Very sick Gourami - help please

[AccidentalFishKeeper]

I am reaching out for help and advice on behalf of my 13 year old. We have three well established, heavily planted tanks. 
 

our 15 gallon fluval flex has one gourami, one killifish, six ember tetras, a couple neocardinia shrimp, and an assassin snail to keep our guest snails at a reasonable level.

The Gourami has been sick for a month or more. We got her in feb 2022 and she hasn’t grown since we got her. so she could be 2 or more years old. She did not have ventral fins when we purchased her, I didn’t know anything then to know that she was missing parts of normal anatomy. 

We find her wedged in the plants, completely vertical, or against the top of the water verging on horizontal, wedged against the side of the aquarium or wood decoration. She seems to have a bend in her spine. She is not bloated at all. But She is paler than usual and her eyes may be bulging more than usual? She isn’t eating very much. I keep thinking she’s dead but then she startles and swims to hide again (also not her normal behaviour). She doesn’t seem to be in total control of her swimming direction and prefers turning left (the direction of the curve of her spine). 

Tank is very established and is two years old, no new fish or plants in, water parameters all normal, moderately planted. 

Does anyone know what is happening? And if we can cure it?

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

@AccidentalFishKeeper, Is it a Honey Gourami? If so, I would say it definitely lost colouration but some can be paler than most, I think your fish has a swim bladder disease based on description. From what iv'e see this is how you cure it: Keep the water especially clean and temperatures between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a small amount of aquarium salt to the tank. Reduce the water level to make it easier for the fish to move around within the tank. Reduce water flow in tanks with a strong current. Hopefully this helps you and your deliemma. Best of luck! 

[Guppysnail]

@AccidentalFishKeeper  we have some folks here who have knowledge and experience dealing with illness this serious. I’m going to tag them and ask them to take a look for for you. 

 

I wish you and your fish luck. 
 

@Colu @Odd Duck

[Colu]

I would be learning to wards a bacterial infection with lose of colour bent spine and trouble swimming  what I would do is quarantine and treat with kanaplex and aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 3 gallons the salt will aid Gill function and add essential electrolytes and add an extra air stone during treatment @AccidentalFishKeeper

[AccidentalFishKeeper]

Im in Canada and am not sure if I can get Kanaplex. I’ll look around. Thanks so much. 

[AccidentalFishKeeper]

@Colu wondering if using aquarium salts would be worth it - even if we can’t get kanaplex?

[Colu]

On 11/23/2023 at 2:59 AM, AccidentalFishKeeper said:

@Colu wondering if using aquarium salts would be worth it - even if we can’t get kanaplex?

Aquarium salt will help with external issues such as fungal or bacterial any internal bacterial infections it's won't have any effect if you can't get kanaplex you could treat with maracyn2 or seachems neoplex 

[AccidentalFishKeeper]

Through some more research I’ve learned that fish antibiotics are illegal in canada (over the counter anyways). I can get maracyn one and maracyn oxy as well as melafix and pimafix. 

[Colu]

On 11/23/2023 at 4:26 AM, AccidentalFishKeeper said:

Through some more research I’ve learned that fish antibiotics are illegal in canada (over the counter anyways). I can get maracyn one and maracyn oxy as well as melafix and pimafix. 

I would treat with maracyn1 and aquarium salt 

 

[Odd Duck]

Agree with @Colu but add there could also have been n injury which is impacting the health.  I have to,be honest, it’s a bit of a long shot to get this kiddo back to good health, but it is still worth trying.  Keep us posted on any changes.

Edited November 23, 2023 by Odd Duck
Typo

[AccidentalFishKeeper]

Thank you @Odd Duck  I really appreciate your honesty - it feels like a long shot but I want to try. Honey G is our biggest, and most favourite fish. It’s hard to think about euthanizing but I am contemplating it if things don’t improve. I’ve got clove oil on the ready.  

[Odd Duck]

Use what you can get and the aquarium salt and give her pristine water for the best chance.  I’ve seen some miraculous recoveries, so it’s worth the extra effort, for sure.  Here’s hoping for the best.

[AccidentalFishKeeper]

Unfortunately our fish took a quick turn for the worse after the medicine baths and we ended up euthanizing. I wish I had started on this treatment path earlier. Lesson learned.

I was only able to find aquarium salts and melafix. 

Thank you all  for your advice and support. 

[Colu]

Sorry to hear he didn't make it 

[Odd Duck]

So sorry.  Always a tough loss.