Hey, I have an opaline gourami who was in a tank with a rainbow shark who passed away. I quarantined the gourami for a couple days and had the water checked, the water showed up acceptable on all the tests so when it seemed the gourami was doing okay in quarantine I added him to my 45 gallon. He seems happy most of the time, swimming the length of the tank regularly, but also is sometimes going all the way to the bottom of the tank and sitting on the bottom. I don't know if he's just out of shape having so much more swimming room going from a 10 to a 45 gallon tank or if there's something wrong with him, his outwards appearance is fine except for the bottom of his stomach is a bit brown, first off does anybody know if this is an illness and 2nd off would aquarium salt help? Thanks
Gourami health question
- Thread starter NCStateFisher
- Start date
Also, he doesn't go to the bottom when in the quarantine tank, only when in the 45. Hope this helps
blacktarotannis;4536061; said:
would that really make a difference? his rainbow shark tankmate for the past 2 months died and in the bigger tank he tries to school with the SD's but they're afraid of him... would that really make him act that way?
well all fish are different. I had 2 I call them zippy fish pass away. They were like 4 or 5 and the rest of the group is lost without them. I do have little gouramis and they don't hang out together... They do visit and chase each other. So maybe he needs someone who isn't afraid.
Fortunately now he is acting much better, he's swimming around and has learned how to compete for food with the SDs and his coloration is really looking good at the moment, I think I may add a blue or gold gourami tank mate to give him some company however because he does play with his reflection a lot and it makes me kinda sad lol
In my opinion, it's just sleeping and/or stressed.
I have kept a load of the smaller gourami species, and when they are comfortable in their environment they often sleep on or near the gravel bed. Sometimes they hover in the top corner of the tank, but even my current kissing gourami sleeps on the bottom.
This would also be why yours doesn't do it in the quarantine tank: because it doesn't feel safe, or if the tank is barebottom, the bottom might be too turbulent or slippery.
As far as his stomach turning dark, that's hard to say. It could be natural coloration or some sort of internal infection. Keep an eye on him for any other behavior changes.
I have kept a load of the smaller gourami species, and when they are comfortable in their environment they often sleep on or near the gravel bed. Sometimes they hover in the top corner of the tank, but even my current kissing gourami sleeps on the bottom.
This would also be why yours doesn't do it in the quarantine tank: because it doesn't feel safe, or if the tank is barebottom, the bottom might be too turbulent or slippery.
As far as his stomach turning dark, that's hard to say. It could be natural coloration or some sort of internal infection. Keep an eye on him for any other behavior changes.