Pearl gourami feeler?

Hey guys I came home today and noticed that both of my female (I think female) pearl gourami's feelers are broken!! Will they ever grow back? If they do, shoud I put some melafix in the tank? there are no open wounds, and I have not noticed any major aggresion, just some picking from the male, no deliberate chasing and bullying. it appears she maybe crashed into something....

 

I've read they may or may not grow back but both feelers completely came off? Can you post a pic?

 

I'm under the impression that if they had their ventral feelers when you bought them they'll grow back unless the "roots" were completely ripped out.

 

once I get back to it tomorrow I will for sure. Its not all the way, only 1/2 of it.

 

Then it should grow back just fine as long as the water is clean.

 

Then it should grow back just fine as long as the water is clean.

So I shouldn't put melafix?

 

I wouldn't. I've recommended it to people before but the more I learn, the more Pimafix/Melafix seem like "snake oil." If you're going to medicate, I'd use something more effective and less likely to cause a film on your water's surface. (This is especially important to avoid with Anabantoids like gouramis due to their labyrinth organs.) I wouldn't use medication to treat something superficial like a ripped ventral feeler. Nitrates under 20 ppm (10 ppm would be better), and your fish should heal up just fine.

 

I wouldn't. I've recommended it to people before but the more I learn, the more Pimafix/Melafix seem like "snake oil." If you're going to medicate, I'd use something more effective and less likely to cause a film on your water's surface. (This is especially important to avoid with Anabantoids like gouramis due to their labyrinth organs.) I wouldn't use medication to treat something superficial like a ripped ventral feeler. Nitrates under 20 ppm (10 ppm would be better), and your fish should heal up just fine.

Nice! glad this is a small thing. Thanks for the help!

 

Sure thing!

 

I wouldn't. I've recommended it to people before but the more I learn, the more Pimafix/Melafix seem like "snake oil." If you're going to medicate, I'd use something more effective and less likely to cause a film on your water's surface. (This is especially important to avoid with Anabantoids like gouramis due to their labyrinth organs.) I wouldn't use medication to treat something superficial like a ripped ventral feeler. Nitrates under 20 ppm (10 ppm would be better), and your fish should heal up just fine.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a snake oil, it does indeed help. You are totally right about its affect an anabantoids, it can even destroy their labyrinth organ if overdosed. Those bottles really need a warning on them about that. I used melafix on my 65 gallon after adding my blue acara, one of the tank mates didn't take kindly to him initially and bit off about half his tail, and learned later I was lucky to have not killed half my fish. I have a bichir, African knife, and ctenopoma in their, all of which the melafix could have killed if I had dosed wrong. A part of me also thinks my emperor 400 helped save the fish, because it seriously agitates the surface on that tank. Meant for a 90 hehehe.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a snake oil, it does indeed help. You are totally right about its affect an anabantoids, it can even destroy their labyrinth organ if overdosed. Those bottles really need a warning on them about that. I used melafix on my 65 gallon after adding my blue acara, one of the tank mates didn't take kindly to him initially and bit off about half his tail, and learned later I was lucky to have not killed half my fish. I have a bichir, African knife, and ctenopoma in their, all of which the melafix could have killed if I had dosed wrong. A part of me also thinks my emperor 400 helped save the fish, because it seriously agitates the surface on that tank. Meant for a 90 hehehe.

Oh dang. Well if I do use it (he has some fin damage too now...I'm wondering if someone chomped on him now) I'll do probally a half dose like I did with ich cure.

 

What are the fish he shares a tank With?

 

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a snake oil, it does indeed help. You are totally right about its affect an anabantoids, it can even destroy their labyrinth organ if overdosed. Those bottles really need a warning on them about that. I used melafix on my 65 gallon after adding my blue acara, one of the tank mates didn't take kindly to him initially and bit off about half his tail, and learned later I was lucky to have not killed half my fish. I have a bichir, African knife, and ctenopoma in their, all of which the melafix could have killed if I had dosed wrong. A part of me also thinks my emperor 400 helped save the fish, because it seriously agitates the surface on that tank. Meant for a 90 hehehe.

Noted! I just personally feel like there are better products to use. I use Stress Guard if I want to treat for superficial problems or ParaGuard for more serious ailments, both by Seachem. Of course, pristine water is always the best route to go initially - and to keep it that way!

 

Oh dang. Then I guess if I do use melafix (her tail is messed up now I'm worried if someone is biting her) I'll probally do 1/2 the dose like I did for my ich cure a little while back

 

Oh dang. Then I guess if I do use melafix (her tail is messed up now I'm worried if someone is biting her) I'll probally do 1/2 the dose like I did for my ich cure a little while back

Once again, what other fish are in the tank?
Nvm, read your profile, derpface me. I would say your cherry barbs are nipping since you only have 5. They prefer groups of 6+, and get nippy when they feel like they don't have enough friends. I would recommend 8 or more, that should stop them from nipping. The edges of the fins don't look like they have fin rot right?

 

Once again, what other fish are in the tank?
Nvm, read your profile, derpface me. I would say your cherry barbs are nipping since you only have 5. They prefer groups of 6+, and get nippy when they feel like they don't have enough friends. I would recommend 8 or more, that should stop them from nipping. The edges of the fins don't look like they have fin rot right?

that's the #1 suspect right now, most likely its them. one of the females died (she wouldnt eat) so the males are pretty hyper... once I go pick up the bn plec today I might bring a hot chick for the guys. no it doesn't appear to be fin rot, my nitrates and nitrites are very low so I wouldnt think its that

 

I wouldn't suspect cherry barbs of nipping anything besides each other.

You say your nitrates and nitrites are very low... does this mean that you're showing nitrites?

 

I wouldn't suspect cherry barbs of nipping anything besides each other.

You say your nitrates and nitrites are very low... does this mean that you're showing nitrites?

I figured if they're wasn't a big enough school they'd get nippy like other small fish. Is this not the case with cherry barbs?

Also interested in the nitrites are showing

 

They're social for sure but from what I can tell they're definitely not as reliant on friends as say, harlequin rasboras. I keep mine in a large group but everyone tends to go off on their own. When I see them together they're usually in smaller groups comprised of about five individuals max. I've also seen one of my cherry barbs nip at another fish exactly one time, and it was a large female putting a male in his place.

This has been my personal experience and mileage may vary.

 

They're social for sure but from what I can tell they're definitely not as reliant on friends as say, harlequin rasboras. I keep mine in a large group but everyone tends to go off on their own. When I see them together they're usually in smaller groups comprised of about five individuals max. I've also seen one of my cherry barbs nip at another fish exactly one time, and it was a large female putting a male in his place.

This has been my personal experience and mileage may vary.

Same here. They mostly chase eachother. Yes I am showing 20ppm nitrites

 

20 ppm nitrItes? With an i?

 

20 ppm nitrItes? With an i?

My bad nitrates. But I do need to keep doing water changes

 

So what are your nitrites showing?

 

I would be surprised if the cherry barbs are the culprits. I've kept them for some time with gourami's and have never had this issue. I keep an all male group though

 

So what are your nitrites showing?

0ppm