Very sick Gourami

[loch]

My Honey Dwarf Gourami has been lying on the bottom of the tank like a dead fish for like 3 days, it only swims a bit (sometimes swims in whirling motion) and lies down again immediately.

Please help!!

(I have just put it in a separate tank with the existing water mixed with new water)

 

[Milo]

I don't have any Gourami's so wouldn't be able to help you in that department. But, What are you water conditions at?

 

[loch]

Let me give you some background. it is a 9" tank, there are 3 zebra and 2 Gourami. however, after i put a plant which is attached to a wood, the water becomes acidic (ph7 to ph 5.5/6). a few weeks later, a gourami becomes sick and died. After that, everything seems ok except that the water is still acidic, then one month later, this Gourami gets sick also. I changed half of the water and add some salts as suggested by the pet shop people. but still not much improvement. ( i do not use water conditioner but i will leave the tap water overnight before i use it)

how could i help the fish?

 

[JWright]

Salt won't help gouramis, they are soft-water, salt-inolerant fish.

We really need to know your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

The behavior you're describing sounds like an extremely stressed fish. That could be due to temperature swings, excess ammonia, etc...

 

[loch]

ok, i will try to figure that out asap.....

 

[loch]

is there anything i can do immediately (as i might not be able to get those info until tomorrow nite )

 

[JWright]

A water change couldn't hurt.

 

[loch]

since i do not have water conditioner, is it ok to use boiled water?

 

[Milo]

Loch,

Yeah we are going to need your water levels (Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite)

I guess it wouldn't hurt to boil, but wait untill someone else responds, I don't think I have every heard of anyone boiling water for a fish tank.

 

[JWright]

I would assume that chloramines would break down at bery high temperature... but I've never looked it up. Boiling certainly wouldn't hurt much, but I'm not sure it would do a lot of good either...

 

[Milo]

loch if it isn't to much I would go to the store and pick up some water conditioner. If not let the water sit out for atleast 4 hours. Thats what my father in law does. But we could have different water supply.

 

[loch]

thanks for all your advice... i will try to get those...hope it can wait...