Gouramis keep dying! Why?

[Flish]

For some reason every time I get a Gourami it dies. I have been buying them from Petsmart and returning them. First one was a male Three Spot, second was a female Three Spot, third was a Paradise fish. All of them died within 24 hours of being in a 30 gallon understocked tank. They had plenty of shelter, plants, excellent filtration. Tankmates: 1 Raphael catfish, 3 Orange Calico Sailfin Mollies (1 male, 2 females), and a pair of Red Glass Fish. So why are the Gouramis dying? They had access to air too.

I checked pH--it was slightly acidic. Nitrates and ammonia were fine. The only thing I could think of was possible salt toxicity? I live next to a marsh and I don't know if the crystalline crud which builds up on the filter as evaporated film is harmful. I know Mollies like salt and they are certainly happy. They even had 30 babies last week.

I also lost a Ruby Shark. It is really frustrating me.

 

[Aqualung]

Could you provide your water parameters (the actual readings)? Do you have a test kit? Do you add salt to the water, and if so for what purpose?

It could be a case of bad stock, but more info is needed first.

 

[joephys]

Yes actual parameters are needed, and you said you checked ammonia and nitrates. Nitrates arent a problem unless they are very high. Did you check nitrites?

I don't know why a "crystalline crud" would be building up on your filter. Please tell me your not using water from the marsh.

 

[Flish]

Yes, I do have a test kit. I'll take another reading right now. The pet store said my water was fine (they tested it for free each time).

I didn't add salt but I wondered if there was salt forming in crystal form as water evaporates. The ground water here is brackish and though it is filtered I suspect it may still be somewhat brackish to a very low percentage.

Mardel strip says:
Chlorine: 0 (well it is well water)
Nitrate: .25
Ammonia: (hard to read on this test strip, not part of the Mardel strip, but in "safe zone" of weird light pink)
hardness: 50 (this varies, my water tends to be soft)
pH:7.6, though I have to add pH decreaser every time I do a water change.

I don't use marsh water, but I live in a freshwater floodplane connected to a brackish aquafer (so guess what kind of water the conditining system has to purify?)

 

[Roan Art]

Take a sample of your water to the LFS and ask them to check the salinity. If they can't, find another one that carries brackish or marine fish and ask them.

This is the best way to find out if your water is getting seepage from the marsh.

Roan

 

[joephys]

pour a small ammount of water in a dish and let it set out for a couple of days until it evaporates. If there are salt crysltes, then its in your water.

 

[hurricanejedi]

My dwarf gourami died very suddenly tonight. He was fine when I got him. Then today he lost his color and died. The only change is I'm about 5 days into a salt treatment. I don't know what caused it but maybe the salt was more stressful then he could take. No other signs I could tell. I'll be interested to see what you determine it is.

 

[Roan Art]

My dwarf gourami died very suddenly tonight. He was fine when I got him. Then today he lost his color and died. The only change is I'm about 5 days into a salt treatment. I don't know what caused it but maybe the salt was more stressful then he could take. No other signs I could tell. I'll be interested to see what you determine it is.

I doubt the salt killed the gourami, hurricanejedi.

If you cycled your tank with this fish: Cycling can put a lot of stress on a fish and compromise their immune systems. Many fish that are put through a tank cycle live shorter lifespans.

Or is this one of the new fish you got? It could have had a really bad case of ich in its gills and you would never see it, before or after you bought it. This could even be the one that brought the ich into the tank.

It's not unusual for a gourami to suddenly die like this. If you search the forums for posts, especially of late, you'll find quite a few from people that have had the same thing happen to them. I've also had a gourami just croak overnight for no apparent reason. He was one of my blue three spots.

There are just too many variables in play in a new tank with new fish and an ich outbreak try to narrow down the actual case of death.

Roan

 

[Flish]

I'm going again to the store today. Won't be getting another gourami until I come to some sort of conclusion.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. You all really know your fish!

 

[pran]

the goramies need clean water and the right food. And the mollies will bite them sometimes. :idea2: