ToxicChloe

Since I've upgraded from a 29g to a 90g I can't keep dwarf gouramis alive. The one that was in my 29 died before I was able to move all my fish over to the bigger tank. So I got another one and he died the next day. So I got another one and he looks like he's about to die as well.

What could be the problem, the other fish are doing fine, even my german blue rams (well most of them anyway). I had one out of four GBR die but everyone else is fine. Last time I tested my water it was good. I'll test it again if I need to. All this DG does is sit on the bottom of the tank hiding in the plants. I'm stumped as to what to do. Any suggestions??

Lucy

I wouldn't blame yourself. I did a lot of research after losing my 2 DG's. It seems they can be prone to bacterial infections.
A lot of what I read had to do with DG disease and the aquarium industry.
Many come to us already sick. From what I understand, the disease is kept in check because the fish are kept in antibiotics. Once these meds wear off, it allows this disease to take over.
Personally, I'd steer clear of them.
There's a thread around here somewhere about it, I'll look for the link.

Tony G.

Its called iridovirus, most DG´s that come from asia have t wthin them. Many of us have lost DG´s because of this Sorry for your loss

Lucy

Here's the link:
Dwarf Guorami, Bettas and Iridovirus

ToxicChloe

thanks for that. I think I'll hold off on them for a while. I love these fish, I think they are really pretty. My first one live for about 4 months before he died and I think that was because my water horrible. Maybe these last two have been sick with that disease.

Lucy

I had my first one about 4 months also. They have such great personalities, I'd love to be able to keep them.
Something to keep in mind is this disease is viral, there is no cure. It's thought to be able to be transferred through the water column. If your DG's died from this disease and you happen to get a hold of a healthy one, it would soon be infected because it's highly contagious.

It's my understanding that the Banded, Honey, Thick Lipped and Sparkling Gouramis (maybe some others) aren't suseptable to DG disease.
Perhaps try one of those?

peacemaker92

I've had dwalf gouramies too before and faced the same problem.

But there's a fish store near my place and they keep these guys with no problems. Shopkeeper said, he does regular water changes and keeps the water very clean. I wonder how?

So sorry for your loss.

aquarist48

Hello Toxic. So sorry to hear about your fish loss. However, I am excited about your 90g tank Some great information above about the Gourami's. Several of our members have had problems with them lately.
Have you posted any photos of your 90g?
Take care.
Ken

Melissawater

Sorry about your dg, they are pretty fish

ToxicChloe

no I haven't posted any pics yet, I want to get it completely decorated first and then I will.

If regular water changes are done for a while does this disease eventually leave the water or will it always be in there? I'm not going to keep buying them if they are all going to die. It's not fair to the fish and plus I get the powder blue ones and it's an 8 dollar a fish at my store.

Is there any way to know for sure if it's that disease that's killing them? I read the link Lucy gave me but could they be sick with something else?

Lucy

From what I've been told, you should give the tank at least 6 months before adding another DG.
It's quite possible they were sick with something else. I've read that they're pretty suseptable to bacterial infections. I think the only way to know for sure would be through Necropsy and have the cells analyzed.

The fish you lost, what were the symptoms?
Is the other still sitting at the bottom? Any other symptoms?
Water quality could come into play, but I would think your GBR's would show some sings since they're so sensitive.

ToxicChloe

The DG just sat at the bottom under the plants or he would sit in the plants. He couldn't swim very well, he would just kinda float rather than swim. I'm not sure about the ram because I went to my tank one morning and my CAE was eating on him and he had the body almost gone. I had 4 of those, only 1 died.

Maybe I'll try the honey gourami if they aren't susceptible to this disease.