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I have a Gold gaurami that has a swollen backside. Its not the stomach but further bach under his tail.
Could he be constipated or maybe Bloat?

He has had a problem with staying on the bottom & only swimming up for food & make bubbles. He's been like this about 1 1/2 mths if not longer.
He never seemed sick but last night I noticed the swollen back area which is on both sides of the fish.I really dont think its his stomach. It is not on my other Gold Gauramis. Can anyone HELP ME?
http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Hospital/53029.html?200501191846

Last edited by tkchill02 at 20-Jan-2005 11:04

Sorry bout your gourami....can you give us a bit more info...water temp, food and how often you feed?

Water test results, especially ammonia nitrIte nitrATe as well as your maintence schedule will also help.

^_^


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Can you get us some pics? A pic from the top of the tank with the filters and airstones turned off (still water) would be best. I'd like to see the profile of the fish.

One possibility is that the kidneys are affected with something. Best way to see is from the top. Not knowing which area of the "backside" you mean, I'm also wondering if it is an egg-bound female. Do they blow bubbles like the males?

I dont know my results of the water tests because I gave it to my LFS about 3 days ago & they say everything is fine. I feed my fish about 3 times a day in my 72 gl. with Wardley flakes, shrimp pellets & floating pellets, a little of each. The Gold Gauramis basically eat the Flakes. I am not sure about posting pics,I have a digital camera but have never posted one before???

What about the kidneys??? What causes this? He seems uncomfortable but Its been about 1 1/2 mths,surely he would've passed away by now if it was a disease??

I sent you a PM with my email address if you would like me to upload them. Otherwise, you can use Yahoo! Photo! or Ofoto.com among many other free sites where photos can be uploaded and stored for sharing.

I don't know about the kidney issue, I just know I've seen pics of fish with certain kidney swellings and it is towards the back. However, most of the pics I've seen show it on one side.

I'm still wondering if this is possibly a female - one that is egg bound. Is that possible?

It might be eggbound...???!!Do u know how to tell the sexes apart?
If she is I need to remove her because the other fish will eat them. I tried to get a pic of her/him but she now stays in the back of the tank & its hard in a 72 gl bow front to get a good one. I'll keep trying.
I have never raised fry,especially gaurami,should I try to raise them/remove her in my 10 gl with my small goldfish(will they eat them) & apple snail or just leave her in the 72 gl & let nature take its coarse? I have some bigger fish such as my red tailed barbs,sharks & other gauramis that will probably make a meal out of the fry in the 72g.
Whats the chances of them surviving even if I do move her.
I dont want to stress her if she is-prego.
Any tips?

Last edited by tkchill02 at 21-Jan-2005 09:07

Goldfish will eat anything and everything. To raise fry you'll need them in their own tank.

Also get that goldfish out of the 10 gallon ! they need the size of a 75 gallon tank if it's a fancy goldfish and a pond if it's a comon (feeder) goldfish.

Here's the famous Bruce the oranda and he's still growing.

However stunting is another issue entirely and I wont' get off topic in this thread.


[link=Link on how to post pics]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Hospital/32298.html?200403032121" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

^_^
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C:\Documents and Settings\Brian\My Documents\My Pictures\Kodak Pictures\2005-01-21
Here is the location of my three pics. I could not get my kodak/OFOTO photo group to add pics onto site.Just enter into browser & will pop up... I hope.

My goldfish was bought as a feeder. I felt sorry for him,he was so cute. He is only about the size of my pinky finger if not smaller. My grandmother has a small man-made pond which he will go in later. Thks for your concern.

Location of your pictures is still on your computer locally therefore we cant get to them.... Legally anyway .

Follow the link in my above post for info on posting photos online.

Goldfish stunt early I do hope you're planning on moving him ASAP.

^_^
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go to http://www.imageshack.us just don't use the link to post on forums, doesn't work here, I've found that to be easiest.

That is unless of course you want me to hack into your computer and post them for you

If the fish is carrying eggs and in breeding condition, I'd let nature take its course. Fish lay eggs all the time in my tanks - it means they feel at home . As far as raising fry, you can certainly try, but it is best to do it when you have planned ahead. In some cases, fish will eat the eggs. I don't know much about gourami breeding, but you can always post in the breeding forum to learn more about how to make a good setup in advance to rear fry. It is a lot of work and requires some planning, otherwise you find things out the hard way.

Here is your photo album. The way you do it is to copy the link when you are at the album, then you can make a live link here.

http://www.ofoto.com/ShareLandingReg.jsp?Uc=18lcvsmi.rt7tqdu&Uy=-cu03gk&Upost_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp%3fshowSlide%3dtrue&Ux=0&UV=5981172138_47267296706

I must say that the one shot does appear to be more swelling on one side than the other and it is kind of how I envisioned it, as seen with some kidney disorders. If it is kidney related, then I'm not sure if anything can be done. There are tumors, parasites, infections, etc. It need not be fast if the fish is sick. Tumors can grow very slowly.

You know your fish and you would know if this fish is sick. Then we can only attempt to treat a "possible" bacterial infection, but prognosis is not good.

Egg bound fish look normal except in appearance, unless they have burst something inside as a result. However, this would be acute, not chronic as you are seeing. I have eggbound fish and they go about the day like any other fish. This means the eggs are stuck and the fish get bigger and bigger. One white cloud has been like that for 2 years now and hanging in there.

It is best to isolate any fish that is in danger of dying. The last thing you want is for him to expire in the tank. Fish naturally cannibalize each other when they are near or at death. This allows bacteria, viruses, parasites, sporozoans or whatever ails them, to be easily transmitted to others. Also, by isolating, you can attemp antibiotic treatment. Since he is the only fish affected, it makes no sense to put your other fish at risk by medicating the entire tank. This can lead to a mini-cycle and kill off several fish who are sensitive to even low levels of ammonia or nitrite.

I would recommend isolating, in a rubbermaid bin if need be (like at least 10-14 gallons with wide surface area). Put some fake plants/cave in there, an airstone (always use a check valve to prevent back-siphon if you cannot elevate pump above water line) in one corner and use as much main tank water as you can without depleting more than 30% of that tanks water. Transfer the fish at the same time so that the temp is identical (far less stress). Use a lid so he doesn't jump out and to conserve heat. Place the container in the warmest room if you don't have a spare heater. You need to watch heaters anyway with the plastic container. If you use a small heater, stick it to a plate where it cannot touch the plastic. I would not buy any cheap 25w heaters with difficult to turn knobs. If you wrap the container with a blanket, you will slow the temp drop too room temp. Provided it is slow, he should handle it ok.

Now, if this fish is easy to catch, then he is probably very, very sick. If hard to catch, that is a good sign. Use two nets so that you can guide him with one into the other. I would dose the bin with both Maracyn and Maracyn-2 at the same time. Monitor daily for ammonia. I would feed him any kind of medicated food you can find - Pepso Food by Jungle or Jungle's Anti-Bacteria Medicated Feed (only available at Petsmart).

Just to clarify, this is a one time shot at a "possible" bacterial infection. Keep in mind - it could be a tumor, parasites, virus, sporozoans, you name it, so it may not respond.

If the fish is acting and interacting normally, then let him/her be. But fish have a tendency to isolate themselves when they are not well.

With that, you may want to also explore humane methods of euthanasia, should it become apparent the fish is dying and suffering a slow death. It is up to you. I personally use clove oil, but there are other methods. I have a friend who just cannot euthanize fish and he owns a fish store. He has one hospice tank that his terminally ill fish go into and just let nature take its course. He keeps it dim and comfortable. That's another way, but I find it is harder to watch them suffer for days at a time.

Hope things are not as dire as it seems.

EDIT: Unless I missed it, you still owe us water quality readings (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and temp). Lets be sure something else isn't contributing.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 21-Jan-2005 13:40

Cory...
Thks for all your help!
I went to my LFS for test kits But were sold out. I had brought a sample of water for them to test to see if they had a clue what was wrong with it.
They seem to think its egg bound. I also found out that I definitely have a male & female. They told me my water was "fine". All levels tested good.

If she is eggbound...the male did not make the bubble nest as its surpossed to.

Do u think she would do better in 10 gl by herself? If u would look at all pics carefully... the bloating is equal on both sides BUT as she swims it seems the swelling distorts & shifts from one side to the other.

I hope she really is egg bound & not sick... I'd hate to have to "put her down". She's so pretty. I have more plants & hiding spots for her in my 10 gl. I believe I will keep her safe in it.

Hopefully, that is all it is - eggs. And just because she is big it does not mean she is eggbound. Eggbound is when the eggs can't get out. They continue to build.

All female fish will fill up with eggs now and then. Goldfish, for example, will poop out eggs that aren't expressed out by the males after some time. They simply let go of them. I've also read that some fish reabsorb their eggs. But with eggbound fish, it is another story. There are actually surgeons who will open up expensive koi to remove the obstruction and/or eggs. With tiny fish, we just live and let live as long as they can.

In your case, maybe the fish is simply in season. I would keep her with her tank mates, especially if there is a male in there that can help express the eggs. He will wrap himself around her and give her a good squeeze until the eggs drop out (when she lets him )

I've been watching her & I'm not too sure about anything anymore. I decided to keep her in the original tank but she's not eating much anymore (as I have viewed). The male has tried to go near her but won't have anything to do with anything in the tank EXCEPT one Emerald Green cory.
They seem to keep each other company since its mate passed about a yr ago.
I'm just gonna let her live as she will & try to keep her comfortable. Wish her luck...

Last edited by tkchill02 at 22-Jan-2005 09:02