andy65

I bought a what I think is a dwarf Gourami yesterday. It was labeled on the LFS tank as a "fire/blue tail". I have done some research and I think he is just a dwarf gourami color morph.But here is a picture of him. What kind of Gourami is he? Sorry if the ID part of this post should be in the Gourami part of the forum.





But this is my major concern,
He will once in a while "flash" I think. He will go over to the base of this one silk plant I have and do a quick flick of his head like he is itching his head. I have not seen him do it today AT ALL but his umm... droppings are white. He has not eaten since he has been put in the tank.
I caught some kind of sliver swimming thing I my net today. I saw it swimming around and it was not a fry. It was longish say 2-4 mm long and it swam like a worm or some thing.

I tested the water this afternoon. My ammonium was not GREEN but there was a tint of green in the test and my nitrites where .25 so I did a water change. The 4 platies I have in there are doing fine I have not see them itch them selfs. I have raised the water temp. to around 80*F JUST in case its ich. There are not white spots on him and there was none on the other fish in the tank he was in at the LFS. He swims up and down the back of the tank but he does come out and look at the rest of the tank and he is not clamping his fines.

I am a bit worried as I do like him but I am not sure what he is doing or if he is sick or if it's just normal stuff for a new Gourami to do.

Oblivion

Looks kinda like a Flame Morph.
Um...wow. Flashes may be from gill flukes, and the white droppings could be internal parasites. Most likely. Not eating is bad. He's most definitely sick and that's not normal. That's all I can tell you. Hope it works out.

0morrokh

Sounds like internal parasites or a combo of an internal infection+external parasites. I also noticed what looks like a fin injury or the beginnings of finrot (last pic, there's a chunk out of the bottom of his caudal fin). He'll need parasite meds, and possibly antibiotics also.

COBettaCouple

I think he has parasites. Those are the worms that you saw and they're also causing his scratching behavior. I'd start him on parasite clear tablets asap, in a quarantine tank if you have one.

If you have any Fish Protector, Garlic Guard or Garlic Boost or liquid vitamins like Vita-Chem, those could help his fin grow back faster.

andy65

I did the internal just now.I just treated the whole tank. I have 4 platies in there that like to mouth poo so I might as well catch it early in them. I got the jungle internal and external parasite treatment powders. I am going to treat for internal that then if I see him flash(He has not done it since he came home he only did the 1st day and only 2-3 time) again then I will treat for external parasite.

He is just swimming back and forth in the back of my tank, all most like he may be pacing.
Is there any thing I can do to help it along. Would colloidal silver help any? Is there ANY thing that I would have around here to help him out? thanks for the advice.

i will keep you guys up to date on how he is doing.

COBettaCouple

Adding liquid vitamins like Vita-Chem and/or a garlic supplement like Garlic Guard or Garlic Boost could help. Also Fish Protector.. but mainly the meds will have to clear it up.

andy65

He is getting LOTS better. His color is coming back, he is nibbling at the flakes and the gravel. He has not flashed AT ALL! So I think it was just internel parasites but I am going to treat only once for external after this round of meds AND I am going to buy a QT with my x-mas $$$ for future fish buys. Is a 5 gallon tank with just a sponge filter and heater ok?

I am going to try some sinking food for him as my platies are VERY, VERY hyper when it comes feeding time so I think that is throwing him off a bit.

He has stopped swimming back and forth in the back on my tank and is VERY curious,touching every thing with his fellers. THANKS you guys SO MUCH!! You have saved my Rupert!! THANKS AGAIN

susitna-flower

The biggest problems I have had with gouramis have been from internal parasites. They don't show signs fo being sick, then all of a sudden get a tumor. I have NEVER been able to save them when this happens. Good Luck your Rupert is lovely, and I do hope you have found it in time to have success treating him.

COBettaCouple

awesome! glad to hear he's getting better now.

Bede

So, andy65 is my son and Rupert is his Gourami. Does that make me Rupert's Grandma??!! LOL!

We were sitting watching him swim around the tank this afternoon and he pooped and it was brown and we cheered and then we cracked up laughing because we were sitting around cheering at healthy looking fish poo!

See what y'all have done to us!! We've turned into total fish-loving dorks!

COBettaCouple

well, "Rupert's Grandma" we've had nice long discussions about platys nipping at poo on other platys or their own.. i guess it's just part of being a fish keeping.. finding interest in fish poo.