Red mouth ulceration - dwarf gourami

[SunsetPisces]

My blue dwarf gourami developed a red spot on his upper "lip" a day or so after I moved some plants around in his tank and stirred things up. This spread within three days to most of his mouth. Looks painful. What I have read suggests bacterial infection.

He is in a 5g Marineland hex with three plants, a dwarf cory, and a snail. Nothing new in there. I changed most of the water, using distilled with conditioner for slime coat, and changed the filter pad. He does not seem any worse but not much better, either.

What can I do for him? I hate to see him suffer.

Thanks -

 

[cris gaston]

Hi. Can't say for sure what that is but here's what you can do. Apply 10% Betadine (povidone iodine) on the affected area twice a day for three days. Partial change of water would be good. Good luck.

 

[jm1212]

i would not take the fish out of the tank to apply anything. just keep the water clean and provide antibacterial meds if they are needed down the line.

also, you may want to reconsider using distilled water all of the time, if that is what you are doing. there are not enough vitamins and minerals in it to sustain the fish, which could be a contributing factor in the "sore"

 

[jpappy789]

I agree, distilled water is not healthy for fish.

Also, never completely change out the filter media or you may experience a mini-cycle. Just clean off the filter pad in tank water.

Do you know what the ammonia levels are?

 

[SunsetPisces]

Thanks, good info. Did not know about distilled water, but I wondered about minerals. Current tank water is mixed with treated tap water which seems to keep the pH less drastically alkaline. (Our tap water is softened but all the water around here has a high pH.) I will check the ammonia again, haven't tested since I changed the water. Since the bio-wheel stays pretty much forever (unless it gets damaged) is it okay to change the pad when it gets really clogged? I think I was overfeeding.