Bloated Gourami

**Greentoads41** · 05-01-2012, 10:59 PM

Okay, I have a 30 gallon tank. My dwarf gourami (who I've had for about 6 months) has become bloated, lost color, scales seem like they're peeling, and a blue patch has appeared around his/her gills. He also isn't swimming well, if he swims at all. A few days I noticed he was getting bloated, but his behavior hadn't changed. When I fed my fish this morning, he also seemed fine, but I just glanced at him. I know his coloring and swimming patterns were fine then. When i came home from school he was in his current state. I was going to do a water change Thursday; my last change was (I know) about a month ago. What should I do? can i still do my water change? will this happen to my other fish if I don't get medication? What caused this? I'll try to post pictures if i can.

**ScottishFish** · 05-01-2012, 11:29 PM

Sounds like he has dropsy. The gills may be due to ammonia build up burning them. All this probably wouldn't have happened if you done regular water changes unfortunately.

A picture would help in diagnosis but it is the toxic water that's caused it, if it is dropsy then 9/10 times its fatal.

Do a water change immediately of 80%, regular water changes are a MUST in fishkeeping.

**madagascariensis** · 05-02-2012, 12:12 AM

Bloat is a possible symptom of dwarf gourami iridovrius, an incurable disease
affecting many farmed dwarf gouramis nowadays. While you have had your gourami for 6 months now, the symptoms can take a while to appear, possible triggered by stress from the long period between water changes.

**Cermet** · 05-02-2012, 01:29 AM

In any case, do measure the ammonia/nitrIte/nitrAte to rule these out as causes.

**Greentoads41** · 05-02-2012, 03:03 AM

Thanks for the help guys, you all really know your stuff. Will he die? How long will he take to die? Should I kill him? I'm asking not only for this situation but for future situations when death is inevitable. I'd rather not kill the fish, but I wouldn't want the dsease spread to other fish and would rather have it out of my tank.

**ScottishFish** · 05-02-2012, 08:08 AM

When putting a fish out of their misery I get a bowl, fill it with really cold water and ice cubes, then drop the fish in it and then place in the frezzer for half an hour. Others I know put a a few drops of lavender oil in a bowl of water then add the fish.