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Hi everyone

I'd like your advice on my situation. I have 2 powder blue dwarf gouramies that on occasion nip at each other. Both of them show evidence of having tiny gouges on their bodies but strangely enough, only on one side. One of them now has quite a severe looking wound that has developed over a period of a couple of weeks. It's located behind his barbels but in front of his bottom fins. It's about half the size of a pencil tip eraser.
For the past couple of days, he ate sparingly and this morning he didn't come up to eat at all, he just mostly stayed at the bottom of the tank. I'm assuming that his wound is causing the problems. I can't tell if it's infected or not but it does look "raw". I have placed him in a breeding tank (the plastic, floating kind)to isolate him from the platy that goes after him and targets his wound all the time and also because I don't have a quarantine tank. My next step was to dose the entire tank with Melafix in the hopes it would help him.

A 40% water change and 1/4 tank deep vacuuming was performed 2 weeks ago. Another water change is due tonight.
Water parameters are as follows:
Amonia 0
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 10
Temp. 25C

My tank is semi-planted and is stocked with livebearers. I also have a few guppy fry. From what I have read, Melafix should be safe for all inhabitants.

Is there something else I can or should do to help my little fellow?

Thank you!



*Mitch*

Your water parameters look good, and the Melafix is just what I would recommend. Keep up on water changes so you water stays as clean and fresh as possible and dose the Melafix as recommended on the bottle. You might want to boost the temp up a little, I think this will speed healing. I wouldn't add salt, gouramis tend to be sensitive to it.

I'm sure that you have realized by now that these two gouramis have aggression issues and really need to be separated. You need to figure out what you're going to do with one or the other of them, because if they are left together one will eventually stress the other to death.

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Thanks for your reply Crazyred. I'll dose with the Melafix after my water change and increase the temp to 27C.


*Mitch*

the same happened to mine but it cleared up after about 1 week with frozen/live food and clean water

How big is that tank? Are the Gouramis both male if so you could have two aggressive ones. I have not had DGs for many years therefore I am not very familar with their particular habits.

If it keeps up after treatment you might have to make a decision on which one to keep.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Sad to report that my gourami didn't make it. When I came home from work he was laying on his side in the breeding tank, but still trying to swim. I immediately dosed the tank with Melafix in the hope that it would help. He died about 1 hour later. My other gourami's wounds are very noticeable now and he too is being attacked by that same darn platy. I hope the Melafix will do its job. Very sad day


*Mitch*

In my opinion remove that platy for ever. As I said previously about my little knowledge of DGs but I do know that they can be a very shy and peaceful fish and prefer to be with their own kind or similar fish. Certainly not fast bullish type fish.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW