Help!!! Is my pearl gourami drowning????

mazeman22

mazeman22

Marine Biologist in the MAKING!!!!
Jul 31, 2006
247
0
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Missouri
I bought a pearl gourami yesterday at this new lfs. She(i believe) was perfectly fine when I added her to my tank. But I wake up this morning to see her floating around and breathing real hard. I turned my filter and bubble wall off and now she is at the top gasping for air. She seems to be settling down but what was wrong with her??!!:help:

(Also, none of my fish are harassing her)

Thanks to all,
Mazeman
 
how long is the tank set up & what are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. how did you acclimate her. what tank size and what other occupants.

the symptoms you describe would arise from lack of oxygen which could be caused by ammonia/nitrite poisoning, or lack of dissolved oxygen in the water.

turning off the filter and bubble wand is absolutely the wrong thing to do and very dangerous for your fish, the filter especially - get them back on immediately and test your water parameters.

edit : I guess its the tank in your signature
 
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I don't know what is wrong with your fish, but from the symptoms you describe you need to add oxygen. Please turn your filter and bubble wand back on. I agree with coler it may be a ammonia/nitrite problem. What are your water parameters?
 
Ok here are the parm.

ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 15
temp: 78

I don't know what is wrong!!!
 
Update:

She died... I don't know what i did wrong. I'm dumb
 
not at all, it happens. Sorry she didn't make it :(

just make sure your filter is back on now and keep an eye for any problems.

how did you acclimate her ?

I wonder if your 2 tiger barbs were the problem.

Perhaps she was just a weak fish.
 
When I added her yesterday. I first put the bag in my tank so the temp would match for about 10-15 minutes. Then I opened the bag and added alittle water from my tank and waited alittle longer. Finally, I took one of my smaller fish nets and fished her out and added her to the tank. This whole process took between 25-35 minutes. I believe I pushed it too much. I would agree that my tiger barbs would bother her but they either play the whole day with each other or bother the platies. Also, while adding the gourami, I fed my fish so they wouldn't pay any attention to her.
 
hmmm...well, I'd acclimate a little slower myself (over the course of an hour, adding tank water every 10 mins to the bag) but you would see a quicker reaction to osmotic shock I believe...you wouldn't know what the barbs got up to over night, and the whole process of being put in the new tank is quite stressful.

Sorry can't be more help - I'd tell the LFS what happened though and see if they will give you a dig out as a gesture.
 
Well thanks for the help. I'll be more patience from now on.
 
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