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RE: Help

Miller — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:49:54 GMT

I did my fourth water change yesterday. I can't do one today because I am doing allergy treatments. Talk to you guys later. I will keep you updated.

RE: Help

Miller — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:23:22 GMT

I am doing my third water change right now. The wound still looks white. I'll notify you guys of any changes. Thanks for your two cents worth.

RE: Help

Miller — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:59:02 GMT

I thought the same thing except I did not have a betta in there until just recently. It is possible that my other dwarf guaramie gave him the injury. I did notice slight agression toward eachother before I saw the wound. I was telling you my neons had raised spots just before their tail. Here is a picture. Expecially look at the one near the top of the picture. I wondered if these raised round spots had anything to do with it. My Dad didn't think so though.

RE: Help

princessotfu — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:07:42 GMT

I'd just keep the water clean and watch the wound. He should heal himself.

Things you should watch for:
redness - usually some bacteria invading the wound, or some other irritation
fuzziness - opportunistic fungus
black tissue - dead tissue, something's really wrong

The area should stay white until it heals enough for the color to come back. White is good, it's a sign of healing tissue.

I wouldn't treat with anything unless you see signs like those.

RE: Help

Hailey — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:38:12 GMT

Bettas are notorious for not getting along with gouramis...too closely related. My suspicion is that this is a wound from a fight with the betta, and that is probably what happened to the other one too. I would separate them to be safe. It doesn't look like a disease to me either, so clean water and time may do the trick.

RE: Help

Miller — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:17:34 GMT

I have a betta in there with him. He has not acted overly agressive though. What exactly does that stuff you mentioned do? I would put melafix in the tank but Haily said that melafix is hard on them. If it is just a wound clean water should heal it eventually, but being that this has happened to two fish I think that it is probably a disease.

RE: Help

David Lass — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:40:10 GMT

Grest photo -- very helpful.

From looking at it I think the fish has been wounded by another fish or invert. What other animals are in the tank with the gouramie? If your water conditions are good, and this is the only wound the fish has, it may just heal itself. If you have any questions about the water, I would treat the tank with tripla sulfa, or any other fungicide you may have.

Good luck.

RE: Help

Miller — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:16:08 GMT

Here is a picture of the wound. I simply needed to change the browser to IE. See if this helps.

RE: Help

Miller — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:36:51 GMT

I use it only every once in awhile. I was thinking it just added nutrients to the water. I will keep doing the water changes. I have just started changing it today again. I don't know how soon I can get those test kits. I could order one, but I was kind've saving for a better light for my plants. If you think it is that important though I will get the test kit. Thanks for your help. Talk to you later.

RE: Help

Hailey — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:50:57 GMT

You can post a photo by hosting it on a site like Photobucket (or some other photo hosting site) and linking to it. That's the only way I've been able to get it to work on this forum.

As for the salt bath, I would wait and cross that bridge if you come to it. Do water changes for now, get the tests as soon as you can, and stop using the Easy Balance...the last thing your already stressed fish needs now is useless chemicals. Not to mention the bacteria that turn nitrate to a gas (which this product supposedly "nourishes") are pathogenic and can turn on fish, making them sick. Have you been using this stuff all along? It could have a lot to do with the disease issues you have had.

RE: Help

Miller — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:23:40 GMT

I would post a picture but I can't figure out how. When I press the add picture icon a browse window does not pop-up. I will try to get a test kit when I have the money. I am adding easybalance to the water. A little bit after each water change. This will hopefully add nutrients to the water that will help heal the guaramie. I will ask my Dad and see if he can figure out to get the pictures in this forum. I wish that you could just copy and paste the picture. That would be pretty easy. Anyway, would you still reccommend epsom salt baths if he starts getting fat like the other one did? If you do how much salt should I put in the bath? Thanks guys

RE: Help

Hailey — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:01:34 GMT

I would recommend water changes, but 50% is pretty big, especially without being able to test the tank and tap water to see how far off they are. I would stick to 25% to 30% max for now, and done daily that should change the water over pretty quickly.

And yes, a few pics (of the gourami and the neons with the mysterious bumps) would help immensely. It is so hard to diagnose these things without seeing them. In the meantime, you can try diagnosing yourself with these two sites:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwmaintindex.htm
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/diseases.html

You really do need to get those test kits though. You have had a number of issues now that we have been unable to help much with because we don't have the info we need. Test kits for the "big four" (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH) are just too important to not have, and they can be found for less than $20 total if you get a master test kit (you get less tests out of them than individual kits, but at least you'd have them around).

RE: Help

David Lass — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:26:05 GMT

Any chance you could post a photo -- without a pic it is difficult to help you out much.

Help

Miller — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:14:30 GMT

I am noticing that my other guaramie has what looks like a injury. It is getting worse and worse. He is not bloated yet like the other one was. The injury looks just like the other ones injury. I am going to try water changes each day if possible. Would you guys recommend 50 percent water changes? My tank is a 29 gallon. I will check the ph soon. I am not near a pet store so I cannot check the other things like nitrates, ammonia, and hardness. On my last guaramie when I tried a aquarium salt bath the wound started bleeding. The next day he died. I have other fish in there with him. The only fish that has a problem is my neons. They have bumps just in front of their tails. Please answer soon.