When you say they're acting weird, in what way? What exactly are they doing? What exactly is going on? Are they all hiding now? Are they chasing each other a lot? Any clamped fins? Are they darkened?
Did you have other fish, Discus or otherwise, in the tank that they're in and are these new Discus or are all of your Discus new Discus? Did you QT any new fish before placing them in with any other fish?
I believe you said you got these fish (some or all?) only about a month ago, correct? Many times new fish can be carrying something and it will finally show itself a few weeks after you've gotten them home, which is why many people QT Discus for at least 6 weeks before placing them in their main tank. That usually gives enough time for anything that is going to start up to show itself. Many also use a "hero" fish in the QT for the last 2 weeks of QT to see if either the hero fish gets ill or the QT'd fish get ill. If no one gets ill, you're good to go!
Have you ever tested your water from the tap to see if your PH is stable after 24 hours? I know you posted your PH reading which you said was typical of your tank, but I wonder if it could be shooting up after a WC and then returning to your typical number. Discus subjected to this instability can fall ill.
Even if they are establishing a new pecking order, which is entirely possible as bs6749 pointed out, and would be an explanation for your juvies not being affected while the adults are, they would still have an interest in food -- there is a saying -- a healthy Discus is a hungry Discus. I've had spawning pairs come to eat right in the middle of spawning. There could be one or two that are so badly bullied that they'd hide and not come out to eat, but that doesn't sound like the case from your description of things. Even if they get spooked, they don't stay spooked for days, it can be a few minutes and then its over, unless there is something continuously spooking them, which is highly unlikely, especially since this just started. If they are new to you and their tank, however, many times they will hide, especially adults, for quite some time. From what I read, they were not hiding and were eating well before, correct? (By eating well I mean that they were eating with gusto -- attack, like it was the first meal they've had in weeks and like it was the last time they'd see food).
Test strips are convenient but just not that accurate. They can serve to give you an idea, that's all. If your actual test kits are old, I'd get new ones and retest. You could be having a spike and its not showing with the test strips. I've heard of that happening a lot.
I do disagree with raising your temp. 84 is fine for Discus. Jack Watley keeps his Discus at 82. In the event that you have something bacterial starting, the higher temp will serve to make it get worse, faster. Bacteria multiply faster in warmer temps. Since you've already raised it though, I'd leave it be for now. The warmer temp may spur those not eating to begin eating again.
For now I think you need to continue closely observing. Something besides a new pecking order may be brewing but what, at this point, I don't think can be pinpointed, unless you retest with new test kits and find something amiss in your water, which is also possible.
Did you have other fish, Discus or otherwise, in the tank that they're in and are these new Discus or are all of your Discus new Discus? Did you QT any new fish before placing them in with any other fish?
I believe you said you got these fish (some or all?) only about a month ago, correct? Many times new fish can be carrying something and it will finally show itself a few weeks after you've gotten them home, which is why many people QT Discus for at least 6 weeks before placing them in their main tank. That usually gives enough time for anything that is going to start up to show itself. Many also use a "hero" fish in the QT for the last 2 weeks of QT to see if either the hero fish gets ill or the QT'd fish get ill. If no one gets ill, you're good to go!
Have you ever tested your water from the tap to see if your PH is stable after 24 hours? I know you posted your PH reading which you said was typical of your tank, but I wonder if it could be shooting up after a WC and then returning to your typical number. Discus subjected to this instability can fall ill.
Even if they are establishing a new pecking order, which is entirely possible as bs6749 pointed out, and would be an explanation for your juvies not being affected while the adults are, they would still have an interest in food -- there is a saying -- a healthy Discus is a hungry Discus. I've had spawning pairs come to eat right in the middle of spawning. There could be one or two that are so badly bullied that they'd hide and not come out to eat, but that doesn't sound like the case from your description of things. Even if they get spooked, they don't stay spooked for days, it can be a few minutes and then its over, unless there is something continuously spooking them, which is highly unlikely, especially since this just started. If they are new to you and their tank, however, many times they will hide, especially adults, for quite some time. From what I read, they were not hiding and were eating well before, correct? (By eating well I mean that they were eating with gusto -- attack, like it was the first meal they've had in weeks and like it was the last time they'd see food).
Test strips are convenient but just not that accurate. They can serve to give you an idea, that's all. If your actual test kits are old, I'd get new ones and retest. You could be having a spike and its not showing with the test strips. I've heard of that happening a lot.
I do disagree with raising your temp. 84 is fine for Discus. Jack Watley keeps his Discus at 82. In the event that you have something bacterial starting, the higher temp will serve to make it get worse, faster. Bacteria multiply faster in warmer temps. Since you've already raised it though, I'd leave it be for now. The warmer temp may spur those not eating to begin eating again.
For now I think you need to continue closely observing. Something besides a new pecking order may be brewing but what, at this point, I don't think can be pinpointed, unless you retest with new test kits and find something amiss in your water, which is also possible.
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