Please Help

[Dave]

Ok I posted this earlier in emergencies but have had no reply, so I hope you don't mind if I try here!

Ive just got back from holiday (2 1/2 Weeks) and my mum was supposed to be looking after the fish for me! But when I got home 1 of my discus was dead
I also noticed the other discus was not eating and had marks on its side and was dark in colour. I assumed hole in the head!
I treated my whole tank with Hexi.... something, but didn't seemed to help. My discus was still not right and was pooing white stuff So I managed to get a Hospital tank set up and get him in there. That was last night, and I think the shock of the move was just too much as he later died.
So I am now worried about the rest of my tank. I am carrying out regular water changes and begining another 3 day course of my treatment.
is there anything else i should do? I would die if the angels were to become ill.

(One good sign though, as i have been carrying out water changes, my male angel has been showing signs of sexual frustration, by nipping the female in courting fashion, although she seems uninterested).

 

[parker313]

White stringy poo can be an indicator of parasites

 

[Dave]

What does that mean for the rest of the tank then?
Please explain!

 

[parker313]

Well, I guess it means that IF it was parasites, the rest of the tank could be at risk for an infestation as well. I don't know much about treating parasites, I just remember coming across that information when I was trying to treat something else...

 

[guppymonkey]

If your discus had HITH disease I would think that the water conditions deteriorated while you were on holiday. If the fish are used to regular water changes 2 1/2 weeks can have a large impact on the water quality. Don't treat the tank if you can't identify a disease or parasite, you could be treating the fish for nothing. I think your water changes were a good idea and I would suggest maybe raising the temperature a few degrees just in case they do have a disease.

 

[David]

Did your mom feed the fish while you were gone? Ask her what she did and you may get clues as to what caused this. Also the angels may have given the discus internal parasites. Did you get the angels recently?

 

[Dave]

Thanks for the advice, David I don't think it has anything to do with the parasite that the Angels supposadly carry. Personally I don't believe that rumour anyway. But thats just my opinion. My Discus had been in the tank for over a year with no probs.
I definetly think the problem has been to do with my water quality whilst I was away. I do usually do regular (twice weekly) water changes. I even decreased it to once a week before I went away, just to test it, and everything was fine. Obviously 2 1/2 weeks was to much.
I think Ill continue to carry out water changes untill Im happy that the tank is clean, all the fish seem to be eating so thats a good sign.

 

[Ben]

yeh, definitly a signof bad water

discus

 

[David]

You must be devastated to lose your discus after a year of having them Sorry about that. How recently did you get the angels though?

 

[Dave]

Your right David, I am gutted But I have had my Angels for 3-4 years so thats why Im worried about the tank, I would hate to lose them. Things are looking up though.
I love discus and plan to get some more in the future, but first I must stabilise my tank

 

[David]

Good luck with that.