My Female Discus

[MissClaire]

Just a question for all you discus gurus out there!

My female red turq has fallen ill (darkening in colour, sulking)
This has only happened AFTER I added new plants....she was laying every tuesday up until then and then she rapidly declined in health.
I noticed ALOT of rotting leaves and alot more muck accumulating on the gravel each week so I removed the new plants....I didnt do any ammonia/nitrate tests at the time.
Now with the new plants gone she is still unwell and I am doing my 25% water change and gravel vac each week religiously.
What do you suggest?
I would love to get her back to her healthy self.
Her boyfriend is trying his hardest to coax her into laying eggs again! But she hasnt the slightest of interest!

 

[Sorrell]

Definately test your water, even with normal water changes sometimes spikes can occur.

This looks strikingly similar to my problem last summer It's suggested in my thread that a parasite may have come in on the plants...

Thread

You'll have to excuse me, I get a little errrrr, testy in there ) I was pretty upset

 

[Ben]

maybe when youput the planst in there was a pocket of nitrites that you lifted up?
just a suggestion

DD

 

[canarsie11]

I have read with discus, plants should be quarantined just like fish b4 being introduced

 

[Sanj]

Hi Missclare,

I t is a good idea to check water params when disucs get ill.

Keep with the water changes, but another thing that seems to help disucs when ill is to raise the temp to 33-35C.

 

[elgecko]

After keeping my discus in my planted tank for 8 months, the fishes health slowly deteriated over time.
It was of all the fish waste building up in the gravel. I did gravel vac and water changes 25% twice a week. It was not enough to keep up with the fish.
Since then I went to a bare bottom tank. The fish look so much better.
After gone through it I suggest to keep discus in bare bottom tanks. I still have plants in my tank, so bare bottom does not look as bad as it sounds.