Dwarf Blue Gourami Sick? Please help!

[KevinVA]

Hey everyone,

Just today (mere moments ago) I noticed that my Dwarf Blue Gourami had become lopsided... and almost floating at the top of the tank. I tapped the tank to see if he could still move, and he got startled and started swimming a bit, but not well. He swims awkwardly, but is able to get around. I've had him since early March, and everything's been going great so far. I had him since I started my new 10gal tank.

Any idea on what could be happening? I really like this guy and want to keep him around... any way I can save him? Help would be really appreciated! He doesn't look well at all!

I would think that if he were sick, I'd see some symptoms prior to this, but this hit pretty sporadically and fast.

Please help!

[KevinVA]

I just tested my water and I'm at:

0 ammonia
0 nitrite
10-20 nitrates (can't really tell with that color table thing API gives you)

It looks like he's not even trying to breathe anymore... This was fast as hell. I can't believe he turned, just like that. Something must have happened today, that I'm not aware of... I don't get it. Either that, or Gouramis hide being sick pretty well. None of my other fish are showing any symptoms either...

[KevinVA]

So sad... He was my favorite fish in the tank. I feel like I failed him. =/

[ScottishFish]

What is his tankmates?

[KevinVA]

What is his tankmates?

Hey Scottish,

His tankmates were 4 Long Fin Red Minor Tetras & 1 Otocinclus. It was a 10gal tank. The Oto was added about a week or so ago, due to algae growth.

I've noticed that the Gourami would powerdrive his way through the Tetras in order to get some food, every once in a while, but I also noticed that he would wait until their feeding frenzies were over, several times, as well, before he went up for a snack.

Do you think those guys beat him up? He didn't look badly beaten or anything, but I did notice what looked like a small indention in his side... it looked like he scraped himself on the fake rock cave in the tank, but it had healed over. I didn't notice, however, how it was formed. I never really saw the Tetras go after him... but I did see how they moved away from him, when he would get too close. He was like a submarine in there.

So sad... he would always look at me, when he was ready to be fed.

[ScottishFish]

Unless the tank aint cycled then it sounds like he maybe had an internal parasite or something

[KevinVA]

Unless the tank aint cycled then it sounds like he maybe had an internal parasite or something

It's been cycled for a while now. In fact, he was in the tank as I was cycling and came out fine. The water changes have been somewhat regular, since cycling was complete. I tried to do it at least once per week... sometimes more, sometimes less.

You'd think there'd be some kind of symptoms involved, so I could at least try to treat it. =/

[ScottishFish]

IMO a dwarf gourami in a 10G automaticaly makes it fully stocked, so you are kinda overstocked with your tetras aswell. You really should be doing a 75% water change every week without fail.

[KevinVA]

IMO a dwarf gourami in a 10G automaticaly makes it fully stocked, so you are kinda overstocked with your tetras aswell. You really should be doing a 75% water change every week without fail.

Really? I was going by the "inch per gallon" theory. Should that not be followed?

[ScottishFish]

Never Ever Ever

I personally want to shoot the eejit that came up with that 'rule', it doesnt consider any of the fishes needs or requirements like territories, aggressivness, swimming potential etc

I mean ottos need a school to thrive, same as your tetras really you shouldnt have any of those fish in numbers less than 8. Also Ottos need a larger tank like a 29G to keep up with their need for algae. See how that 'rule' has already screwed you up