Pearl Gourami

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I have 3 pearl gourami and one of them started to look funny for about a
month now. It is still very active and eating fine but the fins and tails is
showing patches of skin discoloration. It also shows up at the top of the
head. In addition, at the bottom of the body at the fins I notices a couple of
hole only at the fins.

I did two water changes already over a period of 2 weeks and I check my
water for PH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and they are all OK. What is happening
to my fish and what can I do to resolve this.

Thanks,
Tom C.

ANSWER: Hi Tom:  Many things effect fish appearance... could be fungus, diet, fear, or environmental issues.... what I would do is to make sure my tank temperature is between 78-82 degrees and add aquarium salt to the water.  Keep your eye on him for signs of being bullied... one of the other fish may be lightly biting him too... keep me posted...dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi David,

Thanks for the reply. My temp is 78 and this gourami is the biggest fish in
the tank. Definitely is not being bully, in fact it is the other way around but
overall everyone gets along. Water condition is good also. Not really sure
what to do.

Tom

Answer
add aquarium salt to the water. It is too difficult to diagnose a more specific disease that may or may not be affecting your fish.  Dark patches could range from genetic variation to internal parasites, to wounds or fish bites, TB, etc.  The hole in his fins could be fungus, fish bites, parasites, or bacteria... I could guess about his condition but the damage by improper medication for the wrong disease could be worse for him then just letting him be.  What I can tell you is that his condition is not rapid in progression since he has been having this issue for over a month.  The best course of action is to add the aquarium salt which is a preventative and a mild but effective generalized treatment that will kill most of what I have listed as possible causes without adding anything detrimental to your tank.  The problem with adding random medication is that they tend to wipe out your colonies of good bacteria and then your water chemistry goes all wrong... and then more fish become sick.  Because his situation is progressing slowly... there are two things that  you can do... add the aquarium salt and make sure he is given a really good diet... treat him with live brine shrimp, tubiworms and a high quality flake food such as tetra brand, etc.  It sounds like we are doing nothing... but the reality is we are doing a lot... healthy fish do not get sick... which could be why he is progressing slowly... keep him healthy by providing a clean environment and a good diet.... the salt... well that will help him to heal from the outside in...as well as provide him with some minerals his body will need... keep me posted... dave