discus smashing into glassand swimming very fast

**mikalli** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 10:12 AM

hi there could someone please help me have had one of my discus swimming very fast and smashing into the glass and then goes to the corner of tank breathing very fast for a few minutes and changes colour to a very light colour.breatheing very rapidlyand then settles down after 10 min.has done this three times today and twice the oyher day.his stomach looks like its sunken in at times.very confused as water is great and temp thanking you

**Merrilyn** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 10:19 AM

First thing, turn the tank light out, and just leave the room light on.

Usually this sort of behaviour is due to a high bacteria count in the water. Now, there's no test that you can perform at home to test this theory, but what you can do, is do a very large water change. This will usually settle the fish down again.

Discus are known to dash thru the tank when startled by something, and if the bacteria count in the water is high, it seems to irritate them and they do it more frequently.

Try that, and let me know how you go.

**mikalli** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 10:41 AM

thankyou lady red will try now how long will i leave light out for have just done big water change

**Merrilyn** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 10:48 AM

I'd leave it off for the rest of the night. See how they are in the morning, and you can turn the light back on then.

Keep me posted.

**Mulisha** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 10:52 AM

I have had his happen to my fish when i had them in a BB tank they were very touchy if u know what i mean u couldn't go near them quickly or do anything fast near them. Now i have moved them from a 3ft BB tank to a gravel planted tank 5ft and couldn't see much happyier fish

Does your tank have any sides painted to minmise reflection?

HTH

**mikalli** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 11:07 AM

thanks for your reply no dont have any sides painted tank has gravel in it and plants .do u think it could be the reflection on side of tanks

**Trebs** · Tue Dec 27, 2005, 10:10 PM

What's the ammonia and nitrite readings?

**Mulisha** · Wed Dec 28, 2005, 02:01 AM

Well i think reflection plays a big part in it becuase they don't feel sercure with none of the sides covered also covering the side with hide all your cords and highlight your plants and fishs colours i would go for a light blue it makes the fishs colours stand out well.

for example if you were put in a large glass box with no side covered or anything and put in the middle of the shopping center would you feel scared LOL?

That's how they must feel so IMO covering the sides is a must

HTH

**mikalli** · Wed Dec 28, 2005, 04:39 AM

hi there trebs thanks for your reply have just checked readings P.H is 6.4 ammonia is 0.50 nitrate is 40 nitrite is 0ppm temp is 29.5 .and yesterday readings were p.h 6.0 ammonia is 0.25 nitrate is 40 nitrite is 0.0ppm .yesterdays readings were before i started my water change now i have two doing it and they are really flipping out bad at times could somebody please advise me very confused what to do i have turned air stone up.thanking you.

**Trebs** · Wed Dec 28, 2005, 05:21 AM

The Ammonia is the problem, you really need to get that down. Firstly,
What % water changes are you doing?
How long has the tank been running?
Anything changed in the setup recently?
What is the PH of the water you are adding when changing water?
Has your PH been any lower than 6 recently?

Lots of Q's I know but it will help us help you.

Turning up the airstone will help, keep that running. Also cut way back on your feeding.

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