Okay, first let me thank those of you who have counselled me on my admittedly over-stocked fish tank. I am working on it and keeping extra good care of the tank in the meantime.
Okay, a few days ago I posted about one of my red gouramis losing all color and passing away. This fish was a fat fish. She looked fat, but she had been fat the entire time I had her. Her scales never raised, she ate, swam, never showed signs of illness or distress, lived for six months like this until she died. I had no reason in my mind to believe she was possibly sick. The tank had been treated many times during this period for other things including bacterial infections. So... I never thought she had dropsy or bloat, I just thought she was a fat fish.
About a week after her death, her partner got fat. Again, his scales did not raise, he was eating, swimming, being a fish. Hmmm...? I thought, maybe they do this with age? Maybe he misses his partner? What is going on...?
Well, last night he developed the tell tale pinecone appearance. I immediately began treating the tank with Melafix, Pimafix and gave him some anti-bacterial food.
Here's my question. I recently added frozen food to their diet. Bloodworms, whiteworms, occasional brine shrimp. But they always have their flake and spirulina wafer veggie food, too. Could the protein content of the frozen food have made them sick? In all honesty, I think it may be too late for him, this morning though he ate and swam well, he has taken on the same ashen appearance that the other one had before she died. I am concerned about my other gouramis, two opaline and one honey. Can gourami's tolerate a higher protein diet, or should I cut out the frozen completely? Help!
Thanks and take care,
Mary.
P.S. Water's good:
PH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20 - 40
Okay, a few days ago I posted about one of my red gouramis losing all color and passing away. This fish was a fat fish. She looked fat, but she had been fat the entire time I had her. Her scales never raised, she ate, swam, never showed signs of illness or distress, lived for six months like this until she died. I had no reason in my mind to believe she was possibly sick. The tank had been treated many times during this period for other things including bacterial infections. So... I never thought she had dropsy or bloat, I just thought she was a fat fish.
About a week after her death, her partner got fat. Again, his scales did not raise, he was eating, swimming, being a fish. Hmmm...? I thought, maybe they do this with age? Maybe he misses his partner? What is going on...?
Well, last night he developed the tell tale pinecone appearance. I immediately began treating the tank with Melafix, Pimafix and gave him some anti-bacterial food. Here's my question. I recently added frozen food to their diet. Bloodworms, whiteworms, occasional brine shrimp. But they always have their flake and spirulina wafer veggie food, too. Could the protein content of the frozen food have made them sick? In all honesty, I think it may be too late for him, this morning though he ate and swam well, he has taken on the same ashen appearance that the other one had before she died. I am concerned about my other gouramis, two opaline and one honey. Can gourami's tolerate a higher protein diet, or should I cut out the frozen completely? Help!
Thanks and take care,
Mary.
P.S. Water's good:
PH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20 - 40
