All Chainstore Dwarf Gouramis sick?

[peter22]

Hi, this is my first time posting, but I was looking to buy a nice healthy Dwarf Gourami and it seems like any chain store I go to the fish seem to have stringy clear feces and are very shy... is that a sign of some sort of parasite or disease?
I was really wanting to add one to my exsisting 20 gallon tank, so is there anything in particular I should look for or a specific place I should go to buy them to increase the chance of getting a healthy fish? My local lfs never seem to have any in stock...

Thanks

[cocoa_pleco]

the feces sounds like internal parasites, i would maybe try to get them from a local breeder

[donvichu]

Second CP's post....and welcome aboard to the community thumbs2:

[peter22]

Would it be what people call Gourami disease? I have read online in a lot of places that many Gouramis are infected with this and the first signs of the disease are the symptoms I mentioned. I have been to at least 6 different locations and all of them display the same symptoms except for one place but they were powder blues which I did not want... lol

Thanks for the quick response!

[cocoa_pleco]

personally, ive never heard of gourami disease, but clear or white waste is almost a definite sign of internal parasites

[KingFisher]

One of my dwarf gouramis had white stringy feces for a week after I bought him, and he also was lethargic. By the time the first week was over, he started eating normally and he has been fine ever since. I never did figure out the cause, I just assumed he was stressed from the move.

[Dave66]

Those chains get most of their fish from farms in Asia, where a variety of mysterious ailments have cropped up in fish that come from there. It is indeed internal parasites. If you do a search for feeding garlic, you'll see how I eliminate them.
Congrats, Kingfish. Usually when they are lethargic like that they are finis'.

Dave

[themollusk]

Isn't it a form of a bacterial disease? I recall reading something about stringy white filament coming from the body of the fish on the back of a Maracyn-Two package. I'd say to STAY AWAY from those guys and keep a watchful eye on all of the fish from that store. Sounds like they're not doing the best job of healthy upkeep on their little guys :(

[fins_n_fur]

I would seek out a few non-chain LFS stores in your area, if doable. Smaller stores sometimes buy from local breeders and limit their imports of Asian-bred fish. You might have an easier time of buying healthier fish, or if they don't stock gouramis, they might be wiling to order some locally or put you in touch with the breeder directly. However, for the later, it helps to be known by the shop staff/owners as a frequent customer. If not, I would definitely follow Dave66's recommendation on garlic feeding, and probably quarantining the fish before putting them in the main tank.