morfin Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Two weeks ago by blue diamond discus seemed to go off his food and started to stay behind the driftwood. One night I saw him rub against a plant twice - thinking flukes I dosed prazi three times over nine days. Treatment finished on Tuesday. Tonight across thirty mins saw three of them all "wipe their faces" across a leaf of a plant - all the same plant - actually all the same leaf. . Now is this flashing or something else and should I treat again or do something different. I haven't seen them do it during the day, just at night. All still beautiful in colour, fins are all up, nothing clamped, eyes bright red, all eating bar the diamond - who started eating during treatment but has gone off food again, and all fairly active. Diamond comes over for food but will often spit it out and then go back to the driftwood. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Could be flagellates. Is there any white stringy poo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 I haven't seen them poo this week- not cause they haven't Im sure but just cos I haven't been looking. The last time I saw it it was red (tetra bits food). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Spitting is not unusual with discus, but keep a watch on the shyness and "flashing". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Ok will do. The lights have come on now and I have just sat in front of the tank and have six discus lined up looking at me, will update if It continues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 What are your tank readings pH, ammonia etc etc? Has the blue diamond started to come out again and eat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Nitrite and ammonia 0, nitrate between 5 and 10, ph is 7. Temp is 29 and stable. The diamond came out this morning and comes and goes this afternoon. Ate some blood worms but then spat them out and didn't eat tea tonight. The others are all active today with no flashing but have done the same as last night and three Are now just sitting in the water next to the heater. There has been noticeable change in grumpiness last couple of days and two of them are patrolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 How many in the tank, how long have you had them, how big are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 I have 6 discus, got them all at same time almost three months ago. We're all same size at te time, now two are probably 10cm body, 2 at 8cm, 2at6cm. Tonight diamond came out and all looked good, until the big pigeon did two rubs against a plant just as the light went out. They seem to only do it at night time between the first light going out and the second one (they are on different timers. 300l tank and mates are cories, rummies, bristle and harlequins. All other fish seem fine, although cories still do their weird unconscious thing at times as per my other older post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 It could be the ph swing at different time of the day that is annoying them. Can you do a few ph test at different time of the day to see if there is any fluctuation. One first thing in the morning, afternoon, before light out and one at night . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Sure will do, will post results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Have tested four times so far between 9.30 and now. Lights come on at 12 and 12.30. 7.2 for all readings. An update on behaviour - diamond has spent most of the day behind the driftwood. My big pigeon has been out most of the day but kind of just sitting in the water. Not seen any flashing from anyone. I put the live mossie larvae in and all ate them bar the diamond (could do but didn't see him). The big pigeon gobbled as did the others. Aggression does seem to have stepped up - the small pigeon is on full patrol and has done full on lip locking with the rosy a couple of times, the big pigeon also seems to extend his lips out a couple of times - what does that mean. A the moment big pigeon and diamond hiding, all others hanging out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 The only thing I can say is that the pH is a little high for discus. You have driftwood in your tank so how long has the tank been set up. I don't think thats the problem but discus guru will have more idea than anyone else I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 It normally sits around 7 and tank has been set up for 5 months. The diamond just came out before and is hanging out. The PH does go up a little with a water change - I have been contemplating ageing the water to make it more stable. It comes out of the tap at 7.4. Part of the reason why I water change very three days is to help with ph stability. The water is very soft. Big pigeon did come out before and sort of flashed, but almost looked like he slapped the leaf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 it definitely sounds like some sort of parasite and does sound like gill flukes. How heavily are they breathing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 That's what I was thinking too. They aren't breathing heavy at all really. There gills look quite relaxed. When I treated with prazi last week the diamond did start to come right. I wonder if I needed to treat for longer. I still have heaps so could treat again. First light just gone off so will see what happens as this is when it normally starts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hmmm actually my blue Turq does seem to be breathing faster than the others. Honestly though I don't really know what's normal The two rosy discus are breaking quite slow and so is the diamond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Right big pigeon just came out Every couple of creates he is like gulping and his gills kind if slap He also just flashed twice on the plants. Gonna prazi while I wait for opinions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Put prazi in and four of them starting flicking almost immediately. Like something was irritating the side of them. None look happy at the moment, but I'm hoping this works. Will treat longer this time perhaps :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Perhaps keep your lights off while you wait for discus guru to comment. Some meds are light sensitive but I do not know if prazi is one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Lights are off for te night now until lunch tomorrow so all good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Treating with prazi is a good way to rid any fluke and some worms. Do at least two treatment to make sure you get rid of it. I normally don't turn on light during treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Ok thanks Ron. Will leave the lights off - will the plants be ok with the light off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Plants will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morfin Posted March 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 An update - prazi in fir two days so far and everyone bar the diamond is out and about and eating. Lights are off still but they are back to their eager selves. Still worried about the diamond though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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