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I just got a Gold Gourami less then 2 weeks ago, and he started off swimming fine, and now he is swimming kind of in a back and forth motion, almost like a jerky motion. He only started doing this yesterday, and this morning I noticed that his tail fin is starting to look torn and frayed....no other fish has been bothering him, so I'm not sure what it is or how to treat it. I did an ick treatment yesterday...but it doesn't seem to have helped much....any suggestions??

Hey Mickey - how about we look at his environment first to make sure nothing is going on there. Can you provide the following:

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Temp:

Tank Size:
Stock List (complete):

Also tell us about your conditioners, salt or any other possible additives.

How long has the tank been set up? If it has been only a few weeks and he is your first fish, it could be new tank syndrome and you are likely to see ammonia and/or nitrite. Both can be deadly for the gourami.

If you don't have a test kit for one or more of these, take a bag of water to the lfs. Most will test for free.

Please bring back numbers, not descriptions. Write down the numbers or ranges as they are getting them. Nothing drives me more nuts than "within range". What is good for one fish may not be for another.
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Now, setting aside environment, it is possible he has some kind of infection or parasite. What led to adding the med you did? Was he flashing or scratching on objects? That is usually a good sign of parasites if it is persistent. Look closely and see if you notice fuzz, film, more slime than usual, cloudy eyes, popped eyes, blood pin points/streaks (check the base of fins).

How is his breathing - normal or rapid? Is he spending more time at the surface than usual, or more time at the bottom than usual?

Last edited by Cory_Di at 25-Jan-2005 18:19

Last edited by Cory_Di at 25-Jan-2005 18:20

I just noticed my two Pearls (had for 1 week) have been spending most of their time at the surface and acting strange. There also seems to be a spot of red at the base of their pectoral fins (both sides). I wasn't sure if that was normal.

Here's my tank conditions:

50 Gallon, No meds/additives (besides Prime)
Emperor 400 Filter
2 Pearls
6 Harlequin Rasbora
6 Black Skirt Tetra
Ammonia: 0
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 5-10ppm
pH: 7.2-7.6
Dissolved Oxygen: 6ppm
Temp: ~75F

Also, the water seems a little white cloudiness with a white film on the surface; maybe a bacterial bloom? The rest of the fish seem to be acting normal.

The tank has been running since December 26th.

Last edited by akithra at 26-Jan-2005 11:28

If the tank has been running only since December 26, did you use a seeded filter or a bacterial starter to kick it off?

YOu say there is a film on the surface. This seems odd unless there is inadequate surface movement. What kind of filter have you got running. EDIT: I see the filter - Emporer 400 is definitely plenty. I'm not understanding the surface film, unless the filter is being powered off.

Blood pin points at the base of the fins can signal one of two things - dropsy or internal bleeding such as that which comes from bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia.

Are all the fish spending time at the surface? I'd try to get more movement in there by dropping in some airstones or even adding another filter, depending on what you have currently.

You aren't shutting the filter for any length of time, are you?

Have you lost power recently?

If he is new he could have very well brought something home with him. Any chance you can isolate? A 10-14 gallon rubbermaid bin, filled with water from the main tank works fine. Stick a fake plant in there and an airstone or two and you are good to go if you can put it in a warm room. A lid will keep them from jumping out and if you drop a blanket over it, the temp will not drop too quickly (equalizing with environment).

If not, you may try the new Jungle Anti-Bacteria Medicated Food, which has antibiotic milled into it. If they do have an internal infection, it is best they ingest it anyway. It is best found at Petsmart. Jungle says it will be more widely available soon.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806679&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&bmUID=1106762086372

It can be crushed for smaller fish.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 26-Jan-2005 11:56

Last edited by Cory_Di at 26-Jan-2005 11:57

I used Bio-Spira to start the cycle, which only took about 6 days with the 6 tetras.

The filter is left on constantly and the rest of the fish don't hang out at the top constantly like the Pearls. The tetras spend more time towards the bottom.

I have an airstone and pump that should arrive today from big al's and was told by my LFS to maybe add some water clarifier and increase surface agitation.

Would MelaFix or PimaFix help at all if the Pearls have an infection? I'm stopping by the LFS after work, where I got the Pearls, so I'll ask them about the red spots.

Thanks for the help!

If the pearls are haning out near the surface AND if they have rapid respiration and seem to be piping for air, then they could have gill flukes. Jungles Parasite Clear Tank Buddies is good for that, provided it has Praziquantel in the ingredient list. It's relatively safe too.

One disclaimer is that I don't own gourami's so I don't know how much of that surface lurking is normal for them. I do know that they are labrynth fish so they probably would spend a little more time there.

nah cory this isnt normal for gouramis. they are like cories they go to the top fill up then hang all over the tank with a gut of air to hold them over. BUT...and this is a very slim but... i also have a film on the surface of my tank which has been there since day one. all my fish are healthy and my tank is 100% stable but my gold gouramis will actually sit there and eat this film. i believe it to be a surface type of algae of some sort. they dont spend a great deal of time doing this but i have noticed it. also the film on the surface has been greatly reduced which is a plus.

now im not gona sit here and claim that this is whats going on your tank because they dont do it for long and its usually one at a time. if your noticing them at the top longer then say 10 mins at a time and more then 3 times a day i would say this is enough to say you have a problem.

Last edited by Sin in Style at 26-Jan-2005 19:13