All of my Gouramis getting bladder disease and then getting sucked in filter.

Mistablik

Registered Member
Aug 8, 2013
2
0
0
So I started a 29g aquarium maybe a month ago. I started out with 2 chiclets and one of them died I think because of being afraid of the other one. Later I bought 2 dwarfe Gouramis. After about 2 days the last chiclet was acting strange. Later we found him on the filter half alive and then flushed him away. Then we bought 5 new Gouramis. After a while one of them started acting strange and we found him on the filter later that day. This has happened to 2 more of them. Now I have another Gourami that is trying to get himself on the filter so he doesn't suffer. Please tell my why all of my fish are doing this?
 
Before we can do that can you post the filtration, the current water parms (Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, ph) as well as if the tank is panted or not. Also, is there floating decor/cover for the gouramis? If not they may be trying to hide using the filter, which I assume is a basic HOB filter. Also, what specific species of gouramis do you have (giving a picture will help ID it)? Some of the "dwarf" species still get upwards on 6-7 inches and 5 of those in a 29 gallon tank is most definitely too many.

Also, what is a chiclet? Do you mean Cichlid? If so most of them get too large for a 29 gallon tank and are all fairly aggressive towards each other. Next, did you allow the tank a week or so after setting it up in which it could cycle (that is, you put food or cooked/cookable shrimp in and the needed bacteria build up within the tank to keep it fish-safe). Also, how do you maintain the tank? Any water-changes? Do you clean the filter and if so how?

There are a lot of variables that can cause fish death in this manner, we need more information about the tank and about how you care for it in order to determine the actual cause of death.
 
Yeah, them chiclets are chewy buggers. Minty too.

Seriously though bruh, it sounds like you've got an un-cycled tank with serious water parameter issues. Not bladder disease.
 
You flushed the "chiclet" or cichlid? down when it was half alive?! I hope I misread that because that is just cruel....
 
It just sounds like the classic case of someone trying to keep fish without gaining any knowledge. The pet store associate should have asked you for info on your situation and helped you out, but that doesn't always (or often) happen.

We'd be happy to help you if you're willing be patient, put the fish buying on hold, be willing to learn, and work out the tank issues. There are a few reasons your setup isn't working out, but I have to log out for a while, so I'll hand it off to the next poster...

This link will help, or google other links about the Nitrogen Cycle
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?84598-Freshwater-cycling
 
Ok, assuming the worst you need to return all of the fish right now and leave the tank running empty for about a week or so. Then start it off with smaller hardy fish (I suggest a school of tetra, 5-7 of them, neons are a good start). Leave the tank running again for another few days before adding no more then 5 inches of fish at a time (meaning 5 1in fish or 2 2.5in fish). Don't follow the inch per gallon rule, that's BS. I suggest looking online for community fish (and I'd like to note that Betta aren't community fish, no matter how lethargic they look in their glass bowels) as several species of Gouramis are aggressive and most cichlids are.

For maintenance, do not clean the physical filter, just change out the carbon cartridge every so often. Don't break down the tank every month, just replace about 1/2 to 1/4 of the water every week. Remember to use conditioner on your tap water to pull out the chlorine (which can kill fish directly or indirectly though bacterial loss).

Test your tank for, at the least, Ammonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites. Ammonia and Nitrates should always be 0ppm, Nitrite should sit at around 20pmm. Once that has been achieved the tank is fish safe and you are unlikely to have any issues with fish disease (unless you overstock the tank).
 
Not sure if this is going to be seen or not but...

I'd prefer suggesting the fish-less cycling method (see the link Glabe posted). If you need to get fish that quickly, you're in for even more work to keep the water parameters like ammonia and nitrite in check. Best to simply be patient.

It would still be best to return the fish. In a 29g you're restricted to only one dwarf or possibly 2-3 of the smaller, more peaceful species like honeys or sparkling gouramis.
 
AquariaCentral.com