Golden Gourami feeler damage

[tboothby]

Hello. This morning I found that one of my golden gourami's feelers was infected/damaged. I will describe its appearance:

First, the tissue that connects the feeler to the body of the fish is white and looks slightly swollen and perhaps torn. Secondly, the affected feeler is bright red in color nearest to the body of the fish and becomes less red the further out it goes. At the end of the feeler (~1-2 cm) it is still normal colored.

The fish's behavior still seems the same (it cruises around its territory and hangs out near the surface). It feed this morning per usual.

Anyone know what this is/could be?

 

[OrionGirl]

Anything it could have gotten it caught in? Other fish that might have fought with it?

 

[Belltrain]

Either a bacterial infection or fungus. Is there a white fluff or white stuff around it, not the initial tissue but like something surrounding it?

 

[tboothby]

In the tank there are several things it could have gotten caught on: driftwood, rocks, live plants, heater.

I have a juvenile rainbow shark (~1.5 inches) in there, thats the only other semi-aggressive tank mate. But right now the rainbow shark is a lot smaller then the Gourami.

The tissue connecting the feeler (ventral fin) to the body of the fish looks white, I cannot really tell if it is the tissue itself that is white, or some bacteria/fungus surrounding the tissue. Would an infection like that cause the bright red coloration in the feeler?

 

[OrionGirl]

Yes, an infection will cause redness--just like in mammals, when fish get an infection, there's more blood at the site of the infection as they try to fight it off. The feeler might have been scraped, explaining the white appearance--a fungal infection will make the feeler 'fuzzy'. If this is the first day, most likely it's an injury that isn't yet infected--keep the water conditions good, monitor to be sure the fish is eating and it doesn't get infected, should recover fine on it's own.

I'd watch to confirm the shark isn't harassing--JTS.

 

[Fractalis]

if well cared for it should heal right up

(i have personal experience with this)

 

[tboothby]

Thanks OrionGirl.

Fractalis: Do you think you could elaborate on "well cared for"? When you have experienced this what is your course of action?

Thanks, I appreciate your advise.

 

[Fractalis]

mine had his bit off by something so i removed the culprit (a baby panfish), stepped up the water changes, and mixed some various common foods

most importantly you should keep then as stress free as possible but keep them with the other fish so they stay used to him

(i love the way mine puts his feelers up to the glass when i put my finger on the glass)

 

[tboothby]

OK, sounds good. I'm not really sure which of my fish the fight would have taken place with. I would think probably the baby rainbow shark.

I also have a male swordtail, Dalmatian Molly, Julii Cories, and a Bamboo shrimp in with the Gourami. Maybe the Molly? It is the biggest fish in the tank (besides the gourami) and I have read that Mollies can be nippers.

Unfortunately the only other tank I have at the moment is a little 10 gallon I use as a QT. So if the rainbow shark is the problem then I can't house him there long term.

Any thoughts? Baby rainbow shark more or less likely to be the attacker then a ~4inch molly?

 

[Fractalis]

as i have had experience with rainbow sharks
i would say it was him