Gourami laying at bottom of tank

My Flame Dwarf Gourami is laying sideways on the bottom of the tank. He only started acting different yesterday- he had clamped fins. Now he lays at the bottom of my tank and has labored breathing, a dark head, and slime on his body. He does get up to swim occasionally, but he clearly is having a lot of trouble. I am prepared to euthanize if necessary. Is it to late to save him?

 

What are your water parameters?
Is your tank cycled?
What is the temp of the tank?
Do you have a filter?
What is the size of the tank?

 

What are your water parameters?
Is your tank cycled?
What is the temp of the tank?
Do you have a filter?
What is the size of the tank?

Water Parameters:
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 5

Tank is cycled

Temp: 74 F

Sponge Filter

10 gallon tank

 

Is your heater adjustable? I would raise it to 78f.

It almost looks like a bacterial infection but it usually doesn't affect the fish that badly that quickly.

Do a Google search on dwarf gourami disease and see if any of the symptoms match.

 

From your pic it looks like your tank is filled with blue green algae, what is that stuff?

 

Is your heater adjustable? I would raise it to 78f.

It almost looks like a bacterial infection but it usually doesn't affect the fish that badly that quickly.

Do a Google search on dwarf gourami disease and see if any of the symptoms match.

I do not have a heater in my tank as the room temperature water was in their temperature range

From your pic it looks like your tank is filled with blue green algae, what is that stuff?

I have been having an algae bloom in that tank. Surprisingly, the picture looks a lot better than it did a few days ago. I had posted a thread about the algae bloom because I couldn’t find out why I had it. Parameters were fine and I fed in small amounts.

 

I have been having an algae bloom in that tank. Surprisingly, the picture looks a lot better than it did a few days ago. I had posted a thread about the algae bloom because I couldn’t find out why I had it. Parameters were fine and I fed in small amounts.

if thats the case then Id say something went wonky with your water chemistry somewhere. theres more to fishkeeping than ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Trouble is, who knows what it is or could be. Your gourami doesn't look very good to be honest. Acute cases with gouramis pop up here pretty often and more likely then not the fast onset ones dont do well. So I would try to move him to some nice clear, clean water as soon as possible. If it is the water chemistry then you should see an improvement. You will need to treat that slime as well but I would wait to see if the clean water helps first, at least 24 hours. Too much treatment too soon will shock him too much. it is possible that what im seeing is just degradation of the slime coat as well

please keep us updated

 

if thats the case then Id say something went wonky with your water chemistry somewhere. theres more to fishkeeping than ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Trouble is, who knows what it is or could be. Your gourami doesn't look very good to be honest. Acute cases with gouramis pop up here pretty often and more likely then not the fast onset ones dont do well. So I would try to move him to some nice clear, clean water as soon as possible. If it is the water chemistry then you should see an improvement. You will need to treat that slime as well but I would wait to see if the clean water helps first, at least 24 hours. Too much treatment too soon will shock him too much. it is possible that what im seeing is just degradation of the slime coat as well

please keep us updated

I performed around a ~35% water change about 30 minutes ago. The water is a lot clearer now so I can see in there to watch my Gourami. He made it up to the top of the water and is sitting there gulping air. I also added some freshwater aquarium salt when I changed the water.

 

I performed around a ~35% water change about 30 minutes ago. The water is a lot clearer now so I can see in there to watch my Gourami. He made it up to the top of the water and is sitting there gulping air. I also added some freshwater aquarium salt when I changed the water.

that is a good sign, it definitely sounds like something is up with the water then. gulping air tells me low oxygen at the very least. 35% is not a lot in this case so I would do another water change as soon as you feel confident that he can handle it

 

that is a good sign, it definitely sounds like something is up with the water then. gulping air tells me low oxygen at the very least. 35% is not a lot in this case so I would do another water change as soon as you feel confident that he can handle it

Okay, I will do another water change tomorrow. Would an air stone be of any help in this situation?

 

Okay, I will do another water change tomorrow. Would an air stone be of any help in this situation?

yes absolutely run an airstone if you have one

 

yes absolutely run an airstone if you have one

Ok, sounds good!

 

Low oxygen, high C02.
You need more surface agitation. That is how oxygen gets into the water and how C02 leaves.
Make sure your sponge filter is running with a good flow. Make the output of the filter so it agitates the surface.
Add an air stone.
Agitate the surface yourself be splashing it for a while. Stir it up and get it frothy.
Don't delay!

If too much damage happened to the fish he will die. But if you get him oxygen in time, he will be fine.

 

Unfortunately, my gourami passed away this morning. The poor little guy- this all came on so fast.

 

Unfortunately, my gourami passed away this morning. The poor little guy- this all came on so fast.

It probably wasn't your fault, Dwarf gouramis are known to have terrible health and people on this forum are always having issues with them. I would try honey gouramis if you ever do smaller gouramis again.

 

Low oxygen, high C02.
You need more surface agitation. That is how oxygen gets into the water and how C02 leaves.
Make sure your sponge filter is running with a good flow. Make the output of the filter so it agitates the surface.
Add an air stone.
Agitate the surface yourself be splashing it for a while. Stir it up and get it frothy.
Don't delay!

If too much damage happened to the fish he will die. But if you get him oxygen in time, he will be fine.

Gouramis are able to live in low oxygen water cause they have a second breathing system. So I think that wasn't what caused it.

Unfortunately, my gourami passed away this morning. The poor little guy- this all came on so fast.

Sorry to hear