Gourami - My female Gourami hasn't eaten for days - HELP?

Question

The female Gourami brought recently (1 male - 1 female). Hasnt eaten for days and just "lies around" sometimes on the floor of the tank some times floating near the top - for hours. She seems to be vertical still, but its getting worse. Im not sure if shes "pregnant" but she kepts "chewing" all the time, (not the gills just the mouth) im doing a water change now to reduce a possible high nitrate level but i dont think thats the cause. I have 2 angel fish, 1 other Gourami and a few smaller fish which seem to be fine. ANY IDEAS please help. I've not lost any fish in 6 months and dont want to start now, well unless you count 2 eaten shrimp. Kind regards mark.

Its the Dwarf Gourami - the female is the blue type about 4-5cm in length.

The belly is slightly bloated but no more than when i first brought it - the color is still vivid.

Is there an all-in-one type treatment (general well being treatment) that could be used in the tank as i have no idea what is wrong with this fish.

Would increasing the temp to 28 help in increasing immuene systems in general, ???? or while treating them.

Answer 1

It can take several days for a fish to settle in, but the lack of activity would suggest a problem. I would say to eliminate potential environmental causes with a water changes and also watch closely for any harrasment by the other fish. At this point there really aren't enough signs to point to any particular disease and treating a tank in a "shotgun" fashion is never a good idea.

There are various "cure's it all" treatments available, bvut I would strongly advise against them. Most treatments that claim to cure everything actually cure nothing.

MM

Answer 2

If you really have a male and a female, it's quite likely that they will eventually mate. Blue and gold gouramis are the same species (Trichogaster trichopterus); they are just different color morphs. They almost always make their bubble nests at the surface of the water, but I suppose if this is impossible for them, there's some remote chance that the male would build a bubble nest in a hollow log. If you want them to breed, turn off the "bubble wall," and put something such as a floating ring, or half a styrofoam cup (cut lengthwise) to float at the surface as a place where the male will have enough still water to build a bubble nest. Floating plants can also serve the same function.

Answer 3

As you probably know, gouramis are fairly sensitive fish and can easily get stressed. Make sure water conditions are normal. As long as the water is 22-28C I would not change this as this could stress her out even more. Angelfish, are often aggresive to smaller fish, mine got very agressive when they started laying eggs. Try to watch the fish, another thing is that the male could start getting teritorial, as with mine, and starts chasing the female. Sorry I can not help more, I'm fairly inexperienced because i'm 11.

Answer 4

dwarf gouramis these days are not very hardy at all, and even have their own disease! if she's not swimming properly, lethargic and gasping, it sounds like she may have an infection, i would issolate her away from the other fish immediately. one of the symptoms for the dwarf gourami viral diease is a loss of appetite and a bloated abdomen.

can you see any other external symptoms? sunken belly? sores? red marks?

Answer 5

If she seems to be chewing all the time she may have a stone caught in her mouth, might not be but it maybe worth getting her out and having a quick look.

Answer 6

Have you checked your ammonia, It is probibly that, A water change wil help. Live foods will encourage her to eat,Keep the water clean,