Gourami infected wound - Help please!

Thanks Mel,

You definitively helped me going through this bad experience, the time you spent mentoring me is much appreciated.

I will get the anti bacterial product tomorrow morning, tonight I can already see in the male gourami the early signs I saw on Lucy: he's starting to be lethargic and one of the eye may be starting to pop out.
In the morning I had checked the water parameters (all good) but changed 30% of water anyway but it must be DGD... But just in case it is another bacterial problem I'll treat the main tank...

I think I had enough of dwarf gourami, for good! Those bloody Silver Tipped Tetra instead are as healthy as usual (I'm starting to think they wouldn't die not even if I try to euthanise them....)

Anyway from this story I learned the hard way a couple of useful lessons:
1. Never buy a Dwarf Gourami again (too beautiful for the price you pay, must be genetically compromised).
2. Always check thoroughly the fish you are given and refuse it if there is anything wrong with it (or if it has been chased too long).
3. Keep a couple of medicines for the most common diseases at home because some illnesses straight very quickly.
4. Get a Q tank and use it (even if there is not space at home!).

And I'm sure I'm still missing a few more :)

I'll update you on the male, but I'm a bit pessimistic (DGD is not treatable).

Cheers
Fabio
 
I'm so sorry for the loss of your little girl. You might start treating the male right away, but if he starts going south I would probably humanely euthanize him. If it is Dwarf gourami disease there is really not a whole lot you can do from what I understand.
Just know that you are not the only one who has had these problems. It is a very common issue with these fish and unless you can get them directly from an excellent breeder, in my experience, it is not really worth it. Which is really very sad as they are excellent little fish.
If you are looking for something similar with a better bill of health I highly reccomend Honey Gourami. Although there are kinda sensitive fish (twice a week or weekly water changes is a fully stocked aquarium), they don't seem to have as many disease issues.

Good luck with your male Fabio.
 
Thanks Lime_Smash,

I'll try the interpet anti bacteria first and let's see what happens, this is a big boy so it may be slightly stronger...
I agree I think I'll go for the honey or for the thick lipped gourami next. So that I can later safely add a Siamese fighter too.
 
I'm glad if I helped in some small way. I wish I could have helped you save Lucy.
I'm a firm believer in having a fish "emergency kit, or medicine cabinet" of meds that might be needed. It's really tough to have a sick fish on the weekend or middle of the night, and have no where to go for help, and no ready resource to obtain what you need quickly.

It is more difficult in the UK to find what you need, due to tight controls of antibiotics and other medications for aquarium fish, so I would try to stock what you can for future use. Most things, if stored in a cool dark place, have a pretty long shelf life.
There is a "sticky" at the top of this forum, in which Lupin, one of our moderators and fish gurus, has compiled a list of medications for a wide variety of illnesses. You might take a look at it and see what you mght want to obtain for your fish medicine cabinet.

Best wishes for your male DG, Fabio. Please keep us posted.
 
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fabiobruno,
So sorry to hear about your Lucy. There's nothing worse than sitting by helplessly when nothing seems to help, but know that you did all you could for her. Best of luck with your boy.
Jen

Ps. I, too, learned the hard way to check a fish thoroughly for injuries, wounds, etc, before bringing it home :(
 
Thanks a lot again everyone!

Today I started the treatment with Interpet product and everything seems OK so far (13 hours so far), Tommy (I promise I'll stop giving names to my fish if the one I give names to die) seems stable or maybe even slightly better. I need to give another dose on day 4 (I can't believe I won't do a water change in the nxt 2 days... I'm almost addicted by now... Anyway I'll keep monitoring the water's parameters).

Tomorrow morning I'll see a vet to understand how does it work with antibiotics in UK.

I didn't add an air pump yet because I believe the venturi system in my filter generates enough aeration, all tetras seems pretty happy and the giuramis are labirint fish so they shouldn't need additional oxigen... or do they???
 
I'm thrilled that the Interpet seems to be helping Tommy.

You keep your water so clean that Tommy will probably be fine without an additional bubbler. Usually we recommend an additional airstone to help any fish that is sick or fighting an infection. The extra oxygenation can help a fish that is not feeling 100%. While true that Gouramis are labyrinth fish they do breathe through gills as well so well oxygenated water is appreciated.

Please keep us posted on Tommy's condition. Keep up the good work.
 
Hi Mel,

Got your message and airpump installed (the airstone was already there I just had to attach the airpump).
Tommy is not better neither worst... but hasn't been eating for at the least 4 days! Always spending most of the time in his corner with all fins clamped...
Tomorrow I'll add the second dose of the anti bacterial but tonight I've changed the usual 30%... I've got the impression that he gets worst when the carbon cartridge is not in the filter. He also seems to feel very lonely but I'm resisting to the temptation to give him a companion... I don't want this to become a chain of disease spread....

Anyway I'll keep you posted if anything changes.
 
I'm so sorry he's not feeling well, Fabio. I so hope he will pull through this. I would keep his water really clean.

What are the directions on the Interpet? Most meds are not available several hours after the dose, therefore water changes every 24 hours, just before each daily dose, will help keep the water quality really good.

Carbon in the filter will render the antibiotic ineffective, however. I would keep some filter foam in the filter, to help with particulates. I would try to keep his water pristine through water changes, that is unless the instructions say you are to do no water changes. I don't want to adivse you to do something that would interfere with the action of the medication, but I do worry about the params while treating a sick fish. Good water quality is so important.

Please keep us posted on Tommy's condition. I so hope he will pull through this. Keep up the good work, Fabio. You are working so hard and doing everything possible for your little guy.
 
Thanks :)

The instruction don't say anything really... Just to add the 2nd dose on day 4 and that after 7 days another treatment can be started and finally if dosing is complete carbon can be returned into the aquarium... but what does it means dosing complete? Just after adding the second dose??? This wouldn't make sense...
Anyway I'll keep checking the params and if nitrates go above 20 I'll do a water change.
 
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