I think one of my fish is sick or dying

[WestHaven]

One of my 4 dwarf gouramis has been looking sick the last few days. The other 3 all look fine, are swimming well, eating well, and are brightly colored. The sick one looks thin, has trouble swimming or maintaining his depth in the water, has trouble getting to food, and has lost a lot of color. He spends a lot of time resting on the bottom or on plants or hiding. I think he has a problem with his swim bladder.

What can I do to help this little guy?

[Shimagoma]

Originally Posted by WestHaven

One of my 4 dwarf gouramis has been looking sick the last few days. The other 3 all look fine, are swimming well, eating well, and are brightly colored. The sick one looks thin, has trouble swimming or maintaining his depth in the water, has trouble getting to food, and has lost a lot of color. He spends a lot of time resting on the bottom or on plants or hiding. I think he has a problem with his swim bladder.

What can I do to help this little guy?

Could be an internal parasite. I would isolate if hes doing okay and treat him with internal parasite guard or pepso food (becareful using it around inverts though!) Weight loss like that usually has to do with something in the gut.

[WestHaven]

Originally Posted by Shimagoma

Could be an internal parasite. I would isolate if hes doing okay and treat him with internal parasite guard or pepso food (becareful using it around inverts though!) Weight loss like that usually has to do with something in the gut.

I called and talked to a guy at my local fish store, and he suggested that I'm not doing enough maintenance on my tank. I do about a 25% water change each week. He asked if I ever vacuum the gravel and I said no I have never done that. Is that the problem?

My tank has a lot of plants (they are all doing well), and I thought they would take care of a lot of the excess ammonia and nitrate (I tested them and they are non-detectable).

[micheljq]

Hi,

Did it look like that particular gouramy was being chased or attacked by another one, on a regular basis?

For example, when feeding time occurred, was it able to eat without being harassed?

Michel.

[Shimagoma]

Originally Posted by WestHaven

I called and talked to a guy at my local fish store, and he suggested that I'm not doing enough maintenance on my tank. I do about a 25% water change each week. He asked if I ever vacuum the gravel and I said no I have never done that. Is that the problem?

My tank has a lot of plants (they are all doing well), and I thought they would take care of a lot of the excess ammonia and nitrate (I tested them and they are non-detectable).

its always good to vacuum out plant debris and poo that collects in the tank. is it your 29gal? 30gal? 4 dwarf G is a lot for that size so it could be stress possibly? but eh. The ammonia is processed in your filter after cycling (good circulation is best!) But the bacteria can make the water toxic if it gets to a certain level. I but vacuuming with the water change is usually what people do, just to clear debris. the weight loss is indicative of something else. and for me it makes me think parasite almost always. snakes, same thing, horses, same thing, I would maybe go ahead and call a local shop for something to nip it in the bud. unless someone thinks it something else...but my otto dropped a ton of weight suddenly and it was the same thing, just a parasite and was eatin all his food. after the internal parasite treatment though he was fine.

[WestHaven]

Originally Posted by micheljq

Hi,

Did it look like that particular gouramy was being chased or attacked by another one, on a regular basis?

For example, when feeding time occurred, was it able to eat without being harassed?

Michel.

I haven't seen it being harassed, but who knows. I see the other 3 gouramis chasing each other occasionally . This particular gourami has been staying in the mid-to-bottom part of the tank mostly. I have seen that whatever food it can get is the food that drifts close enough to it.

[WestHaven]

Yes this is my 29 gallon (my only tank). It has been up and running for 8-9 months. Today I cleaned the filter and did a 25% water change. I do a water change once a week and clean the filter once a month.

I have a Penguin 200 HOB filter. What I do to clean it is take it off the tank, put the bio-wheel, filter foam and ceramic beads in a bucket of tank water and wash them around to remove any debris, then take the filter body and impeller and rinse them in the sink.

Is my filter not big/"strong" enough for a 29 gallon tank with this many fish? I updated my signature for my number of fish.

[micheljq]

Originally Posted by WestHaven

I haven't seen it being harassed, but who knows. I see the other 3 gouramis chasing each other occasionally . This particular gourami has been staying in the mid-to-bottom part of the tank mostly. I have seen that whatever food it can get is the food that drifts close enough to it.

I say that because if you have more than one male, one may be dominated by the other. If it is a female, she can be stressed by the continual pursuit from one or more males. Dwarf gouramis are peaceful towards other species but males can be agressive toward their own. Males are territorial and will chase each other. Males courship females, sometimes agressively. Those 2 comportments, in a tank, may lead to harassment cases. I have seen it often.

[Shimagoma]

Originally Posted by micheljq

I say that because if you have more than one male, one may be dominated by the other. If it is a female, she can be stressed by the continual pursuit from one or more males. Dwarf gouramis are peaceful towards other species but males can be agressive toward their own. Males are territorial and will chase each other. Males courship females, sometimes agressively. Those 2 comportments, in a tank, may lead to harassment cases. I have seen it often.

I have two maleD's and ive had to lay out the aquarium to give them their own geographical territories to prevent fighting. now if you have one male and three females that would be dandy hehe

domination could def be the culprit

[Shimagoma]

Originally Posted by WestHaven

Yes this is my 29 gallon (my only tank). It has been up and running for 8-9 months. Today I cleaned the filter and did a 25% water change. I do a water change once a week and clean the filter once a month.

I have a Penguin 200 HOB filter. What I do to clean it is take it off the tank, put the bio-wheel, filter foam and ceramic beads in a bucket of tank water and wash them around to remove any debris, then take the filter body and impeller and rinse them in the sink.

Is my filter not big/"strong" enough for a 29 gallon tank with this many fish? I updated my signature for my number of fish.

the filter looks like it is plenty for the tank. though vacuuming is still just a general upkeep kinda thing (debris, large poops ect hehe)
do you have your water parameters?

the tank is sliiiightly overstocked but it isnt outrageous or anything but just the sheer size of Dgourami might be the prob. if its not biological

[WestHaven]

So the poor gourami in question died today.
I removed his body and did another 25% water change. All of the the other fish are still healthy.