Discus getting very dark.. why?

Sonjamo

Sonjamo

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Jun 11, 2007
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I'm writing this on the behalf of my dad:

My dad has got a 100gal tank with 6 large discus and a few other tank mates. The tank has been setup for around 4 years now but the discus have been a new addition within the last 2 months. As far as I've seen (keeping in mind i dont live with my dad so i dont see the fish everyday) they all eat well and move about.


Everyone gets along well with no problem but a few days ago, two of the discus got really dark. I don't know exactly what kind they are but one of them was a gorgeous metallic light blue and the other orange with a blue pattern. The one with the pattern has lighten up a bit but the blue one is very dark. His fins look fine, he doesn't appear to have any damage done to him.

Does he have any type of disease or is he stressed? Is there anything i can do?
 
Is he definitley eating? does he skulk round the back of the tank? It may just be stress, but could be an internal infection. Have you seen his Poop? If it is stringy and white then he has a problem. What are the tank mates and water parameters? Adding 6 Discus at the same time will increase the Bio load of the tank.
 
It is really hard to pinpoint what might be wrong since you can only give information based on an observation while visiting your dad. I notice you said your dad aquired large discus....I'm taking that to mean they are close to full grown. Discus darken when they pair up and get ready to spawn and stay dark through the process. Find out if your dad has seen any pairing up behavior....usually "shivering" at one another and they do a little gliding type of a dance.
 
Are they in a planted tank? Are you seeing stress bars?

My Discus get considerably darker when placed in a planted tank with lots of decor. When they are in a bare bottom they get much lighter after a few days. I do not think this is a problem.

If they are showing stress bars all the time they might be stressed due to water conditions, tankmates, food, etc.....
 
first define the water parameters include temp ammonia,nitrite,nitrate count
lsit the water change schedule
also list the tank mates..you mentioned the dicus are recent additions to the tank.(2 months) were they in quarantine?

darkening occurs for a variety of reasons..the primary reason is stress.
are they showing any other signs? clamped fins? hiding?
are the eating normally.

is there a pair forming up in the tank? any aggression?

sub dominant males will darken when exposed to dominant males especially if there is a pair forming.
how much cover is in the tank?
 
well it might be sick or the pair is getting ready for their fry!
 
..

yogias said:
Is he definitley eating? does he skulk round the back of the tank? It may just be stress, but could be an internal infection. Have you seen his Poop? If it is stringy and white then he has a problem. What are the tank mates and water parameters? Adding 6 Discus at the same time will increase the Bio load of the tank.
Click to expand...

After posting this thread it was soon time to feed the tank and i watched them carefully. The darkened discus did not eat anything, i dont think hes paired off because he stays in the back of the tank by himself doing nothing..
I haven't seen his poop but i told my dad to keep an eye on him for that. As for water parameters i dont know because my dad doesn't check for that stuff. Also all 6 discus were not added at the same time. I'm pretty sure he got 3 and then added the other 3. They all came from the same place and were in a show tank.
 
if it were bad water parameters, more of the discus would be showing symptoms. the not eating makes me think that internal parasites are the most likely cause. if you have a spare tank, or if he has one, it would be easier to isolate the fish in a hospital tank than treat the main tank.
 
Darkened + staying by himself in the back of the tank + not eating = certainly seems to indicate internal parasites. Agree with wataugachicken, can a spare hospital/treatment tank be set up for that fish so the whole 100 G doesn't get medicated?
 
with parasites the general course is to treat the entire tank.
Parasites will spread to other hosts..if this is parasitic then the othere have been exposed.

whether it is protozoan or worms . my recommendation is to treat the affected tank.
 
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