Is there enough room at the top of the tank for air? Gouramis have the labrynth organ and travel to the surface to breath out of the air. Are there any other symtoms besides being lathargic? Slightly emasiated? Bloated ? protruding scales? Is this an established tank or new?

Yes, there is room at the top for air. He is slightly emasiated, which I figured was because he probably can't eat properly because he can't swim properly. It's an established tank, 36 gallons.

Possibly Fish Tuberculosis (Sorry I know I am lousy at spelling) TTry this link www.thatfishshop.com/health/fish_tb.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: TB?

Oh wow, that's terrible! We have three different kinds of tetras in the tank, but no signs of them being affected. They were in there when the other Gourami was too.

I had a molly that had this, only one to ever have it. Not quite sure how either. Possibly it was picked onby another fish. a stressed make fish suseptible. As with anything.

I appreciate the advice you've given me. As of this morning he looks like he's about to die. When he swims at all he's just going in circles. I'm just going to hope it's not Tuberculosis, for the sake of the other fish in the tank. It didn't bother them the last time, so I hope it won't this time either. The last Gourami was sick for at least 3 months.

Nancy,

Labyrinth fish (which group contains gouramis and bettas, among others) are very susceptible to oodinium. I don't know if this is what has attacked your fish, but it's certainly possible.

The attached link tells you what to look for.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oodinium

If there are no outward signs of ich or other disease it could be a water quality problem. Have the water tested for ph, ammo,etc. Its probably to late for the fish, once they stop eating its hard to save them. How long have you had him? Was he in the store for a while? Did he look healthy?

Well, I looked at him with a flashlight like the link for Oodinium said to do, and didn't see the signs they spoke of. I'm wondering if it could be the water too, we did a water change, but he's almost gone, I just hate to take out a dying fish and flush them. I always wait til they die. We've had him since last October. No, I don't think he was in the store long at all and he did look healthy. He's looked perfectly normal then all of a sudden he looked pretty bad. I don't think I'll get another one after having this with two of them.

As James said test your water it could be stress from ammonia etc, also test the water that you use for water changes. Then get fish that suit your water type or alter the water before you use it. I never had much luck with "tropicals" when I first kept fish because my water is to hard but now I keep rift lake cichlids because they suit my water type so no more deaths and no mucking about with having to soften the water beforehand :). All the dwarf gourami's (Colisa lalia) I ever kept died within 6 months *sniff* But my Kissing gourami's (Helostoma temminckii) I found easy (need a largish tank) and ended up trading for other fish.