Discus Not Eating

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hey guys,

One of my Discus is not eating. He had stringy poo, and isn't interested in food. He mainly just hangs out now. I believe that something was passed on threw the tetra I added to the tank first (all of which mysteriously died, 3 in the same day.) These weren't quarantined. I think I am just going to medicate the whole tank. I have been putting metronidazole into the food because of this, but I think it should go straight into the tank now that it's not eating anything at all. This should help with internal parasites right? I set up a quarantine tank but it has a Discus in it (soon to be added to the tank), so I don't really have a place to put him.

Water stats are fine. Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0.

Thank you for any input.


DL

 

[*Fishkies*]

Nitrate shouldn't be zero else your tank is not cycled properly, you should have a small reading for nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite should be zero though.

Have you tried feeding him live foods?
How long have you had this discus in question?
If you look closely on your tank walls or in the gravel/substrate you can sometimes see little bugs in your tank, try looking and see if you do, if so this might confirm the parasite suspiscion.





P.S. (everyone has these straight zero water stats, am i missing something???) Hasn't anyone else noticed this?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Nitrate shouldn't be zero else your tank is not cycled properly, you should have a small reading for nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite should be zero though.

Have you tried feeding him live foods?
How long have you had this discus in question?
If you look closely on your tank walls or in the gravel/substrate you can sometimes see little bugs in your tank, try looking and see if you do, if so this might confirm the parasite suspiscion.





P.S. (everyone has these straight zero water stats, am i missing something???) Hasn't anyone else noticed this?

The only reason why Nitrates are zero, is because I do daily water changes. Most proper Discus tanks should have a zero Nitrate reading. I don't have access to live foods, and these can also sometimes carry parasites. It's not him being picky, he used to have quite some appetite. I used to have a small problem with Planaria, it cleared up, and I only see the odd one now. What I do notice though, are these weird looking things on the glass wall. They are small, I am not even sure if they are living. They look like feathers, and the follicle type part of it is the part attached to the glass. I suspected it may be hydro or something? That would be the only problem I could think of. No other fish is showing signs, and the fish in question looks healthy, I have had him for around 4 months. There is no gravel in the tank (again, proper Discus needs.)

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Going to start adding some fresh mashed garlic into the frozen food.

 

[blue acara]

If he has white stringy poo it is likly he has an internal intestinal parasite infestation, it is a fairly common problem. Treat the tank with a anti Internal bacterial med and protozin. At the dosage of full dose of both on day one, half a dose of both on days two and three. On day four full dose on both and you should find this has solved the problem.

I'm not an expert- I know fuk all really, its best to ask on a devoted Discus website imo, as I know that your Discus are precious to you.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

If he has white stringy poo it is likly he has an internal intestinal parasite infestation, it is a fairly common problem. Treat the tank with a anti Internal bacterial med and protozin. At the dosage of full dose of both on day one, half a dose of both on days two and three. On day four full dose on both and you should find this has solved the problem.

I'm not an expert- I know fuk all really, its best to ask on a devoted Discus website imo, as I know that your Discus are precious to you.

Thanks blue acara. I saw him pass a bowl movement today, the funny thing is, it looks perfectly normal. Not stringly, and has a brown coloration to it. I still haven't seen him eat anything though.

I thought Metro would be fine for a parasitic treatment?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Well, still waiting on a reply for the medication. If Metro isn't a good one maybe someone could recommend something that has no adverse effects on the biological filter. He isn't eating, but he looks fine, good color and his stomach looks normal, not too skinny and not bloated or anything like that. I can't seem to think what the problem is.... Maybe i'll post some pictures of him, he is a little bit odd looking, possibly a little stunted from when I got him but he has always had an appetite...

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Here are a few pictures:

 

[blue acara]

Hi DiscusLova-sorry for not replying faster.
I have used Interpet No:9 anti-Internal bacterial med before to treat internal bacteria, I don't know if you can get this in your part of the world. Sorry I have never heard of Metro so I can comment on it.

How long has it been since he hasn't eaten? If he is 'pooing' normally and just not eating it could be a range of problems. Does he have rapid gill movement?
Try feeding some live food if you can get it- he may find it more appetizing.

Have you asked on a Discus forum yet? That is the best advice I can give you.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hi DiscusLova-sorry for not replying faster.
I have used Interpet No:9 anti-Internal bacterial med before to treat internal bacteria, I don't know if you can get this in your part of the world. Sorry I have never heard of Metro so I can comment on it.

How long has it been since he hasn't eaten? If he is 'pooing' normally and just not eating it could be a range of problems. Does he have rapid gill movement?
Try feeding some live food if you can get it- he may find it more appetizing.

Have you asked on a Discus forum yet? That is the best advice I can give you.

Yes, I don't see his bowl movements a lot, I caught one a few days ago and it looks normal, again I just don't see him eating...

No rapid gill movement. Unfortunately I cannot get any live foods, but I will try some blood worms today and see if that works. Metro is just short for Metronidazole. It's an anti-biotic that I believe is also called Flagyl? Here is a link: http/petest.profitcenter.com/pet/group/11018/product.web

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Try shelled peas, if possible mix it in with some crushed garlic, bloodworm and brineshrimp. They refreeze and see if he will eat.

Chris

 

[blue acara]

I would consider treating the tank with flubendazole and praziquantal, these meds have excellent safety profiles and won't harm plants or your biological filter.

Sorry I can find a supplier for these drugs where you live, again ask on a U.S based Discus forum and you will have more luck.
Here is a link that sells for much cheaper METRONIDAZOLE POWDER
link look at the bottom of the page.

here is another useful US company, cheap good stuffs.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I would consider treating the tank with flubendazole and praziquantal, these meds have excellent safety profiles and won't harm plants or your biological filter.

Sorry I can find a supplier for these drugs where you live, again ask on a U.S based Discus forum and you will have more luck.
Here is a link that sells for much cheaper METRONIDAZOLE POWDER
link look at the bottom of the page.

here is another useful US company, cheap good stuffs.

Thank you. I have posted on a Discus based forum that I go on every now and then, but haven't got an answer. That stuff was really expensive, I get it for a lot less at work. I will keep an eye out for flubendazole and praziquantal (I think we carry both.)

Thank you for all the help.


I will see if we have any peas. I am allergic to them, and so we normally don't have em' in the freezer, but I will see what I can do.

 

[FISH KEEPER EXP]

hi discuslova,

i sometimes have the same problem with wilds, when i import them at work. Im aware that you use metro.. already unfortunatley we can't get that in the uk without pescription from a vet. But i use a discus wormer which use's flubenol with a mild garlic mix. Its brilliant for new additions especially when not feeding, or suspected worm problems. Its made by as company called Kusuri try searching it you maybe able to get it sent to the states?

its pretty cheap,and you can get a breeder pack which will treat 2000 gals.

hope you have luck tracking it down, wish i could help more

goodluck matt

 

[tsheetz]

Hi DiscusLova-sorry for not replying faster.
I have used Interpet No:9 anti-Internal bacterial med before to treat internal bacteria, I don't know if you can get this in your part of the world. Sorry I have never heard of Metro so I can comment on it.

How long has it been since he hasn't eaten? If he is 'pooing' normally and just not eating it could be a range of problems. Does he have rapid gill movement?
Try feeding some live food if you can get it- he may find it more appetizing.

Have you asked on a Discus forum yet? That is the best advice I can give you.

Yes, I don't see his bowl movements a lot, I caught one a few days ago and it looks normal, again I just don't see him eating...

No rapid gill movement. Unfortunately I cannot get any live foods, but I will try some blood worms today and see if that works. Metro is just short for Metronidazole. It's an anti-biotic that I believe is also called Flagyl? Here is a link: [URL="http/petest.profitcenter.com/pet/group/11018/product.web"]http/petest.profitcenter.com/pet/group/11018/product.web[/URL]

The website listed above is a test site for www.thatpetplace.com. Please use this url instead: [URL="http/www.thatpetlace.com/pet/group/11018/product.web"]http/www.thatpetlace.com/pet/group/11018/product.web[/URL]