Bloated dwarf gourami

If push comes to shove feed him deshelled peas

How do I deshell peas?

 

How do I deshell peas?

you boil them for like 2 minutes and the skin usually is easy to peal, its a mush your left with. I would make sure your temp is around 78 F- 80 F ( I believe roughly 25 C to 26 C? I don't know Celsius that well lol google is my best friend for that) and then feed them the pea and that would help them through digestion. As long as hes healthy and not showing any other symptoms he should be good with everything above and maybe a day or two of no feeding first before the pea

 

So here is my fantastic Dwarf Gourami. I noticed about a week ago he started to balloon. He still acts like normal, still eats like a machine, and swims like normal. Behaviour all seems normal. I was feeding Omega one flakes twice a day. I cut down to once a day in the evening to see if it will help. It's been 3 days since I starting feeding once a day. His bloat doesn't seem to change. Also, I'm not quite sure if hes pooping. So to anyone who has any experience with dwarf gouramis, is this just bloat/constipation or is this something more serious like a disease or parasite.

 

I'd not feed him for a day or two and then try blanched, skinned peas to see if you can get everything moving.

 

Could be one of the first signs of DGD but also overfeeding. I'd starve it for some time and try feed some more veg (cooked spinach / lettuce aso)

 

I think I'll go the no feeding route and see what happens.

 

May want to consider epsom salt baths once a day.

 

I’d do epsom salt baths 30 minutes once a day... it’s a laxative for humans, and fish as well
I’d then fast for 3 days, and feed skinned peas. Frozen peas tend to break up less easy but I use organic canned because they’re softer and I feel like it’s easier for them to digest when they’re softer. I feed my constipated guys a pea twice a day for 2 days (or until I notice them pooping, so maybe longer)
Then feed like normal just cut back, and throw in a day of a pea only diet once a week to help prevent the constipation

 

Its only been one day of no feeding. I swear he is looking bigger..

 

Its only been one day of no feeding. I swear he is looking bigger..

Afraid it is irreversable.

 

Well good news. Seems like it was constipation and bloat. I woke up this morning and he was almost back to his normal size. I'm glad it wasn't the other way around.

 

Well good news. Seems like it was constipation and bloat. I woke up this morning and he was almost back to his normal size. I'm glad it wasn't the other way around.

Unbelievable recovery.

 

I’d do epsom salt baths 30 minutes once a day... it’s a laxative for humans, and fish as well
I’d then fast for 3 days, and feed skinned peas. Frozen peas tend to break up less easy but I use organic canned because they’re softer and I feel like it’s easier for them to digest when they’re softer. I feed my constipated guys a pea twice a day for 2 days (or until I notice them pooping, so maybe longer)
Then feed like normal just cut back, and throw in a day of a pea only diet once a week to help prevent the constipation

My golden gourami is bloated as well but not swimming right he keeps floating up to the top of the tank and isn’t able to keep himself under water I tried feeding peas and not feeding any food but he’s not improving, I made a thread on here but no replies... hoping maybe someone here will know what I can do?

 

Tank
36 Gallons
4 Months
40 GPH Hang on back, 60 Gallon Rated Sponge Filter
It has a heater
78 Degrees
Stocked with:
8 Glowlight Tetras
5 Julii Corydoras
1 Synodontis Nigriventris
1 Rubber Lipped Pleco
Pond Snails

Maintenance
Once a week
25% water changes
Seachem Prime, used to use stress guard
Vacuum over sand, rake the sand

*Parameters - Very Important
Tank cycled for 3 weeks with Ammonium Chloride and Fritz Zyme
API test kits
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia: 0 PPM
Nitrite: 0 PPM
Nitrate: 10-15 PPM (I’m partially colorblind)
pH: 6.8

Feeding
Once in the morning, after school, before sundown
The tetras and the Gourami eat a pinch of Xtreme micro pellet before it sinks. Half a Hikari Algae wafer and Xtreme Sinking wafer
What brand of food do you feed your fish?
Xtreme, Hikari, Omega one, Aquarium Co-op
I feed dry, but I try to include frozen bloodworms and vegetables twice a week.

Illness & Symptoms
2 months
This morning

The Gourami, King, appears to have a large lump in his rear half. It is translucent and appears buoyant as he is unable to swim down. He floats at the top. He is breathing and making all attempts to swim however. See attachments.
No treatment has been started
He was from Petsmart and incredibly damaged, however healed of all ailments and was parasite free/
there is a large lump that appeared along the back of his body, his behavior of being in his favorite spots is not possible, he is stuck to the surface.

My mother found him while I was at school, she had brought a friend in to see my fish tanks. However she saw King floating oddly at the top of the aquarium. She decided not to tell me because it would be “too stressful for me” at school. I have not fed him yet, however I can. He is known for his ravenous appetite. He has one clear/white very long and stringy poop coming out of him. I’m very worried, he’s my favorite. Thank you
Note: there is a picture in there of him without the ailment, for reference.

 

Put him in a quarantine tank right away! He is most likely suffering and will die soon if you do not act quick. Medicate him and make sure the tank is very well arerated so he won't die.
He is most likely on the brink of death or severely ill.

 

Put him in a quarantine tank right away! He is most likely suffering and will die soon if you do not act quick. Medicate him and make sure the tank is very well arerated so he won't die.

Ok! What do I medicate with? I have a spare tank cycling. I know he is suffering. What does he have? I don’t exactly get much from this advice

I don’t have a spare tank with a heater though. What again would I medicate with?

 

He most likely has hemmorohagic septicemia. Medicate him with aquarium salt, a general medication, and antibacterial medicine.

Get a heater and an air pump. Quarantine him until there are absolutely no signs of illness.

 

Hopefully it isn’t the Dwarf Gourami Disease,
I agree with Neppley put him in a quarantine tank. Could even be swim bladder. Is he still up top? Or on the bottom?

Hemmorohagic septicemia is a good diagnosis

 

Hopefully it isn’t the Dwarf Gourami Disease,
I agree with Neppley put him in a quarantine tank. Could even be swim bladder. Is he still up top? Or on the bottom?

He’s up at the top.

 

If he is gasping at the top then he can not breath. Add extra oxygen by adding an air pump to his quarantine tank.

Any other symptoms of disease like rapid moving gills?

 

I might even treat your main tank as a preventative. Is it planted? From the pictures it looks like it, aquarium salt and plants don’t mix.

API products are good, if you do a search of this disease treatment a whole list of products will come up.

 

Ya I agree with you dejavu that salt could harm the plants. Does your quarantine tank have plants because salt will not be an option if it does.

 

Any other symptoms of disease like rapid moving gills?

His breathing is fast but I bet this is rather stressful. Other than that no. His eyes aren’t bruised or glassy and when I come over to the tank he swims towards me. The only symptom he has is bloating of the rear abdomen causing him to be unable to sink. Do you think he could have swallowed air or ate sand to be impacted?

 

If there are any medications that only treat hemmorohagic septicemia then get that. Also get a general medication will work.

 

Ya I agree with you dejavu that salt could harm the plants. Does your quarantine tank have plants because salt will not be an option if it does.

It’s got Hornwort but I don’t really care about that

 

Ok then add salt because it will work as an emergency medicator.

 

If he is gasping at the top then he can not breath. Add extra oxygen by adding an air pump to his quarantine tank.

He’s not gasping at the top. He’s stuck with his tail upwards, because there’s a bit bubble there. The tank has plenty of surface aggravation.

 

Great that means that he is not on the brink of death and with medications he can heal. Any other symptoms of disease like rapid moving gills?

 

If there are any medications that only treat hemmorohagic septicemia then get that. Also get a general medication will work.

what are the symptoms of this? Where could he have gotten it from, he's been clean for months and he's the last fish I introduced. Are there other possible things this could be before I go all out on just one thing and it's wrong?

Great that means that he is not on the brink of death and with medications he can heal. Any other symptoms of disease like rapid moving gills?

His gills are moving quickly yes, I'd imagine this is a bit stressful. Other than that, no. His eyes are clear and his still makes "thoughtful" movements. I.E. He swims, with the best of his ability, over to me when he recognizes me.

 

Hemmorohagic septicemia have symtoms such as lumps, floating at top, scratching against decor, red spots on body, rapid moving gills, and being more lethargic than usual.

 

Hemmorohagic septicemia have symtoms such as lumps, floating at top, scratching against decor, red spots on body, rapid moving gills, and being more lethargic than usual.

He wasn't scratching yesterday or any day for that matter, no red spots, not lethargic. He was spritely and normal this morning before I left the house. My mother came in around noon. "This morning" is vague I'm sorry for saying that earlier, it's ill-fitting.

 

It could also be ich, fin rot, any bacterial infection, fungus, gill mites, gill flukes, and body flukes.
Then I would say because of his symptoms it may be body flukes.
Body flukes are common and have a very fast onset. He could have gill flukes but if he had that he would have rapid moving gills.

 

It could also be ich, fin rot, any bacterial infection, fungus, gill mites, gill flukes, and body flukes.

Is any sort of blockage completely out of the question? His weird stringy poop currently hanging out of him has to be three times his length, that can't just be unconnected I've never seen anything like that.
I'm not trying to disregard your advice, just I really don't think it's any infection. He's been clean and healthy for months and he's the newest inhabitant, there's been no disease in here, so how could it be in here?
I'm sorry, but that's my perspective. Especially because he shows no other symptoms.

Is any sort of blockage completely out of the question? His weird stringy poop currently hanging out of him has to be three times his length, that can't just be unconnected I've never seen anything like that.
I'm not trying to disregard your advice, just I really don't think it's any infection. He's been clean and healthy for months and he's the newest inhabitant, there's been no disease in here, so how could it be in here?
I'm sorry, but that's my perspective. Especially because he shows no other symptoms.

Dropsy or DG disease/Dropsy seems to be the case for me. More symptoms are present, and DG have a tendency to become immunocompromised and catch dropsy.

 

Yes blockage is a possibility and occurs when the is a bacterial infection that swells. I would say blockage of the swim bladder is the best bet for what your fish has.
Has he had any problems swimming or stays at one part of the fish tank as that is a sign of swim bladder blockage?

 

Yes blockage is a possibility and occurs when the is a bacterial infection that swells. I would say blockage of the swim bladder is the best bet for what your fish has.

OK, neato. Aquarium Salt? Teaspoon a gallon?

 

Yes dropsy is a possibility but he would have raised scales to have dropsy.

 

Yes blockage is a possibility and occurs when the is a bacterial infection that swells. I would say blockage of the swim bladder is the best bet for what your fish has.
Has he had any problems swimming or stays at one part of the fish tank as that is a sign of swim bladder blockage?

He can swim but not down. He's pinned to the surface. I'm going out to buy a heater. Is there anything else I should get?

 

Buy dropsy and bacterial medication if you do not already have it.
He seems to check off all the swim bladder blockage ( aka swim bladder disease) symptoms and bacterial medication will treat it as will dropsy medication.
Bye I have to log off the aquarium forum site.

 

ok, update:
added a heater to the ten-gallon quarantine tank, and acclimated him in. Went to PetSmart also and got anti-bacterial from API. They didn't have any dropsy or any general cure. (also got a glowlight tetra because he was all alone and I have a school.)

He seems to be doing better already. He's still doing vertical headstands, but his spine isn't as curved and the bulge isn't as pronounced anymore. He's able to swim throughout the water, although vertically of course. The long stringy poop is gone, and it looks like he's got another coming. I dropped in an algae wafer cause those are his favorite food, but he didn't seem to find it. It's lights out, luckily I don't have school tomorrow so I'll be able to check in on him throughout the day.

Thank y'all
slapp

 

jinjerJOSH22
Maybe you could take a look at this thread