Possible Gourami Illness

[biensurmacherie]

Hi,

I have a male three-spot gourami who has been in the family for more than 5 years. He had been on his own in an 80L tank for quite a few years until I decided to give him some companions and take advantage of all the space going to waste. I got a silver shark, two salt and pepper mollies (one male, one female), and then when the male molly had a stroke and had to go back I replaced him with two scissortail rasboras. A few weeks after I got the new fish, the gourami showed large red spots under his scales (about 5mm in diameter, they looked like sores, but under the surface), and had something that I'm assuming is referred to as pineconing scales. The silver shark also had red spots, but they were smaller and on his fins as opposed to his body.

The red spots went away after a few days, and that was about two months ago. Since then I have added 6 harlequin rasboras and two bristlenose plecos. We had a bit of a tank accident recently and they were all a bit stressed when they were moved around and stayed in a smaller tank for a few days. Everyone seemed okay when they were moved back into an 80L tank and it's been a week since then.

Now the gourami sits on the bottom of the tank or on his rock quite often, which he's never done before. The other day he seemed to be having a buoyancy issue and was waving his fins wildly to stay in place. I replaced a few litres of the water and used warmer water, which seemed to liven him up a bit. Could the water temperature be the reason he's seeming a bit ill? Our heater has probably been broken for years but he was fine before.

If there's anything I can do for him apart from trying to keep him warm? Sorry for the long post, I wanted to include all the details.

Thanks,

Emma

 

[Biulu]

All the stress at his age might just be doing him in. I suggest you post it in the emergency section. People might help you there.
Good luck!

 

[malakye]

What are your water stats? Did you quarantine the new fish before adding them to the tank? It could be they have brought in disease.

 

[biensurmacherie]

What are your water stats? Did you quarantine the new fish before adding them to the tank? It could be they have brought in disease.

Hi,

Sorry I abandoned this thread for a while, but the problem went away. Unfortunately it's back.

I haven't tested the water for a while but will get it done tomorrow (I don't have a kit, I know I should probably get one). None of the other fish are ill, Malakye, so I don't think it's a disease brought in. I have been experimenting with the levels of feeding so if it's possible it only flares up with overfeeding, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the cause. I have been changing about 10% a week, and I've used TetraAqua EasyBalance twice in the past month (it says to use every week but I don't like using too many chemicals, I just used it as I suspected the nitrates were high).

I took a picture of him today, this is the worst it's ever been. If you recognise it, please let me know what it is. I haven't noticed any of the other previous symptoms I mentioned, just the sores.

Thanks!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi biensurmacherie

Your gourami has a bacterial infection, aka Finrot. Up your water changes to 50% a week, or 25% twice a week, and see if that helps him. I have an old 3 spot that has the same trouble and suspect it might just be that as they age, their immune systems get weaker. When it starts in, I use MelaFix during water changes and this has helped her several times.

I have BN plecos in my tank too and they might be contributing to the problem. It will help if you take care to avoid letting any vegetables rot in the tank which will pollute the water. Also, vacuum your substrate weekly to remove their waste products. This will help keep the tank clean and keep the reproduction of harmful bacteria to a minimum.

Be sure you have good water circulation too, especially if you use MelaFix. Remember that you cannot do too many water changes. Clean and fresh water is the best disease preventative available.

 

[biensurmacherie]

Hi biensurmacherie

Your gourami has a bacterial infection, aka Finrot...

Thank you so much for your help! I still need to get the water tested but I took a sample today, before the next water change so that won't disguise the problem.

I did a 15% water change this weekend but will start doing bigger ones. Is there anything else I should do (medicine, changing feeding patterns, etc.) if the water changes don't seem to help?

Thanks again.