My Guorami is dying...HELP?

[JoesFish]

oh, my son's gunna kill me...

okay it's like a tiger colored guorami...there was a wild bit o activity in the tank and that's when I noticed him acting funny...and he's all bent (literally)...it's hanging out at the bottom of the tank, then swims up for air, then back down...scales look not so good...I'm worried about the other fish...we got this fish from a lady and he was already big...could it be old age?? please help ASAP
Stephanie

 

[jec0995]

Tell us more about your tank. What kind of fish, water parameters, etc. Also, what size tank? What do you mean by "wild bit o activity?" Is it a dwarf flame gourami? Also, what kind of filtration? Sometimes fish can get stuck to the filter tube and break their backs. It would have to be a huge filter to do that to a gourami though. Give us some more info and hopefully we can help. Good luck.

 

[Ghost_knife]

I am thinking it's a neon Gourami, your fish is unfortunatly dieing. you can either euthanize or let it be, or go to an LFS and switch it out for one like it. I know that last one isnt the nicest but it may work.

 

[JoesFish]

Tell us more about your tank. What kind of fish, water parameters, etc. Also, what size tank? What do you mean by "wild bit o activity?" Is it a dwarf flame gourami? Also, what kind of filtration? Sometimes fish can get stuck to the filter tube and break their backs. It would have to be a huge filter to do that to a gourami though. Give us some more info and hopefully we can help. Good luck.

It's a 55 gallon tank we bought fully stocked about 3 months ago. Original inhabitants are the two gouramis ( a blue opaline and this golden orange dying one), 3 rainbow sharks, upsidedown catfish, algae eater...we added 2 baby bala sharks, 3 tiger barbs, a southamerican dragon, and a lil tiny algae eater, and an angel fish.
I am anal on the weekly water changes as I feel there are too many fish but hubby and son disagree. We get the water tested about monthly and the only issue lately has been nitrates (er whatever the last stage is) so I added more plants to help...
There is an undergravel filtration system...and this guy is big(4 inches), so I don't think it's anything related to that...thanks! Stephanie

 

[Aqualung]

You are right about the stocking issue. Those balas get huge and they are schooling fish. They really aren't well suited to your tank size. Also, I'm not sure what the "southamerican dragon" is. I don't know what to say about the gourami except that it sounds like it's time is up. I recommend getting a good test kit ASAP to keep track of your water parameters and also figuring out what species of fish the "dragon" is.