Discus Looks Stressed

HI Everyone,

I have 7 juvenile discus in 240L Juwel Rio tank, overnight my 'dominant' discus is showing signs of stress.

I found him/her hiding and the dorsal and analfins appeared to be clamped, when I dropped breakfast in however the discus came out as normal and ate food. but It's a bit alarming since this discus usually had pride of place in the front and centre of the tank. It was a bit of a bully but now seems very timid like he/she doesn't know where they belong. I've had this discus for going on 2 months or more now, it was well established as the 'leader' even though it was the smallest.

2 days ago I did a big water change and I had a bit of a re-shuffle of my plants. I've heard moving stuff can reset a pecking order, could this be the case? I've noticed all the discus seems to be following my newest addition and they all huddle together now, which they didn't do before.

Another variable to note is when I moved my plants I added terracotta pots just to make it easier for me to move the plants in the future and what not. I did my research on plain terracotta pots and seems they're safe? I soaked them in hot water prior to adding them, but now I'm paranoid something is leeching into the water maybe?

As of right now, its just the one discus acting this way. I just tested my water and everything is as normal on that side of things - ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5

I've left my tank light off for today, going to keep an eye on the discus but if anyone has had anything similar or can offer advice on what's gone wrong here I would appreciate it!

thank you in advance

 

Discus do generally not appreciate any changes to their environment and will take a little time to re-settle. When I added a lot of new wood to my tank as well as re-arranged the existing it took a couple of weeks before they settled back in.

 

It sounds like bullying to me. My guess is the second Discus in the heirarchy called #1's bluff. As long as the Discus is still eating things should level out.
Terracotta pots are fine. They are commonly used by Discus Breeders as nesting sites.

 

Thanks for the replies! they're all definitely eating like crazy (normal for them) so I wasn't fully convinced the discus is 'sick'. I thought maybe it had to do with me messing around with the tank since I only did it recently. I'll keep an eye on them all, hopefully it's nothing to worry about.

Apart from water changes I think I'll leave the re-decorating alone... gave me a fright this morning.

 

Just getting back into discus and I have a similar one. It didn’t eat for a few days but is eating fine now. Though it is still on the black side. I had it for just under a month.

 

Nice looking setup.

 

I just turned my light on to have a better look at my stressed guy, I can actually see there's a parasite hanging out his nose (didn't see it earlier?). Possibly anchor worm?

I'm doing a water change now, I don't really like to medicate my tank is there anything I can do to get rid of this? Other than water changes, or is medication needed? I can go grab something this afternoon if that's the case.

Also - 86_ssinit your set up looks really nice! I'm sure your fish will settle in and brighten up. When I first got mine they took a while to feel comfortable.

 

Got a pic?

 

I dont... I did try to get one, but he's hiding right at the back... I can barely see him at the moment. If he comes back out I'll try to snap one

I can't get him to come out, you can see he's down the back (red melon). So I can't get a clear look at him now... It was on this left side just hanging out of his nose (or near). Looked like a worm/parasite but doesn't appear to be there now.

I just offered the tank some bloodworms to try and get him to come out but only 4 of them came to eat, the other 2 stayed in the corner with this guy.

This morning they all ate like crazy... Something is seems to be going wrong today

 

My best advice is to take out the pots and do a large water change, while the pots are supposed to be safe they're the only change you've made to the tank so far. If you remove them and things get better you have your answer

 

Thanks nikm128, I did a around 60% water change 2 or so hours ago. just removed the pots/plants now... Fingers crossed. I'll do daily changes and hopefully everything goes back to how it was

 

If it’s an anchor worm. Remove the fish from the tank. They breed quickly and can be devastating to your tank. Do you have a qt tank? If not get a 5 gal set up and qt that fish. There are meds to cure it. Did you add anything new? Plants?

 

Would agree with 86 ssinit If you saw a worm like "thing" I would react on it. The times I didn't I eventually ended with a dead fish.

 

The only thing that was new was the terracotta pots

I definitely did see a long thing hanging out the poor guys nose, I say long.. like 2mm or so. Looking at photos of anchor worm, it doesn't quite resemble them but it was my first thought. I wish I got a photo of it, because it definitely doesn't look like it's on him anymore

I did have a QT tank, but I ended up using it for a betta :x

I can get a little 5G setup cheap from K-mart for this though! Ahhhh so scary, I don't want to lose the little guy, or any others. What medication is best for possible all round parasite/worms? Or is there anything natural I can do? I've had bouts of ich in the past with other tanks and just treated it with clean water and raising water temps. Will this be different? I don't think I've ever had to battle a possibly worm before.

Looking at the rest of the tank, I can't see any external problems going on, but there's a definitely feeling of stress in there today. Most of them are hanging out with the sick guy, keeping him company? Or just feeling stressed out. I'm feeling it too.

 

How is everything else in the tank. Have you tested the water. How often do you change the water and what temp is it?
First it may be nothing. Could just be from changing everything around. Keep an eye on the tank. Hopefully it’s nothing. But if it starts looking worse put it in a qt tank and medicate it separately.

 

3 of the discus now seem to be 'off' including the red melon, but the red melon is the one acting the most out of character, everything else seems fine.

I do 50% WC every 2 days, I tested it this morning before I changed the water and it was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. My temp is at 29c.

I'm going to see my LFS guy now to pick up a little QT tank just in case, I really hope it's doesn't escalate into something devastating I really appreciate all the feedback/advice! Thanks everyone

 

Instead of a worm infestation, you might be dealing with (Heximita). I suspect the stringy thing hanging out the nose of the sick Discus, was actually a stringy discharge hanging from a sensory pore. Be sure to research this possibility. I think the best way to treat this type of parasitic illness is soaking the food in a med such as Metroplex / Metronidazole.

 

A201, I think you’re right, I went out yesterday to see my discus supplier and he referred me to the #1 discus guy in Sydney. (Who was luckily based 15 mins away).

I drove myself over to him and I took as many photos of my fish as I could get. Right away he prescribed metro and to dose my whole tank and treat them all. I have 3 day course of metro, I hope this does the trick!

He did also tell me about worming my discus as a preventative since they eat high protein so I have a de-wormer to give them 1 week after the metro treatment is finished (and successful). He knew so much, and he had the biggest most beautiful discus I’ve ever laid eyes on!

I gave them the first does before bed last night... and I’ve just woken up now (still in bed) so I haven’t checked my tank yet.... so fingers cross nothing terrible happened over night and everyone is hungry this morning...

 

Your red melon looks notched? Shouldn't really cause issues, just a genetic deformity. Just don't breed that one if they pair up.

Hex symptoms are isolation, facing the corner, listless. Pretty common for discus, so I would treat them in case, especially if you've never treated yet.

In addition to Metro and a dewormer, I prophylactically treat cichlids with PraziPro. It's especially important if your LFS brings in wild fish.

 

My red melon hasn't really shown much growth, compared to the others I got at the same time which were the same size so he very well could be genetically deformed... My blue diamond and snow white (which were the same size) are visibly much bigger now than red melon.

Despite this Red melon has been the tank boss.

Checked my tank this morning... No deaths going on so that's always good. They did all come and have some food, though they weren't all as crazy about it as normal... but still eating.

Red Melon is facing corners, he's swimming around the tank much more than yesterday but ultimately ends up in one corner or another, just staring out. Right now he's in the front top right corner, a moment ago he was down the left back corner... So he's moving around, whereas yesterday he was hidden and not moving even for food. I am keeping a close eye on all of them, 3 are not showing any signs stress or illness, but my other 4 aren't right. They look stressed and a bit listless so I'm hoping that treating the whole tank will fix this.

I don't want to lose any! I've become so attached to my tank pancakes I want to see them get big in all their glory.

 

You're doing a really good job Lucy.hotdog. I bet the Discus recovers soon.

 

Discus are really like moose, but treated like butterflies in a sense. They're pretty bullet proof until something really goes wrong.
On the inverse of that, they're treated like moose in the way that you can look at it wrong and it'll die. Kind of like a moose would just lose it and charge you

 

I really hope they all get better, I think I caught it and treated it within hours of it happening. The day before they were all completely normal and eating like monsters.

So within hours I had the metro in there, here's hoping it gets better from now and I caught it quickly enough. I had an aircon repair guy in this morning and all the discus came out to the front of the tank to see who he was when he was standing near the tank. I'm taking that as a good-ish sign that it's not escalating, so they're not acting any sicker today.

Thanks again for everyones replies, I really appreciate it!

 

The thing that gets me is they started acting funny all at once. I think treating with Metro is a good plan, but confused how they would all be affected at once. Makes me think something was off with the tank like thought of earlier. Maybe it was the change in scenery and they are just becoming accustomed again. Maybe treating with the Metro is a good thing that came out of this, hopefully saving you a bigger problem later.

 

Sorry in advance for the long post... But this is where I'm at as of this morning. I have one more dose of metro to give tonight.

To start I had 3 that were acting normal when I first noticed this, the other 4 were showing real signs of illness or stress... 2 doses of metro in and everyone is still alive and eating.

But I am definitely now noticing a couple of them flashing and scratching on things in the tank, could this actually be flukes? The only thing that is baffling me is I have cory's and rummynose in the tank but this illness is only affecting the discus?

My red melon also has a tatty looking tail this morning, which is making me wonder if fin rot is now part of this nightmare.. I tested my water yesterday and again it was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 5 nitrates. I will be testing it again shortly after I get some work done :x

Discus sick list:

Red Melon - First one showing signs of sickness, clamped fins (but not as clamped as the first day), tatty fins/tail, still a little lethargic but swimming waaaay more then the first day. He's also still eating.

Snow White - Always follows melon around, so I don't know if he/she is also lethargic or just doing what melon does. No physical signs of illness (no clamped fins or tatty fins/tail). But did notice rubbing and flashing on things in the tank yesterday.

Blue Diamond - Was very dark yesterday, hiding a lot but coming out for food and eating like crazy. Haven't noticed any flashing from this guy, has shown slight fin clamping but like not a tight clamp? if that makes sense. He is looking brighter this morning though.

Cobalt blue - He's very dark and hiding (but he's the 'runt' of the group so he's always hiding to some degree). But he's is very dark in colour and showing some fin clamping. Still eating though.

Checkerboard - He's looked the healthiest, no fin clamping, still eating, no hiding. But this morning did notice the rubbing on things in the tank and moving his pectoral fins very fast on his body, like he's trying to scratch or rub something off.

2x Turquoise - These two have not looked stressed or sick either, no clamping, no hiding and still eating. But again yesterday I noticed some flashing through the tank.

6x corys - no change
9x rummynose - no change


angelcraze - I feel like I've definitely done something wrong here, but I honestly can't know for sure what it was. But the discus are not happy campers. I don't know if I didn't clean the pots properly and this has introduced something nasty to the tank, or me messing around with the tank caused high stress and allowed for something to latch onto some of my fish. I'm happy they're eating and looking at them this morning, relatively active. I'm feeling quite positive.

Do you think I have flukes? I have seen prazI pro can treat flukes, but we can't get that here in australia and the only treatment I can find with the same active ingredient says not to use on catfish. I'm going to call the Discus breeder today, but any thoughts are appreciated as always!

 

Don't jump to any conclusion yet. Follow through on the Metroplex, then if needed chart your next move. Fish flash for other reasons besides parasites. If you determine that the Discus are suffering from flukes, Formalin is a very effective treatment.

 

Hmmmm idk. I don't like dumping meds in either unless I need them or fish have high chances of carrying something, I prophylactically treat them in QT. But FYI, General Cure is both PrazI and Metro, so they could be used simiultaneously.

Have you added anything from the LFS or outdoors into the tank lately? It could be parasites if you brought something in, but could also just be a toxin that is bothering the discus. Any pH swings or anything?

 

Look into chilodinella .
Best antI parasite med IMO is Rid Ich [formalin and malachite green]..
I missed if posted so sorry but what temp is tank ?

 

I also hate adding meds. Have you changed the water? (Can you change it with the meds in). I’d be doing 50% water changes daily now if it allowed. Strange that this happened because you moved some plants. Do you have a uv filter and a water polisher?

 

Thanks A201, I guess I'll let the metro play out. They are all still eating and if anything things are moving in a more positive direction.

I do feel on edge adding meds, especially wondering if I'm treating the right illness etc. Before medication I was doing water changes every 2 or 3 days. Around 40-50%, but the discus breeder told me not to WC until 24 hours after my last dose of metro. So tomorrow night I will do another WC and he gave me a worming medication to give 1 week after that. So there is a plan in place...

My temp is at 29c at the moment and I don't have a UV filter or water polisher, I have the internal filter that comes with the Juwel Rio and a external canister filter. Also the PH was at 7.2 yesterday and it's always been around that, I haven't seen any sudden drops or rises, but I'll be testing the water again today to see where everything is at.

Only new thing recently was the pots, my plants have been in the tank since it was set up. I just don't understand why the tetra and corys aren't sick? I know discus can be sensitive, but shouldn't those guys be a little sick too?

 

No healthy Cory’s are like rocks there much stronger than discus. Most tetras are also pretty strong.
A water polisher is a great tool for your tank. What could have happened is something came out of the moved gravel. With a polisher you install it after the move and let it run for a few hours and it removes anything in the water. Makes the water crystal clear. A uv will also kill anything alive in the water.
As your seeing things can go bad in a discus tank very quickly. Main reason to have a running qt tank at all times. Recycle the water change water from the main tank into the qt. This way it’s allways ready. If you notice a fish looking strange. Remove it into the qt and polish the water in the main tank. A 30gal is the perfect qt tank. Good for sick fish and a must for any new fish.

 

Watching with Interest. Just a "Newbie" Discus keeper myself. You have gotten some good advice. During my "Research" it was always suggested if in doubt. Water Changes, Water Changes and more Water Changes.
Just my .02.
I did bookmark this vid from a well known breeder here in the US. Jack Wattley, maybe it will help or confuse you even more. Good Luck!

 

HI All, thanks for all the advice and comments, I do appreciate them and have taken everything on board! As a newbie, I’m all for taking on new information.

I was very concerned yesterday about my a few of my discus, showing very dark colours and when I put my light on for a better look, they were presenting white patches and lines in their slime coat. Super alarming and my discus dr confirmed my worst fear. It’s actually discus plague.

As you all probably know it’s a virus so there’s no actual treatment, it’s a ‘wait and see’ situation. My discus guy has told me to just keep the temp high, leave the lights off and keep the water in top condition, it’s all I can do now. He also said it’ll probably get worst before it gets better, which is stressing me out no end.

Discus guy said he’s had it with his discus and they have survived so I’m hoping to get out of this with no fatalities but my little cobalt is not looking good. This morning everyone was at the top front tank waiting for food, except him

 

I'm sorry to hear that, a 50% or larger WC everyday if possible would be very helpful

 

How did this turn out? I suspect your discus got worse during the treatment due to stopping your water changes. The method of treating with metro from breeders here in the states is typically a 10-12 day treatment, with a 100% waterchange each day.

 

Hey! It got so much worse, I had a really bad breakout of ich after my course of metro. I ended up losing 2 of my 7 discus, my red melon and my blue diamond RIP!

But yeh, I mean it took like an month or so for me to feel like I was ‘out of the woods’ with this virus and I am happy to report that I still have my 5 survivors! I’m back to my regular water change routines, and they’re all looking great, nice colouring and my red checkerboard is looking really big. Considering I’m really new to discus I feel like I got out of this lightly only losing two of my guys... I really did think they were all doomed.