Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Hi guys, I just received the discus from Henward at about 12:30 pm and rushed home to put them in the tank. I floated the bags, mixed half tank and half bag water and let them acclimate for about 30 min. There are 5 discus in total, and 4 of them have started settling in and simming around with the others. A couple have even started eating. The biggest Cobalt male however is still struggling. His breathing is only a little bit slower but he is acting quite lethargic. He is sitting near the bottom and leaning a bit on the tank wall. Hi eyes are still moving around and reacting to his surroundings but he hasn't recovered like the others. I turned off half the tank lights to make things a bit more comforting. The female colbalt keeps him company most of the time but then swims with the other fish for a while too. He was packed in a huge bag on his own. Wasn't gasping for air when I opened the box but lying slightly on his side (a few of the others were also doing this but straightened out quicker once they 'woke' up). The water got fairly cool as I find that those heat packs never last 40 hr like they are suppose to. Is there anything else I can for him? I don't wanna lose him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I would just leave them all to their own. Big fish like him don't tend to ship all that well. Do you know how old he is? Its only been a few hours, and so is still early days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 We don't know his age, probably at least 3 years i would guess. He is definitely a big boy...and I knew shipping him would be risky. I just don't wanna miss any opportunity to do something to help him that i've overlooked. Would a water change when I got home be a good idea or would that just push him over the edge I'm glad there are other discus around him. I hope his girlfriend can convince him to not give up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 when if irst got him, he was the msot stressed too, ig uess being so big he dosent like being in small buckets or bags. now you know why i put him on his own in a massive bag by himself in his own poly box. couldnt risk a smalle rbag! the fins must have pricked the bags, They were triple bagged. Im glad the others landed fine! I would turn all lights off and put a black or dark coloured cloth over the tank,a nd just wait. Unfortunately, like yous aid, shipping is always relatively risky.... he is a big boy, maybe a bucket load of stress zyme or melafix? i wouldnt change water - that would stress him out more, i reckon just leave him and hope for the best. thats what i would do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 if his breathing is slwo and not gasping, eyes reacting.... then i would suggest its jsut stress. update us regularly, i hope he makes it too !!! be awesome swimming in your planted tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Thanks Henward! Yeah, I honestly don't know how you could have packed him any better! Thanks for taking such good care of him I am just over anxious and trying to make sure I am doing the right thing! I will avoid water change, and turn off the rest of the lights when I get home. I think i have some AquaPlus and Melefix that i can 'dump' in. They are such beauties by the way! I am amazed how much colour they are showing already. Can't wait for him to recovery so I can take some pics! Might not want to hand off my friend's 3 discus to her tonight...ahaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I'm jealous! I've still gota come over to your place to have a nosey at your tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 i am actually hopeless at packing. LFS packed it, bagged it, boxed and sent it for me. I have faith he will be ok! strong fish that one. The others - the small turq has developed more in colour since i got it,t he colour was not as full when i initiall got it. the otheres i am pretty sure wont grow that much more - fed good food too. Leopard is a nice colour and pattern too, the small one. just keep the others:) dont give them up! lol My fav is the big cobalts and the snow leopard!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 You are welcome anytime! You can visit your angels (as I have them now) and their little army of babies too I'm jealous! I've still gota come over to your place to have a nosey at your tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 You are welcome anytime! You can visit your angels (as I have them now) and their little army of babies too OMG that's awesome that you managed to get them breeding successfully! Are they taking care of their own fry or do you have to separate? PHOTOS :bounce: :bounce: Tried to breed my long-finned angels but absolutely hopeless, ended up selling them they were laying eggs every week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I've been separating them from the eggs since I got them. But now that I've run out of room I may let them have a go. Both pairs are laying but the white ones do a better job of it so far. When they were in my friend's tank still, the white pair managed to raise the fry to free swimming. Most of the fry were lost to starvation and the filter though. But the parents kept herding the ones that were left The eggs that I collected across several spawnings have had a good survivial rate though. The hardest part is to convince them to start eating. But once they do they grow pretty quick. The biggest of the fry army are now almost 2cm! I've got a mix of angel fry and blue ram fry in a 40L tank. Will have to move them to a bigger one soon! I will post pics maybe tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burrowssj Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Sad to hear, keep us posted an good luck with the fisheeee... like others have said darkness +stress coat would be the way to go. I have recently lost a new fish to similar conditions only it was all my fault that time :'( at least you have done everything right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Also pop and air stone in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Just my opinion, but I wouldn't add Melafix unless you absolutely have to. It is an irritant so that might stress him further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Thanks everyone! He's taken a turn for the better! I came home pretty stressed because my bf said he was head down beside the log but still breathing the same. It was a pretty tight spot so I made the decision to pull him out. I turned the lights off and gently pulled on his tail (i know that sounds harsh but there wasn't a way to squeeze my hand in otherwise) and then guided him out to a more open area where the other discus were. He came right all of a sudden and started swimming normally with them! He stayed like that for a couple hours! He is now near the top a bit but is doing much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 photo time then? don't forget the angels and their babies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 'Big daddy' didn't make it I found him dead this morning. The other 4 are happy-as though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 That is really very sad to hear. He was a big, beautiful fish that's for sure. If you can help it next time, try not couriering a discus that big - They don't handle it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Ohhhh NOoooo, sorry to hear your terribly sad news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Oh that's so sad at least you did as much as you possibly could Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishplants Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 'Big daddy' didn't make it I found him dead this morning. The other 4 are happy-as though. Really sorry to hear that Aquila. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thanks guys. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the body. He is in my freezer But at least all the other fish are doing well! His girlfriend has settled in and acts as if she hasn't even switched tanks. And I got 2 royal whiptails to cheers me up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 19, 2010 Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 Yeah fish that size are tricky to dispose since they won't fit down the loo, I had to chuck a huge Snow white into the bin it was a DOA due to sloppy courier service. Found a 6cm Blue Diamond dead this morning (had it at 2cm)..ate too much bloodworms last night and must have got bloated badly it was always a piggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 19, 2010 Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 Put him in a pot and grow a pot plant on him. Like a peace lilly or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 Aww Amy, sorry to hear about the little fatty Was thinking about burying him under something... would it work in a pot given his size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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