What's wrong with my Dwarf Gourami?

Question

I came home this afternoon and my female Dwarf Gourami was hanging out at the top of the tank gasping for air. Her stomach is bloated twice its size and she appears to have lost most of her brilliant blue colour. There are some black marks on her scales as well as a couple of white patches. She is lethargic but still swimming. I have separated her to her own tank and cleaned the community one in case of infection. Does she have ick? Why is her stomach bloated? None of the other fish appear sick and my tank is clean, well aerated with regulated PH levels. What's wrong?? Do you think she will pull through the night? Your help is appreciated.

Answer 1

It sounds like either dropsy or constipation.  You've already made steps towards treatment by separating her.  I would add aquarium salt to her tank also (1 T/5 gallons)  This will help with gill function and general wellness.  Next, I would try to feed her a thawed deshelled pea, in case she is constipated, this will help.  If it is dropsy, an antibiotic will help.  If the antibiotic is a 'food medication', I have found it helpful to soak in a garlic solution before feeding - hard for fish to resist this.  I use a garlic soak made by seachum.  You can find it in a local fish store.  Constipation is not contagious but dropsy can be contagious so just check your fish for signs if ill health.

This doesn't sound like ick at all - Ick shouldn't cause bloating or white patches - ick looks like grains of salt on the fish.  Also, if she had ick, she would probably be scratching against things in the aquarium.

This is a website you should find helpful - it has tons of fish diseases, their symptoms and treatments.  

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/in...

Answer 2

Those are one of my favorite fish but I never had it before...try bringing it to a vet...

plz answer my question...thank you...

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...