mistie

Shawnie

aww poor guy!! im sorry he passed...it doesnt look like ich to me...have you done an ammonia test lately? almost looks like some effects of ammonia... and water changes maybe with some prime are always beneficial when one doesnt know whats going on...im sure others will see this and help if they can...goodluck and I hope everyone else is ok!

mistie

Hi Shawnie, I did a complete water test everyday this week. My amonia has never been anything other than 0. My pH is 7.3. My nitrate and nitite are 0 and 5-10. All are good. I don't think it has anything to do with the water. I really feel like it is a disease, but didn't think it was ich. I have other meds on hand, but wanted to make sure what it was before I kept treating the water. I don't want my othe fish to get infected. Hopefully they will be OK. Thanks for looking at him though.

Shawnie

I hope someone see's this and helps!! its so hard to loose them and not know why....some stress coat will help the remaining ones with some aloe for their slime coat if others have some damage..at least until someone tells you what it is...keeping my fingers crossed!

cognizant

I looked at the pictures and I am wondering if this is a possibility?

Hole in the Head - HITH, sometimes referred to as Head and Lateral Line Erosion - HLLE Small holes or indentations on the head of fish, advanced cases may show markings along the lateral line of the fish. They may stop eating. There are many theories out there, but no conclusive scientific evidence as to what exactly causes this disease. However, it may be attributed to poor water quality, lack of proper nutrition and/or the use of activated carbon for prolonged periods. However, there have been no scientific studies about the effects of the prolonged use activate carbon causing hole in the head, it's just speculation. Be sure to give your fish the best water that you can by performing frequent water changes. Give them vitamin enriched foods and change out or stop using activated carbon.

I just saw the big cut on his head and remembered reading that under the disease section of this website.

mistie

Hi There, I done some reading on your theory. From what I find they start as pits and are caved in. The marks on my fish look more like raised lesions. They started as a yellow or white circle, then got bigger and more raised. Also look almost like thay have pus in them if that is possible. Also didn't mention, but his front fins looked almost bloody at the edge where they connect to his side. Probably caused from strees is my guess. I did remove the charcoal. Don't think it was bad because it was just put in last week. Thanks for trying to help. Appreciate it all the comments. Makes me read more and learn some much needed info.

Shawnie

I saw the fins also and hence why I thought it might be ammonia...I dont think its HITH as thats caused mostly by bad water and bad feeder fish...are you by any chance using test strips to test your water parimeters? just curious ..was hoping someone would have come by and had an answer for you

mistie

Hello, No test strips. Doing a complete accurate test with 4 vials and drops. I am pounding and shaking the bottles good. Learned that last week from here. I was wondering if maybe my other kissing fish could have been fighting him. They seemed to be getting aggresive with each other once in a while, but it didn't seem bad. Could it be bites that got infected? Just wondering......

Shawnie

hmmm maybe....gouramis are territorial by nature...Id keep an eye on the others but dont treat the tank with anything for now...are the others looking ok and eating and acting normal as you can tell? and in the future, if you happen to get ich again, turning up the temps to 83f for two weeks will kill the ich..just do a good vacuum of the gravel as ich spores love to hang out there also..and a few more water changes as warmer water has less oxygen....

Speedy

Hi Mistie
I'm no fish expert but it looks like it could be ulcer disease. Have you check into that? Are your other fish still eating? I wouldn't put any medication in either right now. If it where me I would keep a close eye on your remaining fish and I would start feeding them some medicated flake food if that doesn't do it then hopefully someone one here will know what it is for sure. Good luck.