Dwarf Gourami Problem

[Langemc]

I have a 10 gallon tank with 1 dwarf gourami, 3 otto's and 2 scerpai* (check spelling) tetra, and a small corey

all my water parameters have checked out and my temperature has been fairly normal, the only other thing is i just added some otto's 2 days ago, but he was laready looking bad

my dwarf dosnt look like he'll make it through the day, he show's know real signs of disease(i have had him for 6 months) he eats, the problem is he looks extremely weak, he struggles to get to the surface for air and no fins are missing, it looks like his upper back is paralyzed or something, but he never gets picked on or anything he owns the tank

he's such a pretty fish and it's gonna kill me to lose him, but does anyone have any guesses?

[Catalina]

What do you mean when you say that his upper back looks paralyzed? Do you mean that his dorsal fin looks collapsed or that his spine isn't straight? Is his belly swollen at all? When did he last eat? If he's still eating then he may still have a chance if we can figure out what's wrong and depending on what it is.

[Langemc]

he ate this morning, putting food in this morning(only a little bit) was the only way to get him moving, and it's the way he swims it's very awkward he dosnt swim in free motion it looks very hard on him, and on one of his sides his belly is swollen

[Zagz]

When you say your parameters checked out, what are the number exactly for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? It very well may be dropsy. Does it seem as if his scales are sticking out from the body?

[Langemc]

I checked two days ago when i noticed he was looking sick and then it was ammonia was at 0 as was nitrite. my nitrate level i just checked and it is somewhere between 10 and 20, i'd guess on the lower side of that range, i really appreciate all the help at the very least i want to prevent this from ever happening again

i also do regular water changes and cleaning, i dont see anything different about his scales that really sticks out to me, he just go and lays down on a plant or on the gravel and then comes to the surface and acts playful when i come nea the aquarium, it just takes him alot of effort to stay up

[Zagz]

It could be simple bloat. I would cut back on feedings add 1/8 tsp epsom salt/ gal and keep a close eye on him. Doing an immediate water change before adding the epsom salt couldn't hurt.

[Langemc]

maybe a stupid question but what is epsom salt?

[Zagz]

Not a stupid question at all. It is a salt used by humans for relaxation. Most drug stores sell it. In fish it can reduce fluids built up in the body also acts as a mild laxative.