Are you wondering why your Dwarf Gourami is laying on its side? This can be a worrisome sight, but fortunately, it does usually not cause alarm. In most cases, there’s a simple explanation for this behavior. Keep reading to learn more about why your Dwarf Gourami might be lying on its side and what you can do to help it feel better.
Why Is My Dwarf Gourami Laying on Its Side?
In most cases, the cause of this behavior can be determined from an examination of the surrounding factors and doesn’t require much detective work on your part. Let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons why your Dwarf Gourami might be laying on its side and what you can do to help.
Inner Ear Infection
One of the most common causes of a Dwarf Gourami lying on its side is an inner ear infection. This occurs when bacteria, fungus, or some other irritant enters the inner ear and causes inflammation. Although it can be a serious condition, a responsible aquarist often treats the symptoms early enough that they don’t have to worry about fatal consequences.
Symptoms of an inner ear infection include lethargy and loss of appetite as well as laying on its side. This is because these infections cause intense discomfort which makes your Dwarf Gourami feel sick. To make itself more comfortable, it tries to sit in such a way that the affected ear is facing downward.
Although this condition can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough, you should always take your Dwarf Gourami to the veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment recommendation. Several types of infections could cause these symptoms and they are treated with different medications.
Velvet or Slime Disease
Another condition that can be responsible for a Dwarf Gourami laying on its side is velvet disease, which is also known as slime disease. This occurs when parasites invade the skin of your fish and produce an irritating mucus that causes intense discomfort. When this happens, your Dwarf Gourami will try to get relief by lying on its side.
Again, the best way to treat this condition is by visiting your veterinarian and getting a diagnosis and medication recommendation. This type of infection is usually caused by parasites such as Trichodina or Costia which can be treated with an anti-parasitic medication. The earlier the treatment begins, the better the outcome.
Dropsy Disease
Dropsy disease is characterized by a swelling of your Dwarf Gouramis body and organs and causes intense pressure that makes it feel sick. This can be caused by kidney dysfunction, bacterial infection, or even a viral infection, but in most cases, it’s simply due to an accumulation of fluid in your Dwarf Gouramis body cavity.
Aside from the swelling, symptoms of this condition include loss of appetite and laying on its side. If you notice any of these symptoms in your Dwarf Gourami, take it to the veterinarian for diagnosis and medication recommendations. There are several possible causes that require different medications for treatment.
Internal Bacterial Infection
In some cases, a bacterial infection might be the cause of your Dwarf Gouramis symptoms. This is most likely to occur when your fish gets an injury and becomes exposed to bacteria in its environment. When this happens, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body causing intense pain and discomfort that makes it feel sick.
In order to prevent an internal bacterial infection from occurring in your Dwarf Gourami, always make sure to prevent injuries and take good care of your tank water. This is especially true if you notice any type of injury on your Dwarf Gourami since the bacteria causing the infection might already be in its environment.
If your Dwarf Gourami has a bacterial infection, it’s best to visit a veterinarian for a diagnosis and medication recommendations. Several types of bacteria cause different infections and often require different medications for treatment.
When caught early enough, most cases of bacterial infection can be treated successfully with the right medication. However, always make sure to make a timely diagnosis since it will take much longer if you start treatment later on.
This is especially true if your Dwarf Gouramis immune system starts to weaken and it becomes less able to fight off the infection.
Blood Parasites or Fungal Infections
Other types of infections that might cause your Dwarf Gourami to lay on its side are blood parasites or fungal infections, which are common in aquarium fish that have weakened immune systems. These types of infections are usually caused by parasites such as leeches or flukes that enter the bloodstream and infect the internal organs.
Because blood parasites and fungal infections can be difficult to treat, it’s best to always take your Dwarf Gourami to the veterinarian for a diagnosis and medication recommendation. This condition is most commonly seen in wild fish that have been weakened by poor water conditions or improper diet.
Also, always make sure to prevent injuries that might expose your Dwarf Gourami to blood parasites and fungal infections since they can be difficult to treat. Always provide a clean tank environment and give your Dwarf Gourami a nutritious diet containing Omega-3 fatty acids for optimal immune system function.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections can be extremely difficult to diagnose since they often mimic other types of infections. In most cases, fungal infections occur when the protective mucus layer on your Dwarf Gouramis body is damaged and it becomes more susceptible to disease.
Once a fungal infection has established itself in your Dwarf Gourami, it’s difficult to treat. This is especially true if your Dwarf Gourami becomes stressed which often weakens its immune system and makes it even more susceptible to fungal infections.
Since fungal infections are difficult to diagnose in the early stages, always make sure to take your Dwarf Gourami to the veterinarian for a diagnosis and medication recommendation.
This disease is most commonly seen in wild fish so always make sure to take good care of your Dwarf Gouramis tank environment and provide a nutritious diet to prevent it.
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are several different infections that your Dwarf Gourami might suffer from. However, most of these infections can be easily prevented with good tank maintenance and diet.
Also, always make sure to take your fish for a checkup at the first sign of illness. If you do this, then there’s no doubt that you’ll be able to prevent future infections from occurring.
