This isn't really a disease question, but it seemed to fit best in this topic. I have a pair of Pearl Gouramis in a 10 gallon quarantine. They have been in there for 5 days. When I picked them up from the LFS, their tank had just had a nearly 100% water change where only enough water was left for them to be on their side slightly covered in water. I know this fish store well and their stock is usually very good so I did not think too much of it. When I got them home (about a 30 minute drive) I did a drip acclimation for 20 mins before adding them to the tank. The tank was fully cycled. The fish were EXTREMELY stressed once they were added to my tank. The female was bashing herself into the glass and the male was swimming extremely frantic. I checked my parameters and everything was as expected, so I decided they were just very stressed from so much so fast so I turned off their light and made sure to leave them alone. I then left town for 3 days and my husband stayed home and cared for all of the tanks. He did not try to feed them while I was gone because they were still very stressed out and he was afraid to get too close to the tank.
When I got home yesterday, the male had lost almost all his color and the females color was decent. I double checked their water and the nitrates were around 40, so I did a 40% water change. When I checked the parameters this morning, the nitrates were still a little higher than I would have liked, so I did another 40% water change and attempted to feed them. They will not eat though. The male is still very very pale and starts swimming frantically and the female still tries to bash herself into the glass. They act utterly terrified if we get anywhere near the tank at all.
After 5 days in the tank, this seems like way more than stress from the move and a large water change. Has anyone ever had an issue with new fish being this scared for this long? I'm worried they are going to stress themselves to death. Parameters from this morning are all listed below. I have dosed Prime after every water change. Running a small HOB and an extra air stone. Tank has fake plants and real plants for hiding. No substrate.
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20-40
PH - 8.2 (standard for all of my tanks including a tank with another Pearl Gourami who is normal)
KH - 12
GH - 6
Temp - 78