Discus Problem

[mobilecow]

Hi Everyone
I was changing the water on my discus tank today and noticed that one of the fish has like a "foggy / cloudy" eye - and the fin on the same side looks like it's taken a beating... the other eye is ok and the rest of the fish in the tank seem to not have anything similar... Is this some kind of disease or has the fish just been banged up a little (he's greedy but not the largest and the largest one doesn't fancy him all that much)? Any ideas what I should be doing? the fish is swimming normally and eating as it always does. Thanks a lot
Shawn

[didy]

Sounds like it could have been an accident. Anything in the tank it could have injured himself on?

[Weezer]

Cloudy eyes many times is caused by poor water quality...it should clear up in a day ,,unless its something else.........:idea:

[Marinemom]

What are your water paremeters? What is your water change schedule like? What is the temp. in the tank? Does he have other tankmates? Could you give more specifics on your tank so we can help you better with this problem?

Marinemom

[mobilecow]

Water Parameters
Ammonia & nitrites show in the lowest range (0 to something)
Temp is about 30C (was 28 on the weekend)
Water-change is about 20% every day (but not the last two days)
I've got a Jebo 508 and an Aquaclear 50 and a Hydrosponge 4 filtering the 40g tank

Tankmates
4 Discus and 2 Angels - Two of the Discus are larger than this one (this one is the greediest of the bunch tho, apart from the angels)

Apart from that - it's a bare-bottom tank and has three fake plants tied onto stones to anchor them down.

I have to add that I didn't change the water over the weekend (three nights) so perhaps that may be part of the problem?

Thanks

Shawn

[Sun Devil]

Mobile - Is there any chance (taking a wild one here) that the reason you didn't change water over the weekend was because you weren't there and the fish weren't fed? Sometimes I think Angels get more aggressive when they're really hungry.

[mobilecow]

SD - I was away for the weekend - the fish were only fed flakes over the weekend (which they grudgingly eat - and only twice a day rather than their regular 4) - u think the angels are the cause? I know they are the most agressive feeders and would love to put them with the rest of the angels (but when they get larger)

[kmail5776]

Water Parameters
Ammonia & nitrites show in the lowest range (0 to something)
Temp is about 30C (was 28 on the weekend)
Water-change is about 20% every day (but not the last two days)
I've got a Jebo 508 and an Aquaclear 50 and a Hydrosponge 4 filtering the 40g tank

Tankmates
4 Discus and 2 Angels - Two of the Discus are larger than this one (this one is the greediest of the bunch tho, apart from the angels)

Apart from that - it's a bare-bottom tank and has three fake plants tied onto stones to anchor them down.

I have to add that I didn't change the water over the weekend (three nights) so perhaps that may be part of the problem?

Thanks

Shawn

What are your nitrate levels? I don't know, 20% daily PWCs is what, 8 gallons? I'd say up your water changes, especially if you feed 4x a day. When, after you feed, you probably clean up with a small PWC. I wouldn't count that as your water change. I do 50% PWCs every 2-3 days. I'm guessing your nitrates may be creeping up.

How big are your fish BTW? Pics!

[mostlycichlids]

Hi Everyone
I was changing the water on my discus tank today and noticed that one of the fish has like a "foggy / cloudy" eye - and the fin on the same side looks like it's taken a beating... the other eye is ok and the rest of the fish in the tank seem to not have anything similar... Is this some kind of disease or has the fish just been banged up a little (he's greedy but not the largest and the largest one doesn't fancy him all that much)? Any ideas what I should be doing? the fish is swimming normally and eating as it always does. Thanks a lot
Shawn

its likley a bacterial infection of some sort treat with melafix for three days..do a water change to reduce the nitrates they should be under 20ppm on a regular basis.

[mostlycichlids]

Cloudy eyes many times is caused by poor water quality...it should clear up in a day ,,unless its something else.........:idea:

How do you know it will clear up? Explain your answer so someone can get a correct accurate answer.

[Star_Rider]

I agree..bump the water changes.
even if nitrates are fine ..clean water is beneficial to help with healing.

watch for aggression..

how is the discus coloring..their color is a great indicator of stress.

[Weezer]

How do you know it will clear up? Explain your answer so someone can get a correct accurate answer.
Taking into consideration the problem at hand and the circumstances surounding the post,water quality issues tend to be the cause a majority of the time,I have gone away for short periods of time to come back and find a fish with these symptoms.I did a couple water changes in 12 hours and the problem was gone..Given the responses that this post would get and the good info out there, PWC's would be the first thing to do under the posted conditions,To many people think they have to start adding medication wright away,when its not needed..I hope this clears up your issue............:)

[kmail5776]

ooh, yeah, forgot about coloration. Typical black bars showing are a good indication of stress. Also the speckling on pidgeon bloods. If any of these are showing, your fish is indicating that its stressed.

[mobilecow]

I've upped the water changes in that I am now drawing out the same amount but doing it twice a day... The fish is a light golden / yellow colour with darkish fins - hasn't changed colour (I know the others get dark). I will try and get some pics up in a bit....

[mobilecow]

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5315/0404071935xw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Pic of the discus with the cloudy eye - sorry I shot it off my phone's camera...