Skittish fish

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wetfish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 9, 2008
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United States
On Friday I bought a 4 inch + snakeskin gourami. He had a small sore on his head when I bought him. The LFS owner thinks it is a scrape. It does look like it could be a scrape. I probably should have taken that as a clue that he might be skittish. He has been extremely skittish since I got him home. Even on the way home he seemed to be fighting the bag more than other fish I've had. He is in a 20 gal bare bottom quarantine tank now. If I move anywhere near the aquarium he goes crazy and darts all over the place. He seems to also be attacking his reflection sometimes. He spends most of his time in the corners. He seems stressed, and I'm worried he might not make it if he keeps this up.

I try to keep the light off the majority of the day. There is black construction paper on the back and bottom of the aquarium. I'm not sure how much this reduces the reflectivness of the glass. The water is fully cycled and the ammonia and nitrite were 0ppm saturday. There are two decorations, a hiding log, and a small suction cup plastic plant.

Saturday morning he ate some flake food. He also ate a very small amount an hour ago.

Any ideas on how I can calm him down?

Thanks
 
He ate a good amount of brine shrimp today. I didn't want to try flake, because he seemed too focused on his reflection near the bottom to notice top food. He still seems highly stressed and skittish. His colors have faded a bit. He is still attacking/focusing on the glass

He was kept with other gouramis. I thought of adding others as dither fish, but at this point I don't know if it is such a good idea.

Please, does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Over 4 inches. 5 inches max. It's hard to get a good guess, because he moves so much. He has good size for a petshop gourami. Was the biggest in his tank. I think they get to around 8 inches in captivity.

I have a opaline gourami in my 75, but I don't think I would want to risk infecting him. He can also be on the aggressive side.

Are snakeskin gouramis ever wild caught?
 
Something i've read and tried is just watch him for 30min or more staying in front of the tank and let him watch you. Do this maybe a few times a day so it can get used to you and people in general. Worked for my grammodes i can say.
 
I just added more black paper to two other sides. One side has a peep hole, but it is small enough that I doubt he'll notice much. Now the front is all that is open. Might be helping a little, I'll have to wait and see.

I'll give that a try ProblEmZ. Now he seems more obsessed with his reflection(or he thinks he can swim through the glass. I don't know).
 
He is still feeding. I just fed him a good amount of flake food. He still is doing quite a bit of pacing and attacking the glass(maybe reflection).

The bad news is, I found a couple of white spots on his tail. It looks like he might now have ick. I'm guessing the stress is bringing it on. Would it be wise to do the heat and salt treatment, while he is still stressed? After starting the heat and salt treatment, should I quit using melafix for the sore? The temp is currently at 80 degrees. Wikipedia claims they like temps from 72 to 86.
 
Bump. I would really like to get some opinions tonight.

Would it be wise to do the heat and salt treatment, while he is still stressed? After starting the heat and salt treatment, should I quit using melafix for the sore?
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ProblEmZ;1801555; said:
Something i've read and tried is just watch him for 30min or more staying in front of the tank and let him watch you. Do this maybe a few times a day so it can get used to you and people in general. Worked for my grammodes i can say.
Click to expand...
I agree. that is the best way to get fish used to you. think about it, the last time that fish had someone near the aquarium it was singled out, chased around, netted, bagged and put in a strange aquarium.

you have to spend time around it, until it forgets or at least knows you're not going to do it again.
 
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