Discus - Problems....

[iisfaq]

HI

I have problems with my Discus Tank - been setup for about 18 months.

Last week one of my large Discus 6" top to bottom looked really bad - almost black thick 1/2 body wide stripes.

I moved him to a hospital tank (setup in 10 mins) but died in 1 hour.

I think my big PLECO 12" killed him as he was fine the day before.

Every feeding time this pleco takes off after the Discus and tries to take them out.

Now 6 days later another Discus has a problem

I have had this Discus for 4 years and he has what looks like fungas growth on his Ventral fin. It was not there last night and tonight it i there for all to see.

As always I can never get a decent photo but the following may help - see the bright bit on his ventral fin.

Any ideas appreciated about what I should try to do - should I move them all to small hospital tank and then treat with (something you recommend?)

There are now only 5 Discus (4-6" top to bottom) and 1 Pleco 12" in the tank.

Even the Discus seem agressive towards each other.

The thank is about 180 litres, it has 2 Ehiem 2215 filters, and a UV Filter. Two heaters, and two airstones.

It gets about 25-30% water change per week

Chris

[LYNDYLOO]

Sorry to hear about the Death of your Discus

When a Discus turns Dark it can mean a few things, Stressed, or Sick.

I would think it has probably died from something else, as in Bacterial Infection of some sort, that seems to be awfuly quick to lose it.

Was it showing any other symptoms??

Was it eating normally??

Firstly I would be removing the Pleco from the Tank, he is obviously causing the Discus to become Stressed at feed times if he is chasing them.

That seems to be alot of Discus for the Tank size.

I would also be doing more water changes than that a week, I do 3 water changes a week on a 215Ltr Tank that has 6 Discus in it.

You could try popping the Discus with the Fungal Infection into a Hospital Tank and treating with abit of Wunder Tonic.

With plenty of Water Changes it should come right in time.

[iisfaq]

Hi

I think since he was feeding fine last friday and nothing stood out and then died on saturday that the PLECO attacked him.

I guess I will never know.

I think I should get rid of the pleco - but not sure what avenue to take - sell him, give him away etc...

I have no idea of his "perceived" value!

I think I will setup the hospital tank again tomorrow.

Thanks for your advise.

Chris

Sorry to hear about the Death of your Discus

When a Discus turns Dark it can mean a few things, Stressed, or Sick.

I would think it has probably died from something else, as in Bacterial Infection of some sort, that seems to be awfuly quick to lose it.

Was it showing any other symptoms??

Was it eating normally??

Firstly I would be removing the Pleco from the Tank, he is obviously causing the Discus to become Stressed at feed times if he is chasing them.

That seems to be alot of Discus for the Tank size.

I would also be doing more water changes than that a week, I do 3 water changes a week on a 215Ltr Tank that has 6 Discus in it.

You could try popping the Discus with the Fungal Infection into a Hospital Tank and treating with abit of Wunder Tonic.

With plenty of Water Changes it should come right in time.

[LYNDYLOO]

I would get rid of him too, your Discus will be much happier, without being stressed at feed times.

Good Luck with the others Chris.

[jim r]

Plecs sometimes latch onto the side of discus damaging the mucus which kills the fish. Depending on what type of pleco you have would give indication to value, but the combined value of your discus I suspect would be far greater and therefore IMO the pleco is probably of little value in contrast.