Dwarf Gourami with Hole-in-the-Head??
- Thread starter joel.uejio
- Start date
Tried getting some better pics (see below). The wound kind of looks like someone chewed on him, but I'm sure that's not it. He's in with cories, danios and some snails.
I did another WC just now -- wound looks about the same size, and dg still not showing any other symptoms.
Any thoughts on what I'm dealing with here?
I did another WC just now -- wound looks about the same size, and dg still not showing any other symptoms.
Any thoughts on what I'm dealing with here?
Does it seems to be spreading/getting larger or even fluffy/cottony growth?
Do you have breeder trap or any clear plastic container (carbon jar)?
And I will assume water condition is not an issue here or was he exposed to extreme water condition?
Do you have breeder trap or any clear plastic container (carbon jar)?
And I will assume water condition is not an issue here or was he exposed to extreme water condition?
I've read that Zebra Danios can be semi-agressive, and can be a bit nippy. I wonder if they may be harassing your Gourami, causing him to flee and perhaps run into something sharp. This could have happened at night when you aren't looking at them.
Could you show us a full tank shot? It would help to see any structures you have in there that the Gourami may have run into. Lava rock is pretty rough, and it could be possible that he might have a scrape from the coconut cave if he tried to enter one, or if he accidently ran into one of them.
I would move him out of the tank with the Danios and continue to provide pristine water, absolutely pure with no traces of ammonia or nitrite. I would monitor him for signs of infection, but I wouldn't start medicating him unless you do see any signs of infection.
Fish have remarkable recuperative powers when provided with good clean water and a stress free, (as much as possible), enviornment.
Get some Prime, by Seachem if you can. Prime is a great water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines, but it also helps by detoxifying ammonia and nitrite traces that may appear while your Gourami is "in hospital".
You still need to remove any traces of ammonia and nitrite by doing frequent water changes within twenty-four hours of dosing Prime. (that's about how long it works to detox those harmful by-products)
I hope your little guy will be OK.
Could you show us a full tank shot? It would help to see any structures you have in there that the Gourami may have run into. Lava rock is pretty rough, and it could be possible that he might have a scrape from the coconut cave if he tried to enter one, or if he accidently ran into one of them.
I would move him out of the tank with the Danios and continue to provide pristine water, absolutely pure with no traces of ammonia or nitrite. I would monitor him for signs of infection, but I wouldn't start medicating him unless you do see any signs of infection.
Fish have remarkable recuperative powers when provided with good clean water and a stress free, (as much as possible), enviornment.
Get some Prime, by Seachem if you can. Prime is a great water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines, but it also helps by detoxifying ammonia and nitrite traces that may appear while your Gourami is "in hospital".
You still need to remove any traces of ammonia and nitrite by doing frequent water changes within twenty-four hours of dosing Prime. (that's about how long it works to detox those harmful by-products)
I hope your little guy will be OK.
Good questions and comments...here are some responses:
I don't think the wound is getting bigger, but not sure. Not seeing any cottony fluff in it, just ragged skin and some pink fish flesh.
Water conditions have been at NH3=0, NO2=0, NO3=15-30 for a long time now. Tested today and they're at [0, 0, 5] (I guess b/c I've done wc's for the past 3 days).
Actually, I thought of something else that could be a factor. I had an ich outbreak a little while ago and treated with API Super Ich Cure. Could that have caused damage? Didn't seem to bother any of my fish at the time..?
I've never seen the danios chasing or nipping the dg at all, so don't think that's an issue. In terms of whether to ISO him -- I've had some bad luck doing that, so kind of want to leave him in the 20g where he seems happy unless I get to a point where I know there's something in there causing harm, or I see a definite decrease in his health.
On the subject of Prime, my whole mini pet empire is built around API Tap Water Conditioner, so I'd really like to stay with that unless there's a clear indication that water conditions are causing my problems.
I'm posting some full tank shots below. Thanks to all who've taken the time to offer questions / suggestions. Please keep 'em coming!
With flash
Without flash (BTW, yes that's a pink dresser
)
Left side
Right side
I don't think the wound is getting bigger, but not sure. Not seeing any cottony fluff in it, just ragged skin and some pink fish flesh.
Water conditions have been at NH3=0, NO2=0, NO3=15-30 for a long time now. Tested today and they're at [0, 0, 5] (I guess b/c I've done wc's for the past 3 days).
Actually, I thought of something else that could be a factor. I had an ich outbreak a little while ago and treated with API Super Ich Cure. Could that have caused damage? Didn't seem to bother any of my fish at the time..?
I've never seen the danios chasing or nipping the dg at all, so don't think that's an issue. In terms of whether to ISO him -- I've had some bad luck doing that, so kind of want to leave him in the 20g where he seems happy unless I get to a point where I know there's something in there causing harm, or I see a definite decrease in his health.
On the subject of Prime, my whole mini pet empire is built around API Tap Water Conditioner, so I'd really like to stay with that unless there's a clear indication that water conditions are causing my problems.
I'm posting some full tank shots below. Thanks to all who've taken the time to offer questions / suggestions. Please keep 'em coming!
With flash
Without flash (BTW, yes that's a pink dresser
)Left side
Right side
Wound is not getting better and I already have a hospital tank for my sick rainbows so I decided to move the DG in with them.
So now he's in a 10g with 2 red rainbows and will be getting a Maracyn treatment.
So now he's in a 10g with 2 red rainbows and will be getting a Maracyn treatment.
I would say maracyn 2 is your best bet now. It looks an awful lot like the bacterial infection that we see so much with dwarf gourami. They always seem to get these random sores, usually around the head and gill area. Very strange. Good luck with the treatment. Stay on it.
Yes, actually I was wondering about Maracyn 2 for the bows too....looks like more meds for my growing fish pharmacy....
So, new plan: 2x red bows and dg in a HT, will dose Maracyn and Maracyn 2.
Thanks for the help!
So, new plan: 2x red bows and dg in a HT, will dose Maracyn and Maracyn 2.
Thanks for the help!
Yes, I have a sick rainbow thread and also this sick DG thread, but now they're all in a 10g hospital tank together so I've been bouncing back and forth with my updates. Here's the situation:
I ended up getting Furan-2 instead of Maracyn-2 based on LFS availability -- checked it out and saw no warnings about combining. So last night I did my 4th dose of Maracyn and 3rd dose of Furan-2 (DG missed M. dose #1, so he's had 3).
DG wound is about the same size and he continues to show no other symptoms. I plan to finish out the treatment cycle and then decide what to do. Here's what I'm thinking:
[A] Do another cycle of these anti-biotics if the bows look like they need it.
Remove the bows if they're better and switch to Melafix / Pimafix / Salt / ? ... some treatment to help with slime coat production
I think the plan above is good, but please let me know if anyone out there has any comments!
Also, I've been getting ammonia readings of .25 since I started meds, but I'm 95% sure that my HT is properly cycled. Anyone know if meds can cause false NH3 readings?
Thanks!
Joel
I ended up getting Furan-2 instead of Maracyn-2 based on LFS availability -- checked it out and saw no warnings about combining. So last night I did my 4th dose of Maracyn and 3rd dose of Furan-2 (DG missed M. dose #1, so he's had 3).
DG wound is about the same size and he continues to show no other symptoms. I plan to finish out the treatment cycle and then decide what to do. Here's what I'm thinking:
[A] Do another cycle of these anti-biotics if the bows look like they need it.
Remove the bows if they're better and switch to Melafix / Pimafix / Salt / ? ... some treatment to help with slime coat production
I think the plan above is good, but please let me know if anyone out there has any comments!
Also, I've been getting ammonia readings of .25 since I started meds, but I'm 95% sure that my HT is properly cycled. Anyone know if meds can cause false NH3 readings?
Thanks!
Joel
