Any Dwarf Gourami Experts?

[Laser]

I'm not having luck with Dwarf Gouramis. I just added one to an established 10g last Saturday and I don't think he's going to make it. I have heard of the virus that can affect DG's and I am starting to think he has it. He's breathing heavily on the bottom and won't swim around much. I put an airstone in but I don't think it matters much since he has to go to the top to get air, which he does occasionally but promptly goes back to the bottom. He was eating when I first got him, but he was always reluctant to swim after I got him home...but not when I bought him of course. They were the healthiest DG's I had seen in quite a long time, so I decided to take a chance.

The only thing I have done to the tank was a standard dose of Prazi Pro and metro. The water parameters are fine at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and less than 10 nitrates. The water may be harder than gouramis would like but I don't think it should be affecting him like this.

My question is are the sunset and honey (colisa chuna) more hardy than the other dwarfs? (colisa lalia)

 

[nirbhao]

10 gallons is a little small for dwarf gourami. They are labyrinth fish, so I wouldn't worry too much about breathing from the surface. What are your temperature, pH, and hardness?

 

[Laser]

I must admit this is the first time I've heard of 10g being too small for a dwarf gourami, but I'm sure a 15 or 20 would be ideal. Of course a bigger tank would almost always be ideal. I'll have to see if I can find my test kit for water hardness, I only remember that the water was on the hard side at perhaps 16 dkh. The temperature is 80 degrees. pH 8.2.

 

[coralbandit]

The chuna are not as susceptible to DGI as the lalia .I believe they could still have it but not in the % the lalia do...
A 10g is pretty tight for all gouramis but maybe the croaking vittata.
Who else is in with the DG?

 

[Laser]

6 flame tetras

 

[coralbandit]

Look into 'licorice or croaking ' gouramis..They will fit much better with the tetras..They are about the same size..
I can only remember a common name of another I can't find info ,but it was called 'flamingo honey' and never grew over an inch...
I am not a fan of the dwarfs [ lalia ] as even though smaller they are some of the meanest gouramis..

 

[Laser]

I really wanted sparkling gouramis, which is what I think you are referring to, but I have never seen one in person.