gourami no better - any other advice?

[hbeth82]

A few days ago I started a thread about my slightly-swollen gourami (includes pictures), who hasn't improved. I noticed the problem around Tuesday. The water parameters are okay (ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate < 20, pH = 7.3 or so, and water temp about 76) and I did 50% change yesterday, including 11gal of RO water. For now, he's still in same 55. No pine-coning of the fins.

Couple people said that he looked like he was bloated, possibly from constipation, as he isn't quite as swollen as another fish showing dropsy that I'd had previously. Tried giving him peas a few times a day since Thursday but no change and he recently developed thin, white, stringy feces. He's also begun breathing more heavily.

It may still be that he's constipated but it's seeming more like dropsy, so what should I do? Wait it out or try to isolate him and and treat it as dropsy? Plan was to put him in a 10gal w epsom salts and some type of medication. Any advice is appreciated.

Also, I know it may seem rather childish to start a new thread, rather than add to the original but I'm worried about the little guy and don't want to loose another fish like this.

 

[Brad S]

He's had pop eye and now he's bloated with thin, white stringy feces and labored breathing. All these symptoms can be associated with dropsy even without the pine-coning (sometimes labeled false dropsy) so I'm gonna bet that's what it is. Read this about it.


The symptoms of dropsy in fish is a distended or swollen body with protruding scales. Dropsy is also known as ascites. The affected fish may appear lethargic and may not eat.
Dropsy isn't a disease itself, but actually a symptom of another underlying disease in the fish.
The reason the fish's body swells is due to a build up of fluid in its body cavity and internal organs. This may occur if the fish's kidneys are affected, for example. There can be many different causes of fish dropsy, and it is usually difficult to know exactly what the cause is.
However, one common cause of dropsy in fish is a bacterial infection by Aeromonas. Aeromonas is normally present in all aquarium water, however, it sometimes causes illness in fish, especially fish that are stressed due to poor water quality from overcrowding or infrequent partial water changes. Also, some species of Aeromonas are more pathogenic than others. Infection by Aeromonas will sometimes cause red streaks or sores on the fish's body (but not always).
If you have a fish with a swollen, distended body typical of dropsy, it is best to isolate the fish and treat it in its own treatment tank if possible.
You can treat the fish by adding a small amount of epsom salts to the tank. Epsom salts consist of magnesium sulfate as opposed to sodium chloride found in regular aquarium salt (and table salt). Adding epsom salts to your tank will help to draw some of the excess water out of the fish's body cavity and tissues. Don't add more than 2.5 teaspoons of epsom salts per 10 gallons of water.
You should feed the affected fish antibacterial fish food for 7-10 days if the fish is still eating. You can also add some Maracyn Two to the aquarium that the fish with dropsy is in. Maracyn Two treats gram negative bacterial infections, such as Aeromonas, and is absorbed through the fish's skin from the water.

However, unless you start the treatment early the fish may still not survive. It is also possible that the dropsy may be caused by something other than a bacterial infection, such as a virus, or some other cause. If this is the case then the antibiotics will not be effective.
You can often prevent bacterial and other diseases in your fish by doing regular partial water changes (20-25 %) in your tank each week. In fact, if you have the time, doing partial water changes twice a week is even better. And of course, don't overcrowd your fish or overfeed them.

Hope he makes it. Hang in there.

 

[hbeth82]

Thanks. Yeah, having lost another gourami this summer who also presented with dropsy much of what I'm finding is review, just hoping (likely in vain) for some good news. Bought some Maracyn 2 and some antibiotic food tonight so hopefully this will help him. Wishing now that I would have started treating for dropsy when I first noticed this but I guess that's one problem with having silent pets. . .

 

[dkpate]

Read your other post that I responded to. Mine had the same problems the first week I brought them home, white stringy poo.

 

[hbeth82]

I've had Ozzy for at least 3-4 months, so this isn't something he came in with, just seems like he's had bad luck lately. You're probably right that it isn't illness but I guess I'm just a little more protective if this one. When I got him, I picked him out because much of his tail, dorsal, and pectoral fins had been nibbled off and all I had at the time were otos, so I thought it would be a good place for him to recover. Then I added another gourami that he beat the snot out of in no time. . .

Anyway, he's in an isolation tank now, took dkpate's advice and didn't feed him today but will be giving him some antibiotic food in addition to the usually Omega sinking and dried blood worms. Also added epsom salts to the water. Fingers crossed for now!

 

[dkpate]

I wish you luck!