Two spot gourami

Question

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-----Question-----
I have had my 2 two spot gourami in a community tank (48x18x12ins) for nearly two years. They have been fed on flake food throughout this time. Partial water changes monthly. Last month I introduced six 1.5in brown discus into the tank. I have increased the water temperature from 78 to 82degrees and have added frozen bloodworm, tubifex and discus food to the tank diet.
Over the last week one of the gourami has started to swim erratically in circles chasing its tail and now it seems to be doing continual headstands while being blown around the tank by the filter inlet although it manages to feed.
It otherwise seems quite healthy with no apparent weight loss, fin rot or color deterioration.
Do I have a problem??????
-----Answer-----
Hi Brian,
Since you have introduced the six Discus into your tank you have been having to feed different foods and your tank is probably dirtier with the addition of extra fish and the live type foods.  It will cause your water conditions to become unhealthy for your fish . I know whenever I have to feed some of my fish various frozen foods that I absolutely must do very frequent water changes since this will pollute the water very quickly.  Also, since you do have Discus you will have to maintain very clean water to keep them healthy.  It could be that your Gourami is having a problem with the water. I would gradually start doing partial water changes and be sure that the replacement water is the same temperature as your tank water. Don't do a large water change if it has been a while since you changed any water since the ph will rise when you do a water change.  The longer you go with out a water change the lower the ph drops and then if you do a large water change it will be too much of a shock to your fish since it will raise the ph.  I would gradually start doing small water changes maybe everyday and see if it improves the condition of the Gourami. If not then maybe we can try to figure out if there is some sort of disease. It could just be the water. It might help to use Amquel Plus or Prime water conditioner too.
Here is a website on keeping Discus that I thought you might want to read:
http://www.simplydiscus.com/library/discus_husbandry/discus_basics/discus_4begin
Hope this helps,
Karen

Hello Karen
   Firstly let me thank you for your prompt and friendly response to my question.
   On your advice I have done three partial water changes with the water at room temperature using proprietary water conditioner. I have temporarily stopped using frozen foods and have watched my discus actually enjoy a variety of flake foods (a fortuitous plus).
     Unfortunately my Gourami has not responded, is not feeding and now languishes flat on the surface only occasionally making sorties below. I have checked the tank condition and currently the pH is at 7.2, Ammonia between 0 and 0.2, Nitrite and Nitrate are zero. Still no obvious signs of disease but in its emaciated state there is evidence of a slight swelling running laterally down the body, from just behind the pectoral fin to the tail, as if it had swallowed a large matchstick.
   I hope you can make sense out of this but I feel the end is near and anything you can suggest will be appreciated.

    Thanks Brian


Answer
Hi Brian,
I'm so sorry to hear about your gourami. This sounds like one of these illnesses that is very difficult to diagnose and let alone even treat. The erratic swimming and headstands that you explained may have been swim bladder disorder. A condition that can be caused by a variety of things such as lack of variety in the diet (being fed the same type of food all the time), too much food at one time, water quality issues, stress, bacterial infection, injury to the swim bladder through fighting with another fish and other causes of damage, and it may even be a genetic problem or even just a old and weak fish.
The swim bladder is responsible for the fishes equilibrium and balance and if something goes wrong, the poor fish cannot control his movements and often gets whipped around the tank by any current.
Because it can have so many causes, I cannot really say what exact thing for you to do for the poor gourami and were not even sure of swim bladder disorder is even what this gourami has.

You said now your gourami is emaciated now, usually swim bladder disorder isn't followed by that sort of symptom. There is definitely a very slim chance of recovery for the poor thing.

It is so hard to diagnose fish illnesses. I'm sorry your gourami is the way he is now. The best thing you can do is try to take the very best care you can of your remaining fish.

I hope this helps and I'm sorry again about your bad luck..
Karen~