Discus Not Eating

[Fadi]

I am getting worried b/c my discus are currently not eating too much. I got them on friday and have ate only a little for the ones that did.

I have fed them flakes, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen bloodworms.

Is there anything I can do to get them to eat. ?

They are only 2 inches long are there pellets that will fit in their mouths?

I think part of the reason they are not eating is the other fish are getting to the food quick.

 

[Tolak]

First of all, they are in a tank with other fish, which tells me they haven't been quarantined. This procedure is not just for your existing fish's safety, but also for the well being of the newcomers. Certain diseases can be present in healthy fish without causing a problem, until those fish get stressed. New fish are stressed, and are now exposed to anything that may be in your existing tank.

Internal parasites will cause discus to go on a hunger strike, the same as angels. Angels, like many other fish can live with a small amount of internal parasites, many do. It isn't a problem until they become stressed. It's no different than a human being exposed to viruses & bacteria on a regular basis. If you don't take care of yourself, you are at a higher risk for contracting an illness. Fish aren't much different, and discus are a more sensitive, delicate fish than most.

Discus are grazers, other fish eat more quickly, another reason discus are most often kept in a species only tank. New fish, being stressed from their travels, are more likely to be slow to eat. You have new fish, who are more than likely stressed, trying to eat cautiously, while other fish zip in & chow down. They aren't going to eat much.

 

[SamUK]

I am getting worried b/c my discus are currently not eating too much. I got them on friday and have ate only a little for the ones that did.

I have fed them flakes, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen bloodworms.

Is there anything I can do to get them to eat. ?

They are only 2 inches long are there pellets that will fit in their mouths?

I think part of the reason they are not eating is the other fish are getting to the food quick.

discus really arent meant for communitys mate. im suprised more people didn tell you the other day.


think i remember you saying you were moving some of the fish out tho? think ya need to do that asap.

 

[Sp00ky]

did you check with your LFS as advised in another post to see what they were being fed on there?

Also, did you see them feeding at the store?

 

[kev_kb]

What are you keeping with them?

What are your water parameters? Did you match them to your LFS?

What the general tank setup, filters/decor/substrate.

It can take them a while to settle as I said before, and if you have greedy fish in with them its to be expected that they don't eat much. This may improve as they settle in, but it may not.

You need to worry if they appear very thin, go black, or have white stringy poo that sort of disintegrates in the water.

 

[Sp00ky]

What are you keeping with them?

i would guess whatever is in his signature

 

[kev_kb]

i would guess whatever is in his signature

Maybe, but he was advised not to add Discus to that tank as is, I was hoping he may have taken the advice..

 

[Sp00ky]

i would guess whatever is in his signature

Maybe, but he was advised not to add Discus to that tank as is, I was hoping he may have taken the advice..

dont look like he has mate im afraid

 

[SamUK]

i would guess whatever is in his signature

Maybe, but he was advised not to add Discus to that tank as is, I was hoping he may have taken the advice..

nope there in with the fish in his sig. hes said in another thread but he is getting rid of some i think.

 

[Fadi]

Yea my cousin was suppose to be over last night to get 6 platy/molly and 2 gourami. He didn't show. I was wondering if there were any pellets that are small enought for them because the tetra color bits are too big. Any reccomendations?

EDIT: Filter is Two Tetra Whisper 60's, black and white gravel, and fake plants.

The fish seem to be happy other than they are not eating. Swimming around the tank and coming to the front of the glass when im there.

 

[Sp00ky]

Yea my cousin was suppose to be over last night to get 6 platy/molly and 2 gourami. He didn't show. I was wondering if there were any pellets that are small enought for them because the tetra color bits are too big. Any reccomendations?

EDIT: Filter is Two Tetra Whisper 60's, black and white gravel, and fake plants.

The fish seem to be happy other than they are not eating. Swimming around the tank and coming to the front of the glass when im there.

again... have you asked the LFS you bought them from what they were fed on !!!!!!!!

the last discus i bought took 4 days to eat anything.

 

[Fadi]

Yea my cousin was suppose to be over last night to get 6 platy/molly and 2 gourami. He didn't show. I was wondering if there were any pellets that are small enought for them because the tetra color bits are too big. Any reccomendations?

EDIT: Filter is Two Tetra Whisper 60's, black and white gravel, and fake plants.

The fish seem to be happy other than they are not eating. Swimming around the tank and coming to the front of the glass when im there.

again... have you asked the LFS you bought them from what they were fed on !!!!!!!!

the last discus i bought took 4 days to eat anything.

Yea i called them last saturday. They were fed frozen brine, EDIT: FROZEN bloodworm, flake, formula 1 and 2. I just did about a 15% water change. I am leaving in a little so i will be feeding them again and see if they eat.

I will update you guys soon, thanks.

 

[Fadi]

If you guys check my sig, I have gave my cousin the fish I said I was getting rid of. Now the fish are still not eating. I put alot of brine shrimp in and they just look at it, they make no effort to eat it. I am getting worried because I did put alot of money into these fish and it wouldn't be the best feeling for them to die. Is there anything I could do, waterchanges new food???

 

[Sp00ky]

personally i think your trying to rush them too much.

Leave them alone and just do your normal feeds. When feeding just step back and keep still and watch the discus. If they dont feed dont painc yet but monitor how they look. If they start going dark and thin, THEN worry. Until then the worst thing you can do is overfeed the tank just for the sake of getting them to eat.

If they are hungry they will eat.

 

[kev_kb]

What are your water parameters and those in the shop?

Do not over feed the tank unless your clearing it all up shortly afterwards.