HELP!!!!SKINNY, CHANGED FROM YELLOW TO WHITE, DOESN'T EAT!

:( My Discus has become skinny, do not like to eat, nibbles on blood worms, but doesnot eat them, just chew and throw them out! does not eat flakes,or dried worms, so skinny you can see the bones, it was full yellow and now it is white!!
Tank is 60 litres, I have a big angel a tetra an algea eater(which I always forget its name) and couple of bottom eaters.
Some said angel and discus can't be together, but read on internet people have done it so many times, these two seems to be friend and like eachother!
ph about 6, temp 28-30 C.
feed them 2 or 3 times a day, no competition for food at all, she gets around enough food and test them but does not eat them! [/b]

Fish do not get skinny over night, this must have been visable for a long time. It might be too late for this fish already :(
Is your tank planted or BB (bare bottom)
How many discus do you have? if it is just one in the tank, it could be the fact that it is lonely.
How often do you change the water in your tank? it could be water quality. Can you post test results?

More likely though, i would imagine that it has an internal problem, most likely to be a worm or flagellates infestaion. What colour have its faeces been? You should have noticed if they have been dark and healthy or white (unhealthy) If white, then you need to treat.

If the fish has white faeces, then you can teat with Metronidazol (Metro) this can be mixed in with food (probably more effective) or in the water.
You can raise the temp up to between 30-33degrees as this will have the effect of raising metabolism making the med more effective. Doses at 400mg/10 gallons every 8 hours for 2 days.
Photos would be good too if you can post them.


hth

Hollowman

To be honest I am not expert, I started this tank 4 years ago and never had a serious issue before or at least I didn't notice until now. I lost my first discus after a relocation (we moved house) , bought another one (red) and then after 3 or 4 months bought this yellow one, unfortunately the red one died 2 or 3 months ago due to starvation, I really became serious of why am I loosing them! realised this one not eating at all too!
had 3 silver dollors which dominated the tank and didn't let others close to food, my first step was getting rid of them,
thank is BB.
Never saw the poo, I can't isolate him/her to find out. When I had two (red & yellow) they where both hiding and not eating, I complained to the shop and they said if you had them for 8 months it means they are eating!
same response from other shops made me think they are right until I lost the red one and now I am on the mission to save this one, so I don't know if buying another one would help..
regarding test results:
I only test the basics, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and nitrate is about 30 on my chart, ph is 6 to 6.5 and temp is 30C please let me know what other tests should I do and I will get on to them.

Ok Alan, you have made it here now, so you will get GOOD advice, and won't be fobbed off like your shop did.

Can you tell me your water change routine? Keeping your water in tip top shape is the first and most important thing you need to do. Discus require lots of clean water to be healthy and grow.

Can you list ALL the foods you have been feeding.
What filtration system are you using? sump, cannister, hob, sponge, internal?
Did you buy your fish from the same place or mix?
What tankmates are there?
Have you ever treated for flukes or worms?

As I asked before, photos are always a great way to help us SEE your problems, even if you cannot see anything, we might.

Hollowman

Hi Hollowman,
Thanks for getting back and the pm message.
food used blood worms, it is the only thing he/she comes forward for it but just nibble.
other foods: flake: "vipan Staple diet Alimentcompose" that's what says on the box.
Australian black worms "dried" .

worm treatment:
used Aqua worm tablets 5 days ago, 3 for my tank.

other mates: 1 Plecostomus, 1 Angel, 6 neon tetra bought last week, now are left, I beleive angel ate them. 1 red tail shark, 1 guppie, 1 Zebra danio, 1 loach (bottom feeder), 1 Discus.

Filter: EHIEM sponge filter,I change the water about 35% once a week.
tank is 60 litres, by the way I have some artificial greens "ornaments" inside, no natural greens.

the tank light was 4 years old after some reading on internet changed it last week. to a 15000 suitable for freshwater tank.

I know that I have to do some rearrangement in my fish numbers but don't know what.

also had colored gravel at the bottom of the tank, last week changed it to natural little ones, will post some photos to help.

thats a few fish for a 60L, any chance of getting your water chemistry, PH, NO3,NO2 ammonia, temp.

vipan is a good balanced flake if your fish eat it all the better, if all they've been eating is frozen blood worm they're goin to be suffering from malnutrition, this proably let the paracites get in and over run the immune system.

at this stage your fish is proably too far gone, you have used aqua worm tablets, I'm assuming this is prazi based, if so the next treatment is a repeat in 1 week and then try some levimenisole to remove any round worms from the gut.

Where do i start.....

Tanks is way to small for your stock. The pleco alone is to much..........

Some of your fish need to be in groups to be happy and will stress if left alone.......

As illusion already stated you dont seem to be feeding them very well........

I believe that the shark will get quite territorial which will again cause alot of stress......

What type of loach???

If you are not planning on upgrading your tank i would probably remove the angel, pleco and discus and possibly the loach and shark and work with whats left.


Ado

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alan

other mates: 1 Plecostomus, 1 Angel, 6 neon tetra bought last week, now are left, I beleive angel ate them. 1 red tail shark, 1 guppie, 1 Zebra danio, 1 loach (bottom feeder), 1 Discus.

Filter: EHIEM sponge filter,I change the water about 35% once a week.
tank is 60 litres.
.

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Welcome to the forum Alan.

The guys have given you some good advice.

The main problem as I see it, is the size of your tank, and unfortunately some of your tankmates.

I think you need to decide if you want a community tank, with angel and tetras and a shark etc, or if you want to keep discus. You can't have both in that tank.

Okay, some suggestions. If you want to keep discus, then your tank is only large enough for ONE adult discus. Yep, that's right, one discus and a few tetras. Everything else has to go, sorry, and you need to increase your water changes to at least 30% twice a week.

If you want to keep a community tank, with the current occupants (minus the discus) then the only thing you need to rehome is the pleco. It will grow way too large for your small tank. These guys grow to around 18 inches long, and they are poop machines, making it difficult to keep your water pristine.

Fish shops need to take some responsibility, and warn prospective customers how large fish will grow :roll:


As far as your yellow discus goes, I really do think it's too far gone, but you could try removing him to a hospital tank (even a big plastic tub with a lid will do). Add a heater and airstone, and change 50% of the water every day. Continue with the worm treatment, as suggested, and keep the tank very, very clean. If the fish is eating some food, preferably the flake and the dried blackworms, then you still have a chance of curing him.

Fish shops need to take some responsibility, and warn prospective customers how large fish will grow


I witnessed an LFS the other day that was quite willing to sell this guy 3 or 4 of these cute little fish (tiger oscars).....

I set the poor guy straight. ;)


Ado

I know what you mean Ado. I see it a lot. So many people are lost to the hobby before they even really get started, because of poor advice. :(