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View Full Version : Possible sick discus or just stressed?



aj1128
Sun Aug 14, 2016, 03:31 PM
Hi first time user but have been using this forum for referencing and info about my fish.

I have about 12 discus and some other differing species in a large tank with nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels all at zero. There is 9 5cm, 2 10cm and a 15cm (not sure what they all are only that its a mix of browns, turquoises, and diamonds). A 50% Water change was done about 2 days ago.

One of the 10cm discus who is constantly sitting in one corner of the tank near the filter, at the surface and eating very little (since the water change). Constantly heavy breathing and occasionally from only the left gill. He is also rubbing against objects in the tank, but not constantly maybe about once or twice a day. However when the light, filter and air stones are turned off he starts breathing from both gills again and at a slower rate and leaves the corner and swims around the tank and will eventually go back to the corner when everything is turned back on. There is no clamping on fins or darkening of colour (he is still the same bright orange and red) and he will still chase some of the smaller discus around, but I have observed that he is pecked and chased a lot by the others and sometimes won't swim away or retaliate. I have done some research and he is either stressed out or has gill flukes.

I was told by the specialist store I bought him from to turn the temp up to 32 degrees Celsius, increase the aeration and to add some aquarium salt, as he is probably stressed, and that I shouldn't medicate unless absolutely necessary and sure of what it is. I have also taken to leaving the light off during the day.

I'm still not sure what it could be as some of the smaller discus were also displaying these but have since stopped although the larger 2 have never displayed any signs.

Is it gill flukes or is he just stressed out?

aj1128
Mon Aug 15, 2016, 02:24 PM
He is fine now back to eating and behaving normally.

Japers1
Tue Aug 16, 2016, 10:45 PM
I'm intrigues to know what you think it was. Did you change the temperature at all? Add salt? Let us know so we can all learn from it.:p

aj1128
Fri Aug 19, 2016, 12:28 AM
The temp holds steady at about 30-31 celsius.

Well he's gone back to do everything except scrathing on things. No sign of inflamed gills or gasping at the surface. But he is very submissive towards every other discus in the tank. Since he has never discoloured in anyway I'm assuming he's being bullied quite badly by the others.

At the moment he is floating at the bottom next to the filter breathing heavily from one gill but otherwise looks normal. He was also fine for about 4 days.