Dying dwarf gourami, advice needed.

[Bex29782]

My female dwarf gourami is blatantly about to die, not happy .... I thought maybe she was feeling a bit off so I quarantined her in a birthing tank that is in my community tank.

I'm assuming that she has dwarf gourami disease but I can't be sure. I'm not sure what to do with her as I don't have another tank I can put her in and I'm worried she might infect my other fish...

The only thing I can think to do at this point is bag her but leave it open floating in the tank... is this a bad idea?

Water parameters are perfect (use an actual testing kit, not strips) and I only done a water change on Saturday.

Also, when she dies will my boy be ok on his own as he won't leave her side, he is literally sitting next to the perspex box. Should I leave him on his own or go and get another female when this one dies?

Any advice welcome....

 

[JuiceKong]

This disease (if it is what she has), can only infect a small number of fish. Your other dwarf gourami is definitely at risk as long as she is in the tank. If the fish is really suffering, I would euthanize.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

dwarf gourami iridovirus doesn’t usually infect other fish outside of dwarf gouramis. I had two that passed from it- they got really pale and bloated and then just died within one day. Very sad. I still have two alive but since they were all from the same place and tank I think the other two will eventually pass from it too.

 

[AvaS]

Do you have a breeder box? I’m currently dealing with a mollie who ate a snail, I’ve had one of my angels do this and he was miserable for probably 2 weeks befor he was able to finally spit it out. Unfortunately I think she is too small to get the snail out. We put her in a small floating breeder box in the aquarium, hopefully she will finally be able to spit it out herself, atleast she won’t keep being nipped at and hiding away. I almost euthanized the angel because he was just hiding away, glad I didn’t though as he came around, the Molly I’m trying to give the same chance. Only you know what you should do for your fish, it’s a tough call. If a bag is all you have, the stress might be too much for her and if she’s already in the tank, the other fish are already exposed. If it’s gourami disease there isn’t much you can do unless their immune system can kick it. The less stress on the fish the better. And unfortunately that means your male is also exposed to that and doesn’t have good chances of survival (if it’s actually gourami disease), your other fish won’t be affected.

 

[Noroomforshoe]

I. No, you can not keep the fish in a bag, there is no airflow, no Water flow, it will fill up with ammonia.
2. Can you describe the symptoms? If it is really the dwarf gourami disease, then the other gourami is at risk. And so are any newly added gourami.
3. Euthinization may be the most humane thing to do. Consider picking up a bottle of clove oil.

 

[Bex29782]

Thank you for all your advice... My little female died this morning

Any advice for my boy? He is just sitting in the corner of the tank where she was.... He looks depressed, is that even possible?

 

[Noroomforshoe]

Yes, unfortunately, it is possible for your fish to feel bad after losing a friend. It has happened in my tank noticeably a few times. Once with a pearl gourami pair. You probably could add another in a week or so if your current fish stay healthy, but I don't know how old your fish is, and I dont know if that is what you want to do, or even the right thing to do.

 

[bgarthe]

Sorry abt your loss. Maybe you could try to change his demeanor by rearranging your tank decor a bit. Just a thought. Meanwhile check your boy out for while before considering adding another female. If he has it, you don’t want to expos another DG to it. He’ll be ok.

 

[Bex29782]

He is quite a friendly fish, he won't hesitate to swim in to my hand and just sit there.... I feel so bad for him...

How long would symptoms start showing in him if it was definitely dwarf gourami disease? I do think he needs a female to chase around and swim with but like you say I don't want to infect another fish.

Thanks again for everyone's advice I really appreciate it xx