# Help! Our Gourami Has Fallen And Can't Get Up **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136 "2003-07-13T11:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/1 "2003-07-13T11:01:00Z")
Note to mods: I wasn’t sure if this should go in GQ or IMHO or MPSIMS. Please move where it belongs. I need the advice of experienced fresh water fish dopers. Here’s the story… When we moved into this house almost two years ago, the prior occupants hadn’t removed all of their stuff out. One of the things they never did take with them is a small desktop aquarium. It consists of a round tank (abt. 2 gallons), lid, gravel, filter and a gourami. No heater (not even a light) or a filter. It’s been stuck away in a corner and basically ignored except **Rico** has been feeding Gourami. I had totally forgotten about the tank until he mentioned it a few months ago. :eek: I was so overwhelmed with moving back to California and getting married…and moving into the house we’d rented which was supposed to be empty when we arrived here with all my stuff, but really all that was gone were the people. My stuff stayed packed in the truck for 2 weeks before WE moved some of their stuff out to the driveway so we could at least get my stuff out of the truck and stacked into one room. :mad: Anyway, with everything going on, I must have forgotten about the poor fish. :smack: By the time **Rico** said he couldn’t believe _our_ Gourami was still alive, the poor thing hadn’t had a water change in at least 1 1/2 years or any maintenance besides being fed. I didn’t want to send Gourami into shock at his ripe old age and really didn’t expect him to live much longer so I left the tank alone. ::dodging:: Please don’t hurt me. I’ve never mistreated a fish before and promise never to allow a fish to live in a tank in this condition again! About 2 weeks ago Gourami finally started to slow down and look listless. For the past week he’s been laying on his side but still swims up to eat. I feel so bad for gourami when I look at him but I don’t want to kill him if he’s not suffering. I don’t know enough about fish to know what the best thing is. When Ric told me gourami was still alive, he also told me the he “doesn’t do fish” so when our gourami does go, I’ll have to be the one to take care of the “final arrangements”. With that in mind, when I asked him for his opinion about what to do, he suggested asking y’all. Is it better to flush now or wait? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/2 "2003-07-13T11:32:39Z")
[http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/fishforumdisease/](http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/fishforumdisease/) > [@](#): > > SWIM BLADDER DISEASE > > SYMPTOMS: The fish has a buoyancy problem and may float to the surface, sink to the bottom, swim with it’s head down, do somersaults through the water or do headstands in the gravel. In the later stages of the disease, the fish may lose its balance or swim upside down. The key to swim bladder diagnosis is that no other signs of disease are present and the water conditions are ideal. Since enviromental conditions can affect the equilibrium of the fish, pay special attention to the density and temperature of the water. > > TREATMENT: There is no specific medical treatment for swim bladder disorder and I have never been able to cure this disease. If the origin of the problem is not from disease, a fish may recover on its own. If the water conditions are normal and the fish is eating, and no signs or symptoms are noticed, the cause may be from a bacterial infection. The best treatment to try is a broad spectrum gram negative Antibiotic such as Furan or Kanamycin Sulfate. Treatment in a hospital tank is recommended. So it may recover spontaneously, it may not. If it’s still eating, I wouldn’t flush it just yet. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/3 "2003-07-13T12:24:39Z")
I haven’t seen him swimming in any other positions…just lays on his side at the bottom. Then when we feed him, he swims up staying on his side. Does that sound like SWIM BLADDER DISEASE? Kathy ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/4 "2003-07-13T12:44:23Z")
Yes, it does. The swim bladder is the organ which the fish uses to control buoyancy. Note that it’s not really “swim bladder disease” as such, it’s just a symptom of some other underlying malady. The fish may get better of its own accord, or it might not. Give it some more time before the flushing. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/5 "2003-07-13T12:52:06Z")
Thank you very much **Desmostylus**! I’m so relieved I don’t have to flush it while he’s still alive. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/6 "2003-07-13T14:21:04Z")
But you really should at least do a water change if you haven’t already (it’s unclear in your post). ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/7 "2003-07-13T14:24:43Z")
Oh, just change about 25% of the water for now, then in a week or so change another 25%. Make sure it’s a different 25% of the water. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/8 "2003-07-13T14:59:12Z")
Thanks **ski**. I hadn’t changed the water since I was afraid it would send him into shock. Since the water has been evaporating all this time, the tank is only about 1/2 full as it is. Should I take 25% of that out and replace it or should I just add some to it or some other combination??? > [@](#): > > The best treatment to try is a broad spectrum gram > negative Antibiotic such as Furan or Kanamycin Sulfate. Would I find this at the local pet store? Does it come with directions? I feel so ignorant. When I was in collage, I worked in a petstore that specialized in fish. I only remember the common ick and tail/fin rot. Now I’m asking silly questions. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/9 "2003-07-13T15:21:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cadolphin \* > \*\*Thanks **ski**. I hadn’t changed the water since I was afraid it would send him into shock. > > Since the water has been evaporating all this time, the tank is only about 1/2 full as it is. Should I take 25% of that out and replace it or should I just add some to it or some other combination???\*\* You firstly need to top-up the water that’s in there. Get a very clean container (like a glass bowl or a big measuring jug that you use for cooking, not a bucket that you use to wash the car) and fill it with water. Leave it in the room for an hour or so, so that it will come to room temperature, and so that some of the chlorine will evaporate. Then pour it in to the tank. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cadolphin \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > The best treatment to try is a broad spectrum gram > > negative Antibiotic such as Furan or Kanamycin Sulfate. > > Would I find this at the local pet store? Does it come with directions?\*\* Forget about this. You don’t know what’s actually wrong with the fish. You shouldn’t try to treat it with antibiotics. I regret posting that initial link now. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/10 "2003-07-13T15:36:02Z")
Please don’t regret posting that link. I enjoyed surfing the site. Bookmarked it in fact. 😃 I’m on my way to the kitchen now to set the water out. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/11 "2003-07-13T16:34:17Z")
Whatever you do, don’t flush that critter down the toilet! It will breed into a giant, mutated, human-eating, albino, blind Gourami-Rex! Just like the tiny alligators that Cecil talked about many years ago… ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/12 "2003-07-13T16:36:41Z")
LMAO ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/13 "2003-07-13T18:41:03Z")
For the more advanced fishkeepers, have any of you guys ever kept gouramii at room temperature? The OP’s been keeping her gourami for quite a while at room temp, and its survived, but I’ve always had them in heated tanks. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/14 "2003-07-13T19:43:48Z")
What is the life span for a gourami? Kathy ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/15 "2003-07-13T20:19:18Z")
With or without pet cat? ---
**Author:** ![hightechburrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@hightechburrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hightechburrito)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/16 "2003-07-14T00:12:44Z")
The Gourami’s are one of the many labrynth fish, meaning the have a labrynth organ and are able to breath atmospheric oxygen. This allow it to live in water with a low oxygen level. Bettas are also labrynth fish, which is why some pet stores keep them in a eight ounce cup of water. But with or without the ability to breath air, five gallons is not enough for a gourami to live in without a water change for over a year. Just curious, how big is your gourami? In a large enough tank, they can grow to almost six inches not including a the tail. Yours is likely stunted. Also, if you do decide to put the fish out of its misery, don’t flush it. It has been through enough stress already, just put it in a bag of water and put it in the freezer. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/17 "2003-07-14T02:56:05Z")
He’s about 3 inches. A stunted [Pink Kissing Gourami](http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/profilekiss/) Kathy ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/18 "2003-07-14T03:40:19Z")
I had a goldfish with a swim bladder problem. A person who knows what to do said to let him eat a frozen pea each day. Unfortunately, though he lived to be 4+ years, he was gone by the time I knew this. I also don’t know whether this will work with goramis but it might be worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![hightechburrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@hightechburrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hightechburrito)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/19 "2003-07-15T02:20:54Z")
Not to get on your case, but a five gallon tank in nowhere near big enough for a Kissing Gourami. When you said you had a gourami in a five gallon, I figured it was a Three Spot Gourami. Your link says that a Kissing Gourami can get about 8 inches, but I’ve seen some that were pushing a foot in a large enough aquarium. A common misconception is the “one inch of fish per gallon” rule, but this only works for small fish. Sometimes I hear about people keeping an Oscar in a 20 gallon, this fits with the rule: an Oscar will get about 12 inches and there are 20 gallons. But eventually this fish will get longer than the tank is deep, it couldn’t turn around without hitting the glass! Sorry, but it just irritates me when fish are needlessly put through huge amounts of stress. At least you didn’t put it in the tank in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136/20 "2003-07-15T02:51:16Z")
No problem **hightechburrito**. Ever since I started this thread, I’ve been peeking in on the Pit. I figured someone would be upset by this situation enough to take me there. I’m totally embarassed by this, but need help with treating Gourami. I never would have put him in a tank this size and if I can pull him through this, he’s going into a “real” aquarium. I’ll put a betta in this one. I’ve never had anything smaller then a 20 gallon tank so really didn’t know how to approach this problem. Kathy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-our-gourami-has-fallen-and-cant-get-up/188136.md?page=2)