Gourami Looking Unwell, Any Advice?

[aimee]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me...

One of my blue dwarfs got sick a few months ago, I medicated and all symptoms seemed to disappear.
However he never regained his colour from that time and I have noticed that he hasn't really been retaining or putting on weight. He used to be the second in the pecking order of three gourami, and I think he's since become the most likely to be chased by the other fish. By contrast to my other neon dwarf, who used to be the smallest and most submissive, he has become smaller, skinnier, and less happy.

I'm simply concerned as he seems very quiet, and is quite thin i think - also due to his discoloration I can see through his skin at times, and his stomach is very angular and defined rather than rounded.

Is there something wrong with him? is he stressed?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
Aimee

 

[-germ-]

Is there a bend in his spine?
Does he eat?
Could be a parasitic or bacterial illness, certainly sounds like an illness to me, although i'm no expert....
Have you tried seperating him and seeing if he fattens up without having to compete with his tankmates for food?
What symptoms did he show during the original illness you treated him for and what treatment did you use?

 

[aimee]

Germ, I am really sorry I have been offline for ages, and could not reply, thank you so much for responding.

I can't tell if his spine is bent but his tail is misshapen - it is closed and 'square' rather than open and fan-shaped. He has not put his top fin up for a while either. I'm really worried as he has been very quiet and not swimming much; he has been eating properly but not today... and not breathing fully. Seems bad.

When he was sick a couple of months ago , first he injured himself on some bogwood which I treated with melafix and it healed well. Soon after I noticed he did one or two long stringy clear poos, which I gave him octozin for (which i've since heard might not do any good, but the problem didn't recur.) I thought he was better but his colour has never returned since that time. I don't know what to do because I don't have a quarantine tank.
All my other fish are fit and healthy.
If you have any further advice it would really be appreciated.

 

[-germ-]

The only things that spring to mind are an abnormally serious and long lasting case of shock.
Or a serious baterial infection.
To be honest your symptoms are extremely broad, have you tried a bacterial med?
You can buy a cheap plastic tank from most LPS, i got one for my bullied honey for £15, it doesn't have to be long lasting......