Honey Gourami Very Thin, Spits Food

[Notivation]

I've had my community tank fully stocked for about two months now. It's a 23 gallon bowfront with 7 cherry barbs, three platys, three guppies, and two honey gouramis. One Gourami is a very active, social swimmer and an aggressive eater like the rest of the fish. One gourami is very thin, small, pale, and doesn't go to the surface to eat. They only eat what falls down, and it has to be very small pieces or they will spit it out. I thought for the longest time that they were just shy and going to adapt, but she seems very sickly now and I am concerned. As for QT, I only have a three gallon with baby neocaridina shrimp. Should I put her in there?

 

[finnipper59]

I've had my community tank fully stocked for about two months now. It's a 23 gallon bowfront with 7 cherry barbs, three platys, three guppies, and two honey gouramis. One Gourami is a very active, social swimmer and an aggressive eater like the rest of the fish. One gourami is very thin, small, pale, and doesn't go to the surface to eat. They only eat what falls down, and it has to be very small pieces or they will spit it out. I thought for the longest time that they were just shy and going to adapt, but she seems very sickly now and I am concerned. As for QT, I only have a three gallon with baby neocaridina shrimp. Should I put her in there?
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Over the past few years, a disease called 'dwarf gourami disease' for which there is no cure. The victims are usually euthanized to stop their suffering. There is one other disease with a symptom of food spitting called columnaris which is treatable. More times than not, a fish with advanced columnaris will show outward signs such as large white patches that appears like ich on steroids. If the fish has white stringy poop, then it may be internal parasites which are treatable with API General Cure. But with the severe wasting of its body at this point, I'm sorry to say don't get your hopes up.

 

[Notivation]

Poop is normal, solid brown and short little turds. What are the symptoms of the dwarf gourami disease?
Just pulled them out to check. No signs of columnaris that I can see.

 

[finnipper59]

Just pulled them out to check. No signs of columnaris that I can see.

Initially there would be appetite loss and usually bloating, as well as, loss of some coloration. But a lot of times the bloating doesn't get severe enough for people to think they're just well fed. If they're are no parasites, I won't rule out bacteria. But as to whether you want to try an antibiotic such as ER Erythromycin is up to you. Once a fish has gotten to the wasting stage of a disease, it's chances of survival are low.

 

[Notivation]

What would you advise I do?

 

[finnipper59]

What would you advise I do?

It's a recommendation that I hate to make as much as doing myself, but I would euthanize it.

 

[Notivation]

Is it remotely possible they're just thin and need to eat more?
They ate several pieces today without an issue