Brown on my fish?
Ok, so I toook in ANOTHER nasty, dirty tank.
It didn’t seem so bad until I was part way home in the car. Then I could smell it (it was in the back of a station wagon I was in the front seat of). Then I got it home and started rinsing it out because it had brown water in the bottom. I figured it was fish waste and dirt, and didn’t worry too much.
Then I got a good look at the fish.
One is a long finned black skirt tetra. The other is a 3 spot gourami (from what I read online, it is also called a blue gourami).
The tetra (which I know is supposed to be kinda silver and black or grey) has a line that goes from his mouth straight to his tail (all the ones I’ve seen have the line)…BUT…from the line up is very brown. Fairly dark brown. Beneath the line is a diluted version of the same color.
The gourami has some bright yellow spots on the top of his head. And some brown around his gill area and a couple other places on his body.
I have been told it could be brown algae that has attached to them and to do water changes and keep the filter really clean (but still allow good bacteris to form in it) and it will go away on it’s own.
I have also been told it could be velvet and to treat them immediately with some specific medicines and hope for the best, as once velvet gets to this point (if it is velvet) it is usually fatal.
The gourami is about 5-6 inches long, and the tetra is about the size of an old fifty cent piece (not counting his beautiful long fins).
The lady I got the tank and fish from said they have had it and the fish in it for 3 years. That the gourami killed a pleco they had in there, and that he attacked every other fish they tried to put in there…except the tetra that’s in there still.
I know the tank is too small for them (it’s a 5 gallon), and once I know they are safe to put with other fish, I will move them to my big tank, and put a few of my smaller fish in the little tank…or get them a new bigger tank.
Anyway, any help greatly appreciated. Last time I got a yucky tank with fish, the fish were their right colors. I know NOTHING about fish sicknesses/diseases except what I have read in the couple days since I got these two.
I did put half a tablet of Jungle brand Lifeguard something in there tonight…they said it will kill it if it is algae, and make some difference if not kill it if it is velvet.
Thanks, anndrea
Category: AquaticLife
