What to do about loss of appetite?

[thewarning]

One of my discus seems to of lost his appetite. He doesn't come up for food when the others do. This has been going on a week. I see no outward signs of illness. Any advice? Should I isolate him in quarantine tank or try aquarium salt?

[BoredAgain]

What are you feeding? Does he eat anything at all?

[thewarning]

I feed bloodworms, brine shrimp, tubifex worms and discus flakes. All high quality food. He seems to nibble a bit around the bottom.

[Coler]

bit of crushed garlic with the food is an appetite stimulant

[BoredAgain]

bit of crushed garlic with the food is an appetite stimulant
That or Seachem Garlic Guard (http://seachem.com/products/product_pages/GarlicGuard.html), it's very useful.

[Pufferpunk]

What's the temp? Water change schedule? Nitrate?

[jm1212]

tankmates?

ammoina? nitrite?

[thewarning]

I have 4 other discus. Change the water practically every day. Have been using a multi-vitamin the past 3 weeks.

temp 86
ph 7.6
ammonia o ppm
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate 0 ppm
gh 120
kh 60 mg

[BoredAgain]

Did you ever cycle the tank? The 0 Nitrates looks odd if you did.

[180gz71]

If u can find some sort of live food- blackworms, brineshrimp. Thats what I would normally do with my skittish discus. I could then tell if it was a disease or just them being uneasy.

[thewarning]

Yes it was cycled.

[thewarning]

He also seems a little less social and active. Perhaps quarantine is the way to go.

[Inka4040]

How are the other fish acting? Scared discus are very quick to lose their appetites, so be on the lookout for undue agression being directed towards that fish by it tankmates. Things like overzealous schoolers and agressive feeders can also often put a discus off it's food. If you have the chance to isolate the fish and allow it to recuperate unmolested, this can often be a good move.

[Pufferpunk]

Temp?

[Arakkis]

Are the worms live?

[SchizotypalVamp]

Yes, they are, though people have varying opinions on them. I don't know much about discus, so I'm just venturing into the dark here, but if they eat brine shrimp, all the animals I know take it like candy and they are very easy to find.

[Preeths]

Don’t feed tubifex to discus, they generally carry bacteria and diseases.

[Star_Rider]

pufferpunk, temp is 86
all appear within range. ) nitrate is odd but not impossible.
I doubt that is the issue however.

I would begin to suspect either bacterial infection or possibly internal parasite.

treatment will vary dependant on the problem.
Discus are somewhat prone to internal parasites. usually displaying Sx like darkening, clamped fins labored breathing, hiding.

the problem is determining the parasite and the course of action.

you cant try metronidazole and praziquantel. they are effective on may parasites
if the problem persist you may need to look at fenbendazole, flubendazole or levamisole Hcl. these are commonly used for camillanus and capillaria..