Gourami struggling to swim. Tail up or curling tail.

[seaweedshawty]

Tank parameters:
Nitrate 20
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Ph 7.4
Temp 76F

My dwarf gourami started hanging out around the surface 3 days ago which is unusual for him. After about an hour he started having issues swimming. Tail up, almost floating. I removed him and put him in a hospital bucket with salt (can't salt my tank bc of loaches). He seemed to get better after 24hrs. I did a water change; fresh water & fresh salt. He rapidly declined. He is really struggling to swim. His tail keeps curling into a c shape, swimming in circles, if he's not trying to swim he's just face down tail up on the bottom. His coloration is maybe a little pale?

I thought it was swim bladder or gourami disease. Is there anything more I could do for him? Is he a lost cause?

 

[Deathstar31]

Hey, sorry about your fish, my dwarf gourami had similar symptoms. He was at the top of the tank and struggled to swim. He unfortunately passed. I don't know if this is the same thing, it sounds similar, but I don't know. Sorry. Wait a bit. Don't kill him yet.

Also I am sorry I can't help out better.

Is this fish new or older? The reason I ask is that if he's older it would be harder to get gourami disease. So it could be swim bladder disease.

 

[seaweedshawty]

Hey, sorry about your fish, my dwarf gourami had similar symptoms. He was at the top of the tank and struggled to swim. He unfortunately passed. I don't know if this is the same thing, it sounds similar, but I don't know. Sorry. Wait a bit. Don't kill him yet.


Also I am sorry I can't help out better.

Is this fish new or older? The reason I ask is that if he's older it would be harder to get gourami disease. So it could be swim bladder disease.

I've had it since February

 

[Deathstar31]

Okay, I am no expert unfortunately. To me it sounds like swim-bladder disease, do you have tetra-lifeguard? If so that might help. Do you have a quarantine tank? Is the qt bucket filtered? If you have a quarantine tank probably put him there.

 

[seaweedshawty]

Okay, I am no expert unfortunately. To me it sounds like swim-bladder disease, do you have tetra-lifeguard? If so that might help. Do you have a quarantine tank? Is the qt bucket filtered? If you have a quarantine tank probably put him there.

He's in a qt bucket. No filter, just an air stone. I've been doing daily water changes. I do not have the tetra life gaurd, but I have been adding salt and kanaplex

 

[Deathstar31]

He's in a qt bucket. No filter, just an air stone. I've been doing daily water changes. I do not have the tetra life gaurd, but I have been adding salt and kanaplex

Okay. I wish I could help more. I don't know what else to say. Good luck. I will be praying for the little guy.

 

[Fishfur]

Swimming as you describe suggests it’s a neurological problem. It might be caused by the DGV but it’s highly unlikely that it involves the swim bladder itself.

Most buoyancy and postural swimming issues have nothing to do with the swim bladder - but they all get lumped into SBD anyway.

There isn’t any treatment for neurological issues, most unfortunately.

 

[seaweedshawty]

Swimming as you describe suggests it’s a neurological problem. It might be caused by the DGV but it’s highly unlikely that it involves the swim bladder itself.

Most buoyancy and postural swimming issues have nothing to do with the swim bladder - but they all get lumped into SBD anyway.

There isn’t any treatment for neurological issues, most unfortunately.

I was wondering this since there has been no improvement. Should I put him down?

 

[Fishfur]

If he remains like this for more than 24 hours, I probably would put him down if he belonged to me. He can’t have much quality of life in this condition.

 

[Deathstar31]

Hey Seaweedshawty, sorry if my advice was not great. I tried to tell you what I thought I knew. I was really wrong. Sorry. And sorry for the fish.

 

[seaweedshawty]

Hey Seaweedshawty, sorry if my advice was not great. I tried to tell you what I thought I knew. I was really wrong. Sorry. And sorry for the fish.

You're all good you were very helpful. Thank you

Herbert the Gourami unfortunately passed away last night. Thank you everybody for your help. He will be missed

 

[Deathstar31]

You're all good you were very helpful. Thank you

Herbert the Gourami unfortunately passed away last night. Thank you everybody for your help. He will be missed

Thankyou for that. I am sorry to hear that. Herbert is a great name.