Pearl Gourami ich?

[nikkik0720]

So I have 2 pearl gouramis and they were fighting about a week ago (I think they're both males). I didn't notice any injuries on either one and they've since quit fighting. They both are getting along decently now, a few little nips here and there but nothing major. They act fine and swim around. Their appetites are huge, they're always looking for food and begging when I go near the glass. I noticed yesterday that the one gourami has some tears in his fins and the tears have a white outline. He also has some white spots on his sides. I noticed, about a week ago, that the driftwood in the tank has white stuff on it. I assumed it was just going through a phase (which I've read about on a few sites. The wood will go through a phase where it gets white/yellowish fuzzy looking stuff on it, but with some salt it clears up). So I added some salt to the tank, and everything was going good, the wood was clearing up. Then I noticed this on the fish.

So my question is, could it be ich? Or could it be healing wounds from the previous fighting? Should I remove the wood? It was boiled and baked for several hours before I placed it in the tank (same process I use to kill off stuff when I process wood for my chinchillas) Could the wood have caused this? There's nothing sharp on it. I sanded down any points and there's no splintering. The other fish in the tank ( a pair of sword tails and a cory cat) pick at the wood (eating the beginnings of algae I'm assuming).

what should I do?

 

[Coursair]

The wood is probably a separate issue.

Test your water. Ammonia and Nitrates especially.

White edges on torn fins sounds like fungus. But the first thing you usually want to do in these cases is always check the water and perhaps do a large water change.

What size tank ?

If they're both males you should rehome one of them or the fights will probably happen again.

Depending on how big your tank is, you may want to set up a hospital tank to treat the one with the messed up fins.


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[nikkik0720]

It's a 20 long. The only thing is, it is my quarantine tank. I'm getting a master test kit on friday (payday), but until then I only have the test strips. I'm looking into getting a separate 29 gallon to go along with my other 10 gallon and 36 high (it's a really old tank, but still works great. Got it from my grandpa). So maybe I'll get that done and try to get it set up and use the second male gourami to cycle it.

 

[Delapool]

It's a 20 long. The only thing is, it is my quarantine tank. I'm getting a master test kit on friday (payday), but until then I only have the test strips. I'm looking into getting a separate 29 gallon to go along with my other 10 gallon and 36 high (it's a really old tank, but still works great. Got it from my grandpa). So maybe I'll get that done and try to get it set up and use the second male gourami to cycle it.

Worth getting the master kit for sure. Nitrate here is sliding up (using the liquid test), but the strips say all is fine. I foresee a large water change for my tank on Saturday lol.

 

[nikkik0720]

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net...87_1248177906243832645_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

Here's the poor guy. I'm thinking I'm going to take him back to Petco since I haven't had him that long.

 

[absolutangel04]

I can't really make out specifically from your picture. Ich looks like grains of salt on the fish. It is very common for new fish to come to you carrying ich, so that is quite possible. The white outline is likely a fungus or infection of some sort. Sorry, but I can't really make it out clearly in your picture.
Without the ability to test your water, I agree that a good starting place is by doing a large water change, like 50% at least. It won't hurt anything, and it could help you.
I also agree that if you do have both males, you would be better off removing one to a different tank or rehoming it.

 

[nikkik0720]

I took him back to Petco. I have only had him a week and they have a policy that if anything happens within a week of purchase that you can take them back. They tested my water and the ammonia level is slightly elevated but not bad. I'll be doing a 50% water change later tonight and add some stress coat back in. Everyone else in the tank is fine and happy. The swordtail female actually dropped fry (didn't know she was even pregnant) and the Cory cat is really active. I think I'll add a week to their quarantine and keep an eye on everyone before tearing for ich. The person at Petco told me that it looked like a fungus but they weren't sure and advised to just keep a watch on the others. They also treated my dad and I like we were idiots even though we both know what we're doing and have had many (successful) tanks before. They told me my tank must not be cycled because the ammonia level is a little high... The tank is definitely cycled as it's been up and running for over 6 months now. They refused to sell me any fish too because of it; which is really upsetting because there's 2 beautiful bluish angels and a really pretty white one with pinkish fins.

 

[absolutangel04]

How high is "a little high?"

 

[nikkik0720]

I don't know the specific number. They use the test strips. I ordered a master kit online (since it's like $15 cheaper than the one at Petco's store, same brand and everything.) I'm doing a 50% water change, adding a little salt, stress coat, and Tetra Safe start plus (recommended by the aquatic specialist). After I wait a week I'm going to have them test it (if my kit isn't here first).

 

[absolutangel04]

I am glad to hear you ordered a test kit. Now, what chemicals you add are totally up to you, and different people have different preferences, but I am just going to offer my opinion on the additives other than water conditioner: unnecessary. Salt has limited effects on anything detrimental to your fish, and you have some that can be extra sensitive to it. I would skip that if I was you. The safe start is for cycling your tank. It has been set up for 6 months, and you are confident it has been cycled. Safe start isn't really something you should need. Stress coat is not my conditioner of choice it is expensive and minimally helpful beyond its basic water conditioning function. Fish make slime coats and really don't need tons of chemical help in doing so. Feel free to use it, but for the long run, I would suggest sticking with something like Prime as a water conditioner since it quite concentrated and actually goes very far. It will last you awhile, and help keep down temporarily which can come in handy sometimes if your parameters slide away from you accidentally. Up to you iof course, your tank. Just offering a couple of options for you for the future health of your fish, and to help keep your costs down a bit.
Apologies, but I got a little confused reading your description. Were the gouramis in a 20g long quarantine tank, or in the bigger tanks? Do you have a bunch of fish in the qt? How do you keep the qt cycled?

 

[nikkik0720]

The gouramis are in a 20 long with a single pair of swordtails (also in quarantine) I cycled it just like the main aquarium, but once I remove the fish in QT, I remove 90% of the water, replace it with fresh, recondition it/add some safe start (maintenance dose) and let it go for 3 weeks (minimum) before getting any other fish. My main tank has been up and running for over a year, and has 5 angels, a cory, a trio of platys, and a "retarded" rainbow (he is like 6 years old, only 2" long, and he can't really swim the best. Something happened when he was a baby and he never grew or anything.)

The main tank is the 36 (I know the angels will require a bigger tank as they grow, and that is also in the works) The 10 gallon is being used for my plant 'quarantine'. I want to get a 29 on pay day.

 

[Coursair]

A Cory ? Can you add more of the same species ? Cories are social and do best in groups. I have 4 C habrosus and C pyaeus. As soon as my other 10g is reset I'll move one species and have 6-10 of each.
http://youtu.be/JrLx1mKDObY


Not my vid
http://youtu.be/tPOvOije4vQ


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[nikkik0720]

I'll be getting a few more once Petco gets more in. I had bought 3 originally but 2 died the day I got them. Those were the only 3 they had at the time. I went up to petco today to get some sinking pellets for the cory (since everyone in the tank eats everything so fast, I want to make sure he's getting enough to eat) I also couldn't pass on the one angel they had. Her body is a pretty pearl white, she has a nose that's so dark blue its almost black, and pretty pink cheeks (looks like she's blushing; I asked a ton of questions and they assured me it's just her coloring, she is not sick.) Since they have a "buy 2 get 1 free" deal, I got 2 plants (a floating moss ball, and some assortment)

They tested my water again today, and the test strip "said" my ammonia level was "normal" in all my tanks and all the other levels were good. So that's why I gave in and got the angel (I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't resist her.)
Since I know these plants were kept in a snail free tank, I was thinking I could skip the plant quarantine and place them in the tank. Could I do that, or should I put them in the tank with the other "quarantined" plants?

Sorry for so many questions, I'd just rather be safe than sorry.

 

[ppo8820]

Id shoot for less chemicals. Any ammonia is a problem and signs you are NOT cycled or having a mini cycle from changing your filter media or rinsing it in tap water (happens more than you know). Water changes are a must and I hate to say it, but I dont think you should buy any more fish either. I know you want them, but you have some issues in your tank now that should be addressed first.

Well done on the test kit. Also, adding safestart will actually really help if you are in a mini cycle. Its something I do as well and has always helped almost overnight. Dont use prime conditioner with safestart as it kills the bacteria.

Wait a few weeks, if tank seems great, then you can add more fish and sounds like you already know to quarantine them..........especially if you get them from petco or a large chain store. They have all their tanks on one giant filter, so if one tank has disease, they all do..........even if not obvious. I like small fish shops with individual tanks and staff who are hobbyists themselves.