Swim Bladder disease, constipation or something else?

[uni]

My 120L tank with 2x golden gouramis, 1x dwarf gourami, 2x sun cats, 1x pleco, 1xCAE, 1x apple snail.

i was away for 5 days, had a friend come in to feed every 2nd day. Got back my 1 golden gourami is swimming uphill the whole time. he's not falling over sideways, but he'll rest at the bottom and then come up every once in a while, still chases the other gouramis around. Been a week now and he's not getting better or worse. did a 30% water change, fed some peas. he still has his appetite, have been fasting all of them for 2 days, no change.

water params according to test strips are good - normal range.

[OscaCT]

Hi uni

Can you post a pic?

[uni]

Hi OscaCT

thanks here's a pic.
took this pic now, notice the red behind his gills, wasn't there yesterday.
http://www.blue-genie.co.za/fishies/DSCF4023.JPG

[Dirk Bellstedt]

OK, see my reply to your question where you asked me directly.

It looks as though this gourami has an internal bacterial infection and those gill colours are also an indication of this. This may be contagious and I would recommend euthanazing him before he infects other fishes.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[uni]

oh dirk, sorry i just responded with the same link to the picture.

[Charles]

Hi uni. I agree with Dirk Bellstedt. Sorry but it's for the best.

[OscaCT]

Hi uni, sorry for late reply,

"You have too many fish, an air punp may help. Gill diseases are quite rare, you could actually see the gills rot away: use medication." cited from http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Diseases1.htm

Have a look at the link above and also the following link http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/ammonia_poisoning/

Might be lack of O2 or ammonia levels to high...

[Dirk Bellstedt]

No OscarCT,

Did you read how large this aquarium is and that it is an aquarium that has been running for a long time. Under such circumstances you can exclude elevated ammonia levels as a reason for the problem, they will be rock bottom. Also with the tank of the size as it is and the low fish load, you can also exclude a shortage of oxygen. Remember that gouramis additionally take in air on the surface, so oxygen shortage can also be excluded.

So in this instance, medication is not indicated. I have also seen far more damage done with medication than without, and I would therefore not advise it.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[OscaCT]

Hi @OscaCT (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=2445)

thanks here's a pic.
took this pic now, notice the red behind his gills, wasn't there yesterday.
http://www.blue-genie.co.za/fishies/DSCF4023.JPG

Thanks for the pic. See my previous post.

[OscaCT]

No OscarCT,

Did you read how large this aquarium is and that it is an aquarium that has been running for a long time. Under such circumstances you can exclude elevated ammonia levels as a reason for the problem, they will be rock bottom. Also with the tank of the size as it is and the low fish load, you can also exclude a shortage of oxygen. Remember that gouramis additionally take in air on the surface, so oxygen shortage can also be excluded.

So in this instance, medication is not indicated. I have also seen far more damage done with medication than without, and I would therefore not advise it.

Kind regards,

Dirk

I concur.

[uni]

Thank you to everybody that replied. What means of euthanasia do you guys usually use? I've never in the short time (about 8 years) that I've kept fish had to euthanize a fish - and I must admit it's not something I'm comfortable with but i understand it's not about me.

[Charles]

Hi uni. Cut the head of right behind the gills, it's quick and most humane for me. I don't do the boiling water thing. Don't feed the remains to other pets or fish, discard of it in a sealed bag in the dust bin out side.

[Dirk Bellstedt]

No Charles,

There are other ways that are not so brutal. Boiling water is absolutely crazy, I would not even think of that. Head chopping is also not something that I would like to recommend.

uni,

Please have a look in my forum. I have just made a previous thread in which this question was asked, a sticky thread, so you can read about euthanasia of fishes. If you cannot get these substances, you can put the fish in a container such as a 1 litre ice cream bakkie, with water obviously and then put the whole container in your freezer. He will die quite rapidly as the temp drops. Alternatively, but again brutal, you can catch him out in a net and then whack the net with fish very hard against a bucket or wall, that is instantaneous. Be careful to wash out the net extremely well after that because the bacteria inside the fish will be released. However, I prefer the euthanasia described above.

Not a nice task, you have my sympathy.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[oscar freak]

I haved used the clove oil method it works and is the most humane method i think,fish did not seem to notice.