Too much information....but here we go:
I have looked around online trying to figure out what happened to my fish and how to treat it but I am not really finding too much. There are also several variables (it has been an eventful week for my aquarium,) so it is hard to pin point. I would say the closest thing is black spot disease, but i am not sure if that is correct. some of the pictures online look like pepper sprinkled on the fish and that does not look like this at all, but some of the pictures do look similar. I have read other forums saying it might be ammonia or chemical burns or even stress or bruises...the possibilties all seemed to have limited ramifications very rarely resulting in the fishes death, but I was hoping to get more imput from anyone that may have seen something similar.
The Gourami is the only fish so far affected. The black spots are like freckles of varying size mostly on his tail, but a few on his sides. They are not raised, but look more like a discoloration of his pigment. I cant find my usb adapter for my camera so i cant post any pictures.
There have been some changes in the tank recently, so I am not sure what the cause would be but i can think of a few possibilities. I am ready to turn for help in identifying a cause and finding a solution.
I have a 240 gallon aquarium with a red tail giant gourami 12 inches, green terror 6 inches and 8 bichirs 6 - 12 inches. About a week ago I had a 20 inch silver arowana that i traded for two of the bichirs.
I made the trade because the arowana and gourami were always aggressive with each other but always seemed evenly matched with no real damage being done. About a month ago the arowana started to get the upperhand and the gourami spent most of the day hiding behind some driftwood and started to look a little beat up.
I didnt quarentine the new bichirs (oops,) because the friend I got them from kept up on his tank maintenance and they looked healthy. If it is a parasite issue, I am certain this is where it came from. My friends tank is showing no symptoms as of yet...
The second possability comes from a tank thermometer that was in the tank. When i was cleaning the tank on saturday morning i noticed the little top fin thermometer was floating around in the tank and the Gourami was nipping at it. When i grabbed it to suction it back to the side, I noticed the bottom of the glass was broken and half of the metal balls were missing. I could not find the piece of glass or metal balls. I half believe the gourami was eating the metal balls in the thermometer. Maybe that could cause the weird skin reaction?
Lastly, if this is more of a bruising that would be understandable considering the fights the gourami was in with the arowana. His scales have pretty much all grown back but he has one wound on his side that hasnt really healed yet, but is looking better. I did add salt to the tank when i noticed this which is about the same time the arowana found a new home.
All the fish are acting and looking normal. All are eating. The gourami is still eating, but he used to be quite a pig and he is definately not eating like he was just a few days ago which makes me think it is more then bruising.
The tank has been up and running for about two years. All of the fish have been in the there for about a year except the two new bichirs.
My test kit says ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is 0 so I assume it is expired. I am not sure when I can get a new one with my work schedule.
I have a wet/dry filter sump with a powerhead for extra circulation.
Temp is at 80 degrees...well, it was until i lost thermometer.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
(the picture is what the thermometer was.)
I have looked around online trying to figure out what happened to my fish and how to treat it but I am not really finding too much. There are also several variables (it has been an eventful week for my aquarium,) so it is hard to pin point. I would say the closest thing is black spot disease, but i am not sure if that is correct. some of the pictures online look like pepper sprinkled on the fish and that does not look like this at all, but some of the pictures do look similar. I have read other forums saying it might be ammonia or chemical burns or even stress or bruises...the possibilties all seemed to have limited ramifications very rarely resulting in the fishes death, but I was hoping to get more imput from anyone that may have seen something similar.
The Gourami is the only fish so far affected. The black spots are like freckles of varying size mostly on his tail, but a few on his sides. They are not raised, but look more like a discoloration of his pigment. I cant find my usb adapter for my camera so i cant post any pictures.
There have been some changes in the tank recently, so I am not sure what the cause would be but i can think of a few possibilities. I am ready to turn for help in identifying a cause and finding a solution.
I have a 240 gallon aquarium with a red tail giant gourami 12 inches, green terror 6 inches and 8 bichirs 6 - 12 inches. About a week ago I had a 20 inch silver arowana that i traded for two of the bichirs.
I made the trade because the arowana and gourami were always aggressive with each other but always seemed evenly matched with no real damage being done. About a month ago the arowana started to get the upperhand and the gourami spent most of the day hiding behind some driftwood and started to look a little beat up.
I didnt quarentine the new bichirs (oops,) because the friend I got them from kept up on his tank maintenance and they looked healthy. If it is a parasite issue, I am certain this is where it came from. My friends tank is showing no symptoms as of yet...
The second possability comes from a tank thermometer that was in the tank. When i was cleaning the tank on saturday morning i noticed the little top fin thermometer was floating around in the tank and the Gourami was nipping at it. When i grabbed it to suction it back to the side, I noticed the bottom of the glass was broken and half of the metal balls were missing. I could not find the piece of glass or metal balls. I half believe the gourami was eating the metal balls in the thermometer. Maybe that could cause the weird skin reaction?
Lastly, if this is more of a bruising that would be understandable considering the fights the gourami was in with the arowana. His scales have pretty much all grown back but he has one wound on his side that hasnt really healed yet, but is looking better. I did add salt to the tank when i noticed this which is about the same time the arowana found a new home.
All the fish are acting and looking normal. All are eating. The gourami is still eating, but he used to be quite a pig and he is definately not eating like he was just a few days ago which makes me think it is more then bruising.
The tank has been up and running for about two years. All of the fish have been in the there for about a year except the two new bichirs.
My test kit says ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is 0 so I assume it is expired. I am not sure when I can get a new one with my work schedule.
I have a wet/dry filter sump with a powerhead for extra circulation.
Temp is at 80 degrees...well, it was until i lost thermometer.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
(the picture is what the thermometer was.)
