Gourami Bloated & Now White Thing Popping Out of Her Side?! Please help

[skittles2055]

Our female honey Gourami is in terrible shape. I have no idea what's wrong with her or if she'll get better.

Freshwater 10 gal setup, first fish tank experience, 9 months old, cycled before adding these fish.
2 Kribensis, 1 Red/Bolivian Ram, and 2 Honey Gouramis-one M one F
Tank temp is around 82 degrees F, not by choice but due to season, otherwise if can, we keep it around 78 using heater.

In the last month or two we've had problems with algae growing rather quickly on the rock arch centerpiece/deco and sides of tank. I've done a few partial water changes in the last couple months, usually about 30-40%, the last one being about a week ago.

To test water parameters, we've been using 'Jungle' brand 6-tests in one Quick Dip strips. The NITRATE levels used to be fine but in recent weeks have been super high, around 200ppm according to these dip strip tests that give 6 color options for each water parameter and you match up the strip to whatever color matches best to get the result. Nitrite and chlorine levels are safe/zero. Hardness is VERY HARD, alkalinity is moderate (around 80 according to the color chart) and pH is between 7.2-7.8. I KNOW I NEED TO GET THE NITRATE LEVELS DOWN DRASTICALLY but don't know how aside from more water changes, welcome to any suggestions.

Something WEIRD is VERY WRONG with the poor FEMALE GOURAMI, I think she's going to die--she's been breathing heavier and one day in the past two weeks she just started looked bloated like she'd be 'pregnant' or something (the male Gourami frequently attempts to create a bubble nest unsuccessfully) and now just today she HAS A WHITE THING PROTRUDING OUT OF HER SIDE/BACK! She was eating up until yesterday but not today. I feel bad for her and she must be suffering. What could this be!? Some sort of parasitic infection? I'm trying to learn about this complex process of fishkeeping, sorry for my ignorance. I really have no idea and she needs help. ANY HELP would be appreciated greatly! Thank you so so much in advance!!! Here are some pictures...

 

[Lexi_D]

This is most likely a parasitic infection, though there is still a possibility of either bloat or dropsy along with it. Are her scales sticking out like a pinecone? Try giving her a pea and see if the swelling goes down. Are any of the other fish showing symptoms? If this is indeed a parasitic infection, you will need to treat the entire tank with medication such as maracide or coppersafe. If there is also dropsy involved, you may need to quarantine her and treat her with antibiotics, although the disease is usually fatal.

Those test strips are usually extremely innacurate, but if they are even remotely close you need to change at least 75-80% of the water ASAP to get those nitrates down! You also need to test for ammonia. I suggest picking up an API freshwater master test kit, they are great IME.

Secondly, your tank is very overstocked. The ram needs at least a 20g and so do the kribs. You'll need to either get a larger tank or return them... the honey gouramies would work in a 10g with maybe some small schoolers like neon tetras.

Hope I could help, good luck!!

 

[ksane]

Lord, your nitrates were 200 ppm?? That's what's wrong with her. I read an article (I'll see if I saved it somewhere) and nitrates over 160 ppm or so were lethal in a certain number of days-less than 2 wks. So if anything that's a tough fish if she's been living in that high of nitrates.
Do a 50% water change ASAP, like now. The only way to get nitrates down is water changes. But we don't want to shock them too much too fast. I'd do another 50% in a few days, then a few days another 50% then honestly-I'd be doing daily 50% water changes until those nitrates come down. You should be doing 50% weekly water changes as a rule from here on out. I don't know if there's anything that will save the Gourami, it's probably too late. Nitrate poisoning causes severe anemia and then organ failure. By the time the fish shows sign it's usually too late. I know it's a hard way to learn, I'm sorry.

 

[Reframer]

The tank is overstocked as well and that is why the nitrates get so high. A pair of gourami will need at least a 20 gallon.
This could be a external injury that had gotten infected and has led to an internal infection as well. The pics are a bit hard to make out. Check the fish disease and illness guide in the sticky under that forum.
Best bet is a broad antibiotic like trisulfa or something. Isolate her in a plastic tub that hasn't been washed with soap during treatment. Include a heater (if the temp gets below 76) and do daily water changes.

 

[theredchaser]

Looks like an external parasite, but probably only one of the symptoms. If your water is at 200ppm nitrates WITH a 40% water change only a week ago, then something is very very wrong.

I would test your tap water to make sure there are no nitrates leaking into your water supply. Reduce feeding immediately.. There are tiny worms in your picture which indicates 1) overfeeding 2) lack of tank maintenance. I would do a very deep graval vac to around 50% daily if your tap checks out ok.

Get a liquid nitrate test kit if you can't afford the whole set. Keep doing 50% daily water changes until the nitrates are around 10ppm, then start treating the parasite.

 

[skittles2055]

Thank you all so much for the replies!! I really appreciate your time and knowledge! I did about a 60% water change while doing a good gravel vac, and will contine to to around a 50% change every other day or so or couple days until the dang nitrate levels are completely safe. I'll be monitoring the levels much more frequently, too, along with more consistently frequent water changes.

Her scales are NOT sticking out like a pinecone. The WHITE stuff is almost definitely COMING OUT FROM HER INSIDES. It's like she got bloated for a few days and then this one spot sorta starting popping this white thing out. NONE of the other fish are demonstrating any symptoms (at least not yet and I hope for their sake it stays that way). I hope she, along with the rest, hasn't been suffereing terribly these past couple weeks.

I think I'll pick up one of those API kits mentioned, and even look for some sort of tests to use that would be more accurate than these non-specific quick dip 6 in 1 strips. I don't know the exact ppm the nitrates were but out of the 0, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 200 color matching options to choose from, nitrates were definitely at the 160/200 (these 2 colors look basically the exact same, either way being way too high) level or higher.

I tested the de-chlorinated water before adding it to the tank during the water change and all levels, including the nitrates, were right where they should be so that's good but too bad that means it's been our maintenance causing the issue/s. I'll check out the fish disease and illness guide to see if any of them seem to match and also the signs/symptoms of high nitrates (there are SO many potential fish problems, i had no idea there was so much to it) and get an antibiotic and do the isolation if appropriate. If my tank IS overstocked, I'd like to thank the 'nice' fish store with good reviews that specifically said our kinds and amounts of fish would be fine in our specific 10 gal setup :\ They all seem to get along ok, except for the one more dominant Kribensis with a lil attitude mostly toward the other kribensis. I'll consider downsizing, esp if I can't get and keep the tank in alignment. (It was doing so well for at least a few months).

I'm taking all suggestions and ideas into account and will be sure to reference your responses again. Thanks so much for your time in reading and responding!! What a nice, helpful bunch of people Thanks, again!