dark discus

[FishyMatty]

this is a continuation of a recent thread of mine. I have two brand new baby discus, under 2", got them yesterday. My water is fine, never any disease and these came directly from a breeder sold as perfectly happy healthy discus.
ph-6.8
kh-4
nitrates-20
nitrites/ammonia-0
They were less dark when they came out of the bag and got dark
late last night. they were getting chased a little by the other two in the tank.
the temp was between 81 and 83 but I bumped it up to 85-86. They havn't eaten yet. I can see how they might be scared there is a school of redeyed tetras that swarm food but I try to feed them directly and they just watch it fall. I really need suggestions I really don't want anything to happen to these fish. They need your help and so do I.

[VTwinFanatic]

i just replied on your other thread about this same thing

[FishyMatty]

I got that, thank you. I did a 10% water change before I went to bed and the first look I got of them after 2 buckets I was amazed the were bright and seemed full of energy. So I hope tomorrow I can ge them to eat.
•What do you do when a fish won't eat?

[VTwinFanatic]

try using garlic...when i first got my discus i used to not only to perge their bodies of parasite (which might not be a bad idea btw) but also they seemed much more interested in the food also. I started with frozen bloodworms mixed with a garlic puree (but seachem also makes a product that i think works just as well its called garlic guard)...i would mix a few blocks of FBWs with one clove of garlic puree...it was messy and smelly but it worked for me

[Star_Rider]

:thm: yup blood worms.. I prefer the Oregon desert brand(real midge larvae)
and plenty of water changes

[FishyMatty]

Thanks guys, They ate a little of the color bit today, but I will try the garlic.
I don't understand the color though, They change all day from dark to light. My blue diamond(the elder of the tank) does that too, he has done that since I first saw him in the store. He doesn't get real dark(more like deep blue to light blue), but you can watch and see the color change same with these guys but they are more like bad dark to light.

[Star_Rider]

young discus will do that..mine would get dark and show their bar's.

usually it's if something startled mine...they were not fond of distraction..

sounds like they may be getting use to the colorbits.

[pigeonblood]

Thanks guys, They ate a little of the color bit today, but I will try the garlic.
I don't understand the color though, They change all day from dark to light. My blue diamond(the elder of the tank) does that too, he has done that since I first saw him in the store. He doesn't get real dark(more like deep blue to light blue), but you can watch and see the color change same with these guys but they are more like bad dark to light.
discus change color dependent on their mood.As long as they dont stay dark for to long they should be great.Their colors are also indicators of their overall well being.