sick dwarf gourami

[TexAg08]

for the past few days, my dwarf flame gourami has been acting very strange. he has been hiding in the plants and at the bottom of the tank, and kind of swims with his head up/tail down, greater than a 45 degree angle id say. usually he swims all about the tank and acts like he is king. now when he hides in the plants and stuff he kinda lists to one side or the other, and my randomly dart about. all other fishes look great and act normal, and except from a random ammonia spike last week, all parameters are 0 except nitrates, which are at about 5-10 ppm.

i just looked at the tank and he is on his side on top of a plant, looks like he is sleeping. if i go up to the tank tho he responds and swims to the glass

any ideas?*SICK*

 

[drake53]

I have a flame gourami to but swiming at a 45 degree angle is there usuall behavyor but he has to be sick because they dont lay on plants.

 

[TexAg08]

yea i know they tend to swim head up/tail down, but its very exagerated. i think hes gonna meet the maker soon...i dont have another place to put him unless its a bucket..should i do that to keep him away from other fish?

 

[drake53]

no what I meant was 45 degrees up and I would consult the pet store you got it from

 

[MissFishy]

This sounds like classic ammonia poisoning.

I would immediately do a 50% water change with treated tap water.

What is the temp of this tank? Have you added any new fish recently?

 

[TexAg08]

there is no amonia tho, i have tested multiple times....and the temp is 78 and no new fish for at least a month.

 

[drake53]

Whattttttttttttttt! Thats below what it should be I'd keep mine at 80 degrees or it could be a female ready to spawn.

 

[TexAg08]

well it prob gets to be 80 during the day, my lights are hot...in fact i just looked at the temp and its 79.5. and its not a female i dont think. still hasnt died tho so thats good i guess

 

[drake53]

ok but they spawn like bettas they females swim with there head down when they are ready to spawn

 

[TexAg08]

but this is head up, tail down

 

[MissFishy]

As I said before...please do an immediate 50% water change. This always perks fish up.

 

[TexAg08]

well hes still alive, and actually looks a lot better, but is still swimming funny. however, i have noticed a pronounced lump growing on the lower part of only one side of his body. this is near his tail. possibly a tumor?