Neon Gourami Dissapearing Gill Cover

[richandzhaoyan]

Help,
My dwarf neon blue gourami has a big problem. His right side gill cover is rapidly being eaten/dissapearing. He is housed in a general community tank and I have not seen any evidence of aggresion other than the usual mealtime scuffles. He otherwise looks very healthy and is eating as usual however this one gill looks to have a nasty chunk taken out of it and has worsened overnight.
What do I do? I don't have a hospital tank setup so can not remove him immediately but am very worried about infection among other things. I've got a day off work tomorrow so could purchase a new tank but presumably this would still need cycling. Any views on this, ie what size should I get, does it need a filter if only being used short term?? I really have no idea about what is needed and very little knowledge of medications,so any advice would be much appreciated, as ever.

[richandzhaoyan]

Hey Guys, I could really use some help on this one!
Since posting I have noticed that the three platies appear to be grazing on the wound!! I can only assume that this was not the cause of the problem but I it certainly is not helping the situation. In desperation I have seperated the gourami by placing him in an ice cream tub, maybe about about just under a gallon in capacity and floated in the main tank. He doesn't look to happy with the situation but I'm not keen on leaving him in with the other fish overnight.
I've read as much as I can about fish diseases but cannot find anything that sounds like what is afflicting him.
My best guess at the moment is an injury, maybe caused during the feeding frenzy, which has worsened due to the grazing and probing of the other fish. I could really use some more experienced guesses!
Just for the record, all water still checks out ok and none of the other fish seem in the slightest bit bothered.

[OrionGirl]

Without much to go on, here are a few possibilities. A wound--most likely. May have a bacterial infection, hard to say. Fish are oppurtunists, and will make it hard on an injured or sick fish, which is making what was originally a small wound worse.

Separating the fish, and providing it with a healthy place to heal is probably the best you can do. Make sure it continues eating, and watch the area for signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, refusal to eat, or other signs of infection.

[richandzhaoyan]

Thanks for the reply. Wound sounds the most likely. I've got to ask, how does the floating ice cream container sound? I know its not ideal and I've certainly not read about it being recommended anywhere but right now I cannot think of any alternative until tomorrow. Would it be better off being bugged by the other fish till an alternative tank is sorted out?

[OrionGirl]

Just to make sure I have this clear--you have the ice cream container floating in the main tank, with the fish isolated within? I'd add some small holes on the sides, so fresh water can flow through and the water won't get nasty, but otherwise, this is fine. The point is to isolate the fish from the aggressions of his tankmates, and this accomplishes that nicely. You may want to add some floating cover (plastic palnts work well) to decrease the stress. They do sell internal isolation units--they hang over the edge of the tank, and are frequently used at LFS for bettas. Same principal.

GL.

[richandzhaoyan]

Thanks again for your help and reassurance.
The ice cream container is floating in the main tank and I will add a few holes as suggested. Hopefully he will make it through the night and I can set him on the road to recovery tomorrow.
Thanks again for replying it really is much appreciated.