Sorry for your loss, R.I.P. it died his as well.

Yes but i had to euthanise him as he was still breathing but couldn't swim as his tail fin had been chewed by some other fish when he was lying on the floor.

Anyway used the Clove Oil method but still hard to do !

 

[OMA]

Sorry to hear that, what's the clove oil method?

 

[willtang3000]

its when you put olive oil kind of stuff in a plastic bag with the fish in it and it kills the fish putting it out of its misery

I've also realised keeping dwarf gouramis for 7 yrs now that they try and die if they are in small groups or if there arent many females