I have had a couple of dwarf gourami's in the 20 gal for about 3 months and will move the the 29gal within a month. This morning I noticed the blue is bloated, he is a little pale, and his scales are sticking out where he is swollen, but is acting fine. None of the other fish have anything wrong. ammonia +nitrite=0 nitrate 30 temp 82 ph 7.5 kh 5 gh 12 phos 3. No meds now. Anyone know whats up?

I know what your talking about. Let me look for what it's called and how to cure

Scales seem to be raised, fish are bloated. Dropsy (Ascites) Dropsy is more of a sympton than an actually disease yet, and is quite common. Most associated with a bacterial infection (cause could be wide - poor water conditions are often the culprit. Meds can be used, but dont always work.

I would do some slow water changes, about 2% working up to 50% in 2 weeks
please post your water paramiters to be sure

My parameters are in the first post and on Sundays I do a 50 to 60% water change. It is also a planted tank how could I have bad water?

both nitrates should be Zero. but it sounds like your gourami has Dropsy or a form of it, I think there is meds for it just because you have plants dosnt mean your water cant go funny. I have a heavily planted 55G and I have had my water turn in 3 days to being bad.

your temperature is Up there too, I keep my gourami tanks at 75

It was supposed to be at about 78 not sure if the filters are keeping it up or the heater is miscalibrated. By the way I have the one in a seperate tank should I do anything with my 20 gal, how cxontagous is this stuff? Thanks

It sounds like it may be Dropsy. Hopefully it's not though. Check the picture and let me know if that's what you think it is... The water parameters look great! Did you get your gourami at the same time or the same store as your other fish?

Most definately sounds like Dropsy. Most cases by the time you see the scales protruding the fish is too far gone. In some cases Dropsy is miss diagnosed and it is actually swim bladder disease. I can not stress more how much to keep a bit of shelled green peas on hand. If it is in case swim bladder. This acts as a laxative. I keep all my fish on a weekly feeding of shelled peas whether they need it or not. I have not had a swim bladder or dropsy problem since this. Both issues are infections within, and they both show very simliar symptoms.
There is no known cure for dropsy, but the LFS has meds to treat such. I suggest keeping some on hand. As this seems to be a big problem for most fish owners.
Dropsy is caused by excess stress, overcrowded tanks, poor water, or being moved! To catch this disease early on is the best time to treat. The early stages of dropsy are protruding of eyes, (syptoms of pop-eye), because the excess fluid makes their eyes bulge

If you recently added some plants, you may have introduced some bacteria into the tank on them. Or it may be something from around the tank that managed to find it's way in.

If you can treat with meds, treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic food. Anything you just add into the water will not be as effective as a medication that passes through the digestive tract.

If you don't have any medication at the moment for that, in the meantime between now and getting the medication, you can feed some shelled blanched peas to clear out any possible constipation.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

[QUOTE]I have not added any more plants since I started this tank after a fishless cycle then used it as a qt for 4 gouramis, 8 flame tetras, and 2 guppies. For the last 6 wks been moving fish between tanks to where they are meant to be, but the gouramis haven't been moved yet. There isn't anything in the other tank. Also how contagious is this stuff? Do I need to treat the tank he came out of? :(

if your one fish has it in the tank and you have simular fish they are suceptable to to it.

Any updates to the status of your fish? Have you tried shelled peas just incase it is swim bladder disease?

I did put the peas in, epsom salt, melafix and pimafix. He was gone this morn when I got up. I am keeping an eye on the tank he came out of. Thanks for the help everyone.

I would pull all water from the tank and redo the water but leave the filter intact. 100% water change

Your water changes should occur in 25-50 percent increments to total the 100% water change, if you decide to follow that route. All changes to a tank should occur slowly. An example, would be to perform a 30% water change the first day and on the second day, perform a 20% water change. If the nitrates are still high enough, you can continue along with partial water changes.

You could treat the tank with a gram-negative anti-bacterial medication, such as Maracyn-Two over five days. This med is especially good for fish that are not eating, since it is absorbed through the skin. Again, the internal action of the anti-bacterial medication will get to the insides of the fish where the bacterial infection that is dropsy, originates and is recommended by the manufacturer to treat dropsy. This is a good route to take for the remaining fish in the tank, in order to prevent another advanced case. I have a feeling that it was just the one fish affected though. An ounce of prevention, as the saying goes. You'll want to get the temp down to at least 77 degrees as well. Good luck.

Sorry to hear he didn't make it. It's a tough thing. Usually when dropsy get's to the point where the scales protrude the internal organ damage is all too often permanent.