Good And Bad News

[SUBARU WRX]

Found my male dwarf gourami had died last night. No idea why, was OK earlier in the evening as he was swimming about when I fed them. Found him laying dead at the bottom of the tank. Came home from work tonight and checked for anymore deceased only to find I have baby fish. Well only 1 it seems, which I've rescued. I guess it had some brothers and sisters but they've been eaten? I bought 4 blue platys as the first fish for the tank.

I tested the water last night and all OK, had checked it on Sunday and OK then too. The other fish look fine, water change was done Sunday after I did the tests and I use Tetra Aquasafe.

Guess I should wait a while before getting a new male for my female dwarf gourami.

Thanks.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Dwarf gourami stocks are rife with an internal bacterial problem that causes sudden death in many cases just as you described.

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=428
http/www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/newbb...time=1126450108

Both mention that it is a common problem. Sorry

 

[SUBARU WRX]

Just a case of being unlucky then. I want to replace the male fish, how long should I wait before getting another one or anything I should do first?

Thanks.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Just a case of being unlucky then. I want to replace the male fish, how long should I wait before getting another one or anything I should do first?

Thanks.

What stock have you already got and how big is your tank first if you don't mind me asking?

 

[SUBARU WRX]

I've got 4 blue platys, 2 Julii Corys, a very small at present bristlenose pleco, 2 kuhli loach and the remaining female dwarf gourami. Tank size is 68 litres = 15 UK gallons I believe.

Oh, the new additional as of yesterday 1 platy fry.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I've got 4 blue platys, 2 Julii Corys, a very small at present bristlenose pleco, 2 kuhli loach and the remaining female dwarf gourami. Tank size is 68 litres = 15 UK gallons I believe.

Oh, the new additional as of yesterday 1 platy fry.

4 platys 2" each = 8"
2 julii coris 2" each = 4"
1 Bristle nose = 5"
2 Kuhli loach, Allow about 2" as theyre quite thin, although they do get much longer = 4"
Dwarf Gourami = 2"

So all together that's about 21" of adult fish not including your fry in an 18 US gallon tank. I would say not to go for any more fish at all. You are slightly over stocked all ready and bound to have problems if you buy another dwarf gourami. That one will be quite happy as a solitary fish. However, your Kuhli loaches need a bigger group as do your cories but you've not got space for them. If it was me, I'd lose the Bristle nose (he's gonna get too big) and the kuhli loaches. Then add an extra platy and 2 more Julii cories. That way, what you have left will live mouch more happily.

 

[doresy]

Yes, I echo Jonesyuk on the loaches and BN (best to return him now as you will only get attatched and it's gotta go sometime!)
However I wouldn't get another platy, instead you could get a replacement male D Gourami. (A lone female is a little coulorless). Oh and not forgetting the couple of J Corys (keep them the same) as suggested.

Plenty of plants for the Gouramis. Test your water before adding new fish. You will be overstocked but this way you have a stress-less community but with a 25% water change every 5 days all should be well. Your filtration sounds like it is coping if you say stats are good (are you testing for Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?)

 

[SUBARU WRX]

The water being tested at least once a week for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and weekly water change of at least 25%. I use jug and bucket method and change approx 24 litres at a time and use Tetra Aquasafe to treat the water.

 

[doresy]

The water being tested at least once a week for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and weekly water change of at least 25%. I use jug and bucket method and change approx 24 litres at a time and use Tetra Aquasafe to treat the water.

What are the results of the testing?

 

[SUBARU WRX]

ph 7.2, amm 0.00 nitrite 0 nitrate 40

 

[doresy]

ph 7.2, amm 0.00 nitrite 0 nitrate 40

Excellent!, it is difficult to get those nitrate levels below that. Keep up the water changes and the death of your gourami should be an isolated event