Sick? Gourami

richr834

AC Members
Sep 15, 2009
17
0
0
Maryland
I have a 10 year old Gouami that has developed a black spot on his head that grows a black stringy hair like growth for about 4 days then it's gone. The spot is about 1mm dia. and the growth gets to about 2mm long. All his tank mates are fine. He started this about 2 months ago and only today he has been hiding, coming out only to eat. I do a 25% water change every week and the chemistry is good.

IMG_2450.JPG
 
Anybody out there have any ideas what this could be and course of treatment I need to take. I'd hate to lose this guy, he has a great way or recognizing me when I approch the tank. He ignores everyone else.
 
10 years!!! Wow! You must be doing a great job with your tank, congratulations!

I have no idea about what could that be... but could it be just old age? A 10 years old gourami must be approaching the max life expectancy.
 
In the last year or so, he has changed alot. His color (blotched), shape (thinner), and slowed down alot (still eats good). he pretty much ignors his playful tankmates, but this change alarmed me. The hair like "growth" looked like a fungus, but it's black and stays in the same spot.
 
By the wat, what is the max life of a Gourami? His mate died more than 4 years ago (my fault). I missed a ich attack until too late, it's hard to see ick on this color fish.
 
Last night at feeding he refused to eat and I knew it wasn't going to be long. I was surprised this morning, he was dead. Just 12 hours after he stopped eating. We have a pet cemetery in the yard where we have buried various gogs, cats, hamsters, & such, this will be the first fish to rate a plot there.
I didn't do anything special, frequent water changes, varied food (including fresh veg), and keeping a close eye on the filter.
 
I missed some of the questions.
He was about 6-7 inches.
I keep a small amount of salt in the tank (somewhere between none and brackish).
he was a kissing Gourami.
I keep the tank stocked with live plants, I don't know if that helps, but all the fish enjoy eating and playing in them. It keeps them active and happy, plus they can be alone when they want.
 
:( So sorry about the loss of your Gourami. It's very hard to lose someone you've had for such a long time but he must have been a happy fellow to have lived that long!!!
 
I'm sorry too.... however thanks to your care he lived an happy and record long life.
Are you going to take another couple of kissing gourami?
 
AquariaCentral.com