My Opaline Gourami is scratching against objects in the aquarium. There is no physical signs of parasites like Ich or anything. She also eats normal and water conditions are all normal. What are some reasons an Opaline Gourami might do something like this? What are some things that can be done to stop it? Tank is 20 gallons.
2007-04-15 17:08:54 · 9 answers · asked by Dustinius 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
They do this when they have an infection that is bothering their skin. You may not be able to see it yet, but it's there. Raise the temperature in your aquarium to 85 and put a little kosher salt in the water. Maybe this will help.
2007-04-15 17:12:57 · answer #1 · answered by true blue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's possible you are seeing the very beginning stages of ich, but since you see no spots, I would be just as quick to blame any one of several other parasites, some of which are much harder to see than ich. Luckily, ich and most of these other potential parasites are all treated the same way. I would suggest you treat the tank with any ich treatment that contains copper sulphate, formalin or malachite green. These are the most effective ingredients for dealing with small parasites and are often seen in combinations with each other in a treatment to increase the effectiveness of he treatment. Treat with one of these for a minimum of 10 days and odds are very good you will see the end of the scratching. Actually, you may see the end of the scratching long before that, but don't stop the treatment early! That could lead to a fast recurrence of the problem.
Hope that helps
MM
2007-04-15 17:40:30 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
your fish may be scratching up against items because he is developing Ich... small salt like granules will be seen developing all over his body and fins.
Quick Cure is usually a very effective Ick treatment. It contains 2 of the best active ingredients out there. You can try adding salt. It should be about 2 - 2.5 tablspoons per 5 gallons. You can also safely double the dosage of ick cure in the tank.
Run your heat up higher. Ick cannot live at temperatures over 30C or 86F so run the temp up to 88-90 F and that should help significantly.
2007-04-15 17:16:16 · answer #3 · answered by lmaryott4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not jump to any conclusions that it is ich! You will see small white spots if it is, besides it is very unhealthly for your tank to treat it for ich unless you are absolutely sure that it is. Some fish are as likely to die from the ich medication than from the ich itself.
Did you know that like people fish also get itchy from time to time that they will scratch on rock or wood or whatever is handy and is perfectly normal! My fish often scratch themselves and are very healthy.
If I was you I would observe your fish for another couple days and if it is constantly rubbing or you see visible signs of ich, I would only then be concerned.
If you do end up treating ich at any point now or in the future just be sure to take out your carbon and bio filter media if you have any untill the treatment is over and read instructions on bottle of course.
Hope this helps.
2007-04-15 17:39:29 · answer #4 · answered by Ash 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your tank is EXTREMELY overstocked. and i can not stress that enough. im really surprised you can even fit that many fish in a 5 gallon tank. the gourami is stressed out, most likely from ammonia or nitrite poisoning. the pleco(if its common) will need a 55 gallon. tetras and danios need to be in a school in order to be happy. and a school would require: for neons-10 gallons, for danios-20 gallons. the red serpae is a type of tetra, so that goes for them too. opaline ( known as three-spot) gouramis also need a 55 gallon. you NEED a bigger tank or you need to return your fish. it is not fair for them to be in such a tiny tank. maybe you could have meant 55 gallon. if you did (which im HOPING you meant 55, not 5), try a water change and test for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. get ammonia and nitrite down to 0, and nitrate no more and 40. i saw someone say zebra danios are cold water fish.. NOT TRUE. all danios are tropical fish, and do best in a temp of around 74 degrees.
2016-03-18 02:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that would be ich, you arn't seeing the parasitic cysts (those little white dots) because the parasites are beginning to push their way through his scales and havn't formed the cysts yet, thats why he is scratching. You can go and get ich cure or other ich medication but when the cysts begin to appear they aren't harmed by the medications, they wont be affected until those cysts hatch out, then the ich parasite will be vulnerable to the medication. You can try to raise the water temperature a few degrees to get them to hatch out earlier but thats about it, its pretty much a waiting game now. But I would definately get the ich medication that way when they do hatch you can kill them. I would start treating the water now and until there are no more cysts.
2007-04-15 17:15:04 · answer #6 · answered by wenchgirl04 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There may some other parasites that you cannot see, or the fish just likes to scratch objects, all your are different. try giving it some ich medicine or Furan 2 and see it helps
2007-04-15 17:53:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
start a treatment of ick away do a water change of 25% and buy 5 in 1 tester strips to see if your nitrates or nitrites are up she maybe under stress too.
2007-04-15 18:32:45 · answer #8 · answered by Michelle L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Symptoms of ich. It may not be visible right now, but she is developing it.
2007-04-16 02:54:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋