Anorexic Discus

[Snick]

Hello people.

Some of you may have read when I was fighting to save one of my discus with a severe hole in head disease... again, these guys are not being easy to cope with. They are my first discus and well I'm a little overwhelmed... Anyways, I have had them for about 5 days now and they have not really eaten at all. The are getting really weak, that is very visible, and the weaker they become the more I become afraid that they may all get hole in head like its now dead tankmate or their defenses may drop and then catch some terrible disease... they are not eating, and I need to get them eating NOW. I have fed them everything; thawed bloodworms, flakes, granules, tubiflex worms... and they don't eat. They primarily keep to the top part of the aquarium, with an upwards inclination, and when I get close they dash down to their hiding spots. I have been doing 30-40% water changes every day since before I got them, I have the water at a stable 6.5 pH with ammonia at dead 0. My temperature is at an also stable 30 Celsius. Hardness is around 4 dH, my meter is kinda off but my water should be medium soft, I have lots of driftwood.

What do I do.

Cheers.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

You are having such a hard time.


Might be an internal parasite or bacterial disease. I would increase the temperature to 32 to increase their metabolism and see if that will trigger and increase in appetite. Have you seen them eat? If so, what was the color of their feces?


Ask what the fish store was feeding them before they sold them (if anything by the sounds of it.) Try some more thawed blood worms and see if soaking in garlic juice will help.

 

[blue acara]

You have had them for 5 days...I'd talk to your supplier and try take them back to the shop. If your water is fine discus should be fine unless they come to you in weak/bad diseased condition. One of the fish has HITH, is this a new fish? do you have pics, as discus do have sensory canals on their head that can be mistaken for HITH. without seeing your other post idk.
Discus not eating could be many things and without positive id on problem its impossible to suggest solution/meds. Try feeding some live food and talk to the person who sold them to you and explain situation. GL

 

[Snick]

To answer your questions-
1) Yes, the guy who died from hole in head was a newbie as well, but I did buy it a day earlier before the other arrived. It was definitely hole in head... Here's s pic.

2) For a better idea on them, I think it would be better to describe them to you than show you pictures, as soon as I get close they scramble so photographing them is literally impossible...
One of my blue diamond discus is pretty well off, it is not eating but it swims more actively. It has no physical deterioration.
The other blue diamond is the worst; it has a sort of scab on its side, kinda resembling fin rot, sort of like a rash, (scratching from itch, probably, from the LFS), its fins are deteriorated (possible finrot, working diligently on water changes), it is very sullen and keeps to itself. Not eating.
My pigeon blood is quite well, at least from the outside, it is not eating of course and has a sort of white rash on its side, probably due to scratching it did due to the itch it had in the store. very weak.
My turquoise discus is very thin, stays in the corner and looks like it wants to die. Only physical deterioration is, well, thinness. It is very dark looking. Not eating.

Thanks for your support.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Keep up with the water changes. I would start by treating this "rash" add some Melafix and Primafix to the tank to prevent bacteria/fungus from setting on the wound. If it does not clear up or at least look better after a 7 day course of this, then you will need to get some stronger medications going.

 

[Jim Curtis]

Can we get pictures of these other fish? I'm almost 100% sure you have some sort of parasite issue and probably other problems as well stemming from poor water quality probably for as long as they were away from the breeder til when you get them from the LFS. I honestly hope you saved your receipts for those fish. You should seriously consider taking them back before its too late. Quite frankly the discus in the pic you posted didnt look like it was worth saving.

 

[beechey]

you said there hanging around the top of the tank? is there plenty water movement or air bubbles?
also is there any tank mates?

 

[mike os]

new fish added?

 

[rabbut]

They are the new fish Mike

 

[Snick]

Ok thanks for the replies.
I will buy some Melafix and Primafix and add them... and yes they are the new fish, their tank mates are neons and some peppered corys.
Some good news though - I have no idea why, perhaps they suddenly got high or something, but at night yesterday they started to swim quite happily, I mean they schooled from one side of the tank to another, and when I added the thawed bloodworms one of them (one of the blue diamonds) nibbled and ate a couple... I felt so euphoric hahaha anyways physically they look the same, but this is the first time in a while that this has happened, so things may be getting better.
I am getting the Melafix and Primafix and continue the water changes.
Thanks for your support people .

 

[Snick]

I was doing some research about Melafix and Primafix and read about some negative reactions, especially with discus...
Here's a link to one forum that especially frightnened me - http/www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14565
so is this just an isolated event or does it usually happen? with discus that is.
i just don't want to get them into a worse situation than they already are in.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I was doing some research about Melafix and Primafix and read about some negative reactions, especially with discus...
Here's a link to one forum that especially frightnened me - <a href="http/www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14565" target="_blank">http/www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14565</a>
so is this just an isolated event or does it usually happen? with discus that is.
i just don't want to get them into a worse situation than they already are in.

I would say isolated. I have never heard anything bad about melafix or primafix. These medications are VERY mild and are best used as a preventative or to treat very mild disease. Melafix is tea tree oil. Primafix is Indian Bay Leaf (right?)


I have used both with many fish and never had any adverse effects what so ever. I find it very odd that it had killed that persons Discus and think maybe something else must have been the culprit.


I would keep an eye on them too. As Jim said, they very well could have internal parasitic/bacterial disease. But, I have heard that sick fish tend to loose their appetite the same way humans do when they don't feel good.


Did you turn up the temperature?

Glad to hear they have perked up a little and also ate a little. Keep feeding blood worms and try to coax them into eating. They should take BW most readily.

 

[Snick]

I did raise the temperature. by the way, when should i lower it down to 30 again?

I'll keep you guys posted. thanks for your help.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I did raise the temperature. by the way, when should i lower it down to 30 again?

I'll keep you guys posted. thanks for your help.

I wouldn't be in a rush to bring it back down. Wait until they are looking healthy and eating lots.

 

[mike os]

if you have only had them a week and they are looking thin....you have problems.

discus can go for weeks sometimes months without eating, but if they look thin now then they were too thin when bought & ime you have a battle on your hands.

If you had a fish showing hith in less than a week then the supplier has given you sick fish, symptoms dont appear that fast.

really need some decent pics.

ime xxxfix is a waste of time effort & money.