Bettalady

Hi all,

Its been awhile since I posted, I've had some family upheaval lately which caused me to be a bit behind on a water change of my tropical community tank and my nitrate reading got to orange (can't remember the number maybe 10?) so I did a big water change but had already noticed my dwarf gourami I've had for awhile now sitting at the bottom of the tank with my clown loaches jumping over him cause he wouldn't move! I hoped he would be better now but seems to be worse he doesn't even bother coming up for food now and he's been like this for over a week.

He seems still to be quite plump (healthy looking) just doesn't move lost his bright orange colour to a more dull colour and hides behind the pirate ship and does nothing all day!?

I just read the sticky on dwarf gouramis and beta's and a disease plague at the moment and I am really worried, can anyone tell me if these signs I described are similar to that of the current disease plague or something else, also should I move him to my q tank in case it is catchy (hate to lose my loaches!)

P.S He's not breathing heavy at all just doesn't look happy.

Please help.

Catherine T.

mrfish

There are some sicknesses only susceptible to gouramis, especially dwarf, and mollies. It shouldn't spread to other fish if it is that. I can't remember the name, but it is pretty common.

Shawnie

id do a test for ammonia and nitrites ..a 10 nitrate shouldnt make his breathing heavy...I hope he gets better!

mrfish

good luck, to you and the fishy.

Bettalady

Hi Shawnie, I did that and since my tank cycled properly I've never had amonia or nitrite reading's over normal even when my tank needs a water change I just get some nitrates if it's been over a month.

Shawnie

what was the reading for ammonia and nitrite? sometimes a mini cycle can sneak up on us without warning for many reasons...

Bettalady

Thanks mrfish. I hope he survives he was a tough little thing till now.

CHoffman

Poor baby...What are you readings for ammonia and nitrite??..Is the water temp ok??...Have you noticed any white stringy poop or other wierd waste from him..If he's not eating and still looks plump he might have an internal parasite. Parasites can cause symptoms like your Gourami is going through.SO sorry you boy isn't feeling good though..It might not be a bad Idea to put him in QT just so you can keep a close eye on him and just incase it is catching.

Bettalady

Well I got the freshwater mater test kit and the nitrites are now always blue colour (0ppm) and the ammonia is always yellow (0ppm) and that's with or without a nitrates reading, although I'm normally very good with water changes and I always change once a mnth as I know I'm pushing the friendship if I go past that as I have a full tank, but last mnth I was 2 weeks over.

Bettalady

As far as I can tell he hasn't pooped at all, water temp is always on 26.5 deg Celsius sorry don't know Fahrenheit. Yeah I think I'm gonna start up the qt don't want to risk losing more than one fish.