MissMTS

I just got an order of 8 two inch discus shipped to me for my 80 gallon tank. I have had the fish for three days. The tank is cycled and the water parameters are as follows:
ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Yesterday there was a little accident that happened in the tank and I have no clue how it happened. I came home and the glass thermometer in the tank was shattered at the bottom. The center (the part with the red liquid) was not broken open, but the brown stuff that sits at the bottom was in the tank. I did a 50 percent water change and vacuumed the gravel very well to try to get everything out of the tank. I have no idea how it could have broken
I was gone all day at work and when I came home I noticed something wrong in my discus thank. Two of my discus look like they are having a skin problem. The skin looks scraped or almost like it is pealing. I am very worried and I have never seen anything like this. The good news is the fish ate for the first time tonight which made me feel a little more at ease. Can someone please tell me what to do for my fish. I have been taking as many precautions as I can to do this right.

MissMTS

Okay, I checked again and it looks like about five of them have it. It looks like they have scratches on them and the skin is peeling back from it. The other fish in the tank are fine (black neon tetras, guppies, royal pleco). It is not overstocked because all of the fish are very small at this point.

COBettaCouple

Hmm.. yea, that's why I don't like the glass thermometers and stick with the strips on the outside. This seems to happen a bit with them. I think the worst part of the thermometer didn't get into the tank and I would do 50% water changes every day or 2 for 3 or 4 days to be safe.

For their skin, I'd recommend my favorite trio of fish recovery products: Vita-Chem, Fish Protector and Garlic Guard. I'd add the dosage for 80g daily for all 3.

Do you have a pic to post?

capekate

Hi MissMTS
Im so sorry to hear about your Discus. They most likely were infected from the seller and you may have not done anything wrong. I have been doing some research for you and came across this photo of a Discus that may be what your Discus has. Check out the link below, if it is, then follow their instructions. SimplyDiscus.com is a great site for all things Discus.
Good luck and keep us posted!




http://www.simplydiscus.com/library/...parasite.shtml

MissMTS

Thanks so much for your replies guys. I don't have a pic at the moment because I lost the xd picture card that goes in my camara. I will post a pic tonight after I replace it. I will add the vita chem and garlic guard today. I don't have any fish protector on hand. Cape Kate, thank you so much for doing that research. I don't know if that is what my discus have or not. Their skin is peeling like that, but they have these scratches on them that look like something sliced their skin. I think I will follow the directions on the site and raise the temp to 92 degrees though. Thanks so much for your help guys

andy65

I would say run a bit of carbon for a hour or 2. That will take any bad stuff that come out of the thermometer.

As for the peeling skin, I have no clue. Could it be a Chemical burn? Who know what kind of stuff are in those thermometer.

MissMTS

I am adding an extra filter to the tank tonight, so the carbon in that should take care of it. I did a 60 percent water change earlier, raised the tank to 92 degrees, and added the vitachem and garlic guard. Two of my discus are just sitting still at the top of the tank and they look pretty misserable. I feel so bad

capekate

IMO I think that 92* is too warm. They may be a little uncomfortable. If I had to raise the temps in tanks with my Discus I would never go over 90* and I am glad that I never had too. I know that it was recommended at the link, and the authors are experts on Discus, so I am sure you are doing the right thing. But they may be feeling the higher temp since they're most likely not used to it.
Discus do not swim around much unless they are chasing one another lol.. They just kind of glide through the water at a slow pace. A lot of my guys used to sit in a corner looking outside the tank and hover just under the water line. They were not sick.. just behavior of them.|(of course, they love to watch the TV screen)
Good luck with the vita chem. I really hope that what ever it is, is not serious.. Maybe keep on hand some fungus med, for just in case.

MissMTS

I was looking at them last night for a while and it looks like whatever it is, it might be going away. I am not sure though. That may just be wishful thinking on my part. Two of them look like they are doing pretty badly though. They are laying at the surface. I think I will email the seller and let them know about the condition that the fish established so that they can look for it in their other fish. I am sure they were infected with it when I got them.....they just weren't showing symptoms yet. I am not expecting to get my money back or the fish replaced, but I definetly think he should know.

capekate

Im glad to know that some are doing better. Hopefully with treatment the others will recoup as well.
I would expect a refund for the sick fish if I were you, and at least get credit towards more if these two die. It seems obvious to me that they were sick before you got them and they should be responsible for the replacements.

MissMTS

Thanks. Yeah I know I technically SHOULD get a refund, but I have not had luck getting my money back in a couple of past situations when I purchased fish/plants online. I just don't want to get my hopes up. Hopefully this guy will be decent and replace the fish for me though.

Shawnie

I hope they recover soon! I know how much you wanted an love those fish!!!!!! Remeber with higher temps, theres less oxygen so continue with water changes...im saying some biggggggg prayers for those babies!!!

MissMTS

Thanks Shawnie

Sabi

Hi Miss Kate.
I'm sorry to hear about your discus but hopefully they will improve. You are right to let the seller know and Kate is right abt the credit for more. I hope they recover completely, it must be really tough for you!

MissMTS

Thanks Sabi! They seem to be doing really well today actually. One of them is still being a bit reclusive but the others are eating well, swimming together around the tank, and not hiding as much. The skin condition is barely noticible now and you can't even see it on some of them. I think that the vitachem worked wonders! The water changes to get all of that crud from my thermometer out of my tank probably helped too. I emailed the seller today. We'll see if I get an email back from him.

COBettaCouple

Vita-Chem is such a great product. Not cheap, but definitely worth it. I'm glad to hear they're doing better and hope they'll just keep being healthier and healthier.

MissMTS

Thanks Dave

MissMTS

Well the discus that was not doing well died this morning. The others look good, so hopefully I won't lose any more.