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I have a Dwarf Sunset Gourami that appears to be ill. One side of its fin has a reddish-white lump which causes the fish to swim slanted. His fin on the other side is fine. Could you maybe tell me what to do before he dies?

Tank: 10 gallon
Fish: I've had 4 guppies in their plus this gourami, but recently I've added 6 more guppies making it 11 total fish
pH: about 7.5
temp: 76 degrees

flourescent lighting, no live plants, many snails, and I use Proquatics chlorine remover.

Please help.

First, having ten or so guppies (Which will soon be more if you have male and females) and a gourami is probably not a good idea. If you don't have another tank, at least be sure to add a bubble wand of some sort and keep a close watch on parameters. The lump on your fish could be an ulcer of some kind, or and perhaps a scratch that became infected? I can't help too much, but if possible isolate him and keep the water parameters perfect as possible. A little aquarium salt can also help.

A good first med to start with is Melafix. It will not hurt the bio-filter so you don't have to worry about spikes. It is also safe for snails. Even if you want the snails to die off, many meds that can kill the snails can cause a rapid die off and an ammonia spike will follow.

Another similar Med, PimaFix is also good. PimaFix can be dosed simultaneously with Melafix and the two compliment each other. I keep both on hand because they are quite safe.

You may want to pick up a package of the new Jungle Anti-Bacterial medicated feed in case it doesn't respond to those two treatments. It is only available in the US at Petsmart at this time.

If none of that works, it's possible it is not infected, but a tumor. Things to look at are shape (round or irregular) and color. Does it have the appearance of cauliflower? If so, it could be lymphocystis and won't respond to the meds I've suggested. There are things you can try, in quarantine if this is thought to be it, but you wouldn't want those meds in your tank. First, let's look at treating it like a bacterial infection and see if it responds.

Do add some Doc Wellfish Freshwater Aquarium salt, but not directly to the tank as it can burn. If you put 1 rounded tbsp per 5 gallons into a small disposable 'Glad' container and poke holes into the lid, you can sink it in the tank. The salt will dissolve slowly (a good thing). Salt can be therapeutic and as long as it is slowly dissolved, your inhabitants should tolerate it well.

Hope this helps.

That's a neat trick, Cori_di. I've never heard of that method, and I've usually just measured out my salt and dumped it in.

I'm sure I can find a tupperware container to ruin.

I bought a package of those disposable "glad" containers - the smallest ones. They hold just less than a cup and have blue lids. You can see the stream of salinity escaping through the holes. I have a 36 gal goldie tank and one of the two goldies injured its tail by getting it sucked into the intake. I did nothing but observe, then it started to look suspicious. No meds, just salt . I had to dissolve 7 rounded Tbsp for that size tank. 3 days later and there was still a little salt rocks left in there. It worked .

I do have a another 29G tank but it is currently occupied with other fish. The only other way I could isolate my gourami is in my empty 2.5 tank but it has no filter. Currently the gourami is sitting on the gravel breathing heavily. The bump doesnt look like the shape of a cauliflower. Its more like a sphere and its red with some white. The gourami isolates itself from the other tankmates by hiding under my ornament bridge. I know I have 10 guppies and it seems like alot for a 10G, but once they have babies I'm going to transfer the guppies to my 29G and let my fry grow up in the 10G, and then ultimately trade them into my pet store for store credit. I really like the various colors of guppies and their lively activity. But anyways, my gourami has been ill now for a couple of days. I feel bad for letting it suffer and was thinking of maybe killing it now. I do not have any fish medicine at hand but will consider buying the types you suggested. Thanks for your all your help and if you have any further advice than please reply.

Follow through with the salt. If he is bad enough to be sitting on the gravel, he may not eat medicated food, but if you find some when you go out, get it anyway. Chances are, he is developing an ulcer, which is common for these fish. That medicated food will help, if he will eat.

If you can't get medicated food, buy Maracyn and Maracyn2 and dose the two together. They compliment each other. Do so without carbon in the filter.

If he should die, at least dose the tank with the antiseptics I mentioned, Melafix, Pimafix and the slowly dissolving salts to help kill off any bacteria floating in the water column.