Strange fish illness

Question
QUESTION: I have had my current 10 gal. fresh water tank for approx. 6 years.  I accidently ended up with a girabaldi (I know it is spelled wrong), and it lived over 7 years.  I purchased 2 more girabaldi's and a placosamas (again, spelled wrong) who is now huge and rather creepy.  Anyways, I lost one of my girabaldi's about a month ago.  I purchased 2 more as the one girabaldi that remained looked sad.  Yes, I know that I have humanized my fish, but I thought more movement in the tank would be good for him.  Unfortunately, my older one began to do the tilt thing, and I expected him to go like the previous one did 2 weeks prior.  But for the past 2 or more weeks, it his maintained position between the back of the tank and the filter tube.  It appears perfectly healthy other than the large bump that is developing on it's left side (will only position himself with the bump side up, and uses it's fins to keep himself in position).  It doesn't look like he can straighten himself out either.  Now, he is letting me hand feed him (cant believe I am saying this) and eats well.  Any advice?  I didn't expect him to last this long, and now it is just getting weird and I am wondering if any remedy exists.  Thank you for your time!  Linda
ANSWER: Dear Linda,
You said: { I accidently ended up with a girabaldi}
Wow, I'm honestly not sure what fish it is that you really have. The only fish that I know about that closely matches your fishes name is the "garibaldi" But it appears to be a solid orange saltwater fish!
Here is a link to it's picture, copy and paste the link into your search box to see it-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hypsypops_rubicundus_adult.jpg

Obviously since your tank is freshwater I doubt it could have ever been this saltwater fish. Maybe if you described the fishes appearance to me like distinquishing markings or coloration, I could identify it for you.

Because I don't know what species of fish were are dealing with. It can be hard to determine what the exact cause is here.
The first and most important thing you should check when your fish are acting sickly is their water quality. If you can test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates that would be great. These levels should always be ZERO ammonia and nitrite and nitrate 20 or less, ideally as low as possible.
Any hint of ammonia or nitrites can severely stress and damage fish. And too much nitrate buildup (from lack of water changes) can also render fish very suceptible to disease.
As always, when in doubt, do 30-50% water changes over the next several days (always making sure the replacement water is properly dechlorinted and equal in temp to your tank) and see how that helps. The huge majority of fish stress and illness can be derived from an unclean aquarium. You don't ever need to take everything out and scrub it. But simply just use your gravel vacuum and siphon and clean the gravel with while draining the water. And if there is algae on the glass an algae scrubbing pad works fine for this. Also check your filter cartridge and rinse it in a container of tank water if it is clogged or excessively dirty.

It is possible your fish are simply dying of old age. Not all fish have long lifespans (some fish live into their 13-14 year+ range however!) and many older fish develop tumors as they get older and become weaker. Again, knowing the type of fish we're dealing with would greatly help on this matter. I'm wondering if this is a cichlid....

The best advice I can give is to try the water changes, and explain the fishes appearance to me so I can try to indentify him. Best of luck and I hope this helps!
Karen~



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

QUESTION: Thank you for getting back to me so quickly and I am sorry that I was not clear about the type of fish.  Garabaldi I believe is the spelling, and it is best identified by long feelers attached under it's head (best description I can provide).  He is also gray, although I have a Gold Garabaldi as well.  In addition, it is also a fresh water tank.  I am a teacher and I will be gone all day.  I will check the water later  on today, and see it that might be the culprit.  As of this morning, my fish has a sore that has developed on it's back where it continues to lodge itself between the side of the tank and the air tube.  I don't know if he has much time now.  Thank you again, and I will certainly take your advice.  Best!  Linda.
ANSWER: Hi Linda,
I believe what you mean is 'Gourami' Copy and paste these links to see if this is what your fish are. (The feelers you described gave it away immediately!! :-)

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_tricho.php
 And
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_tricho2.php

I hope these are your mystery fish! The best I can say is to try the water changes. I don't like to recommend medications right away since they may do more harm than good. I'm sorry to hear about the sore on the fish's side. From his behavior you described do you think he is hiding from the other gourami? Sometimes gouramis pick on each other very badly. So keep this in mind.

I'm really sorry about all this. I wish I could do more.
Best wishes, feel free to write again...
Karen~

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

QUESTION: Hi Karen,
My fish is still alive and hungry, and you are right,  He is a Gourami!  After all of these years, I should really know the type of fish I own!  Anyways, the bump on Gills side (Gill is my sick fish) is still large, but he is moving around the tank alot and happily takes the food from my fingers.  I purchased test strips today and discovered that the nitrate test was 200(unsafe)!  The test also had a second nitrate category, and that one was around 3.0(stress).  The water tested Very Hard, but I really don't know what that is about or what level would be appropriate.  Chlorine was safe, and the alkalinity tested moderate(80).  The PH tested neutral when I did the initial test, but after changing 30% of the water, and adding a bit of the product Prime(removes chloring, chloramine, ammonia and detoxifies Nitrite adn Nitrate), the PH went into the Alkaline category.  I added the product before putting the water in the tank and let the water sit about 2 hours before adding it.  The product directions are clear if you have a 50 gal tank (one capful), but converting the appropriate amounts for a 10 gal. tank has left me a bit stressed, and worried that I have not added enough.    
Question:  1.  Should I plan on changing about 30% of the water for the next few days?
2. When should I test again? (not much changed when I tested the 2nd time...... was that too soon?)  
3. I have never dealbt with heaters and all of that as I live in southern Cal. and the temps are moderate.  What temp would you recommend I maintain in my tank?  

Once again, thank you ever so much for your advice!  Gill just seems to keep on going, so he certainly deserves the greatest effort from me as well.  Best,  Linda.

Answer
Hi Linda,
What has probably happened is the nitrates have caused your fish to get sick. What I would do is start doing frequent regular water changes and keep using the Prime. Hopefully, your fish will make a full recovery. Unless you do regular and frequent water changes, nitrates can get dangerously high. Also, ph will drop too low. Whenever you do a water change then the ph will always go up.The best way to keep water parameters stable is to do regular water changes at least once or even twice a week depending on type, size and stocking levels of fish. Fish are swimming in what is equivalent to their own toilet. Fish waste can accumulate quickly and cause many illnesses. Using Prime will help to control some of your problems but you still need to do water changes. I use more water conditioner than what is suggested on most containers. You never know just how much chlorine and chloramine that water treatment  companies are adding to the water supply so I usually use around 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. This has worked out so far. I would remove about 1/3-1/2 of the tank water each time and make sure the replacement water  is the same temperature as the tank water.Try keeping the temperature at least 76-79F. Test the water in a couple of days and see how things are.
If Gill seems to have a really bad looking bump you could try adding some Melafix to to see if it will heal. I don't know if it will help but it might.
The thing you have to do is to try to get those water parameters in the safe zone and the best way to do it is with the water changes.
Best of luck,
Karen