Healing or Scarring?

My poor little Dwarf Gourami has incurred some scale-damage as a result of a poorly-mannered Algae Eater. The offending fish was sold to me as a "ThaI Algae Eater", though I had a hard time detrmining what it really was. It cleaned my tank quite well, but it was supplementing it's diet with the sides of my Gourami. The Algae Eater has moved on to a friends much larger chichlid-filled tank... but my Gourami is left with several grey sucker-mouth sized spots on him. He seems to be swimming and eating okay - can I expect him to heal on his own, or will he need some special treatment?

 

Sounds like they may have sold you a Chinese algae eater by the description of it. Those buggers can be very aggressive and sometimes even jump out of the tanks! Your Gourami will probably be ok. I would suggest putting him in a quarantine tank if you have one, otherwise watch to make sure the grey sucker-mouth wounds don't get any worse, in which case you may have to resort to using medicine. Keep a close eye on the guy and make sure nothing starts building up in those wounds.

 

Unfortunately there isn't a quarantine tank for him... and over the last few days he seemed to be healing nicely, this morning I woke to found him swiming rather erratically and otherwise looking "not so good". He's also got his fins completely extended as if he's scared or angry about something. I've seen this "drunken" swimming before in mollies, and it does not bode well. I fear I may have to prepare for his burial at sea, unless anyone out there has some thoughts?

The details are as follows, if relevent: 12 Gallon planted tank, single [totally non agressive] angelfish tankmate, seemingly good water quality...

 

If you have other fish, you should watch out for them too. Sometimes, these fish will take advantage of an injured fish and attack them more. I don't know if it help but you might consider put some stress/coat enzyme to the tank. The enzyme will help your gourami heal more quickly.

 

Use the "Stress-coat" from Walmart. Its cheap and it will help a lot!

 

HI guys,
I have a similar problem with my dwarf gourami, he was baddly
chassed by the male platy and missing a few scales from his side.
I use Melafix. Works good.