Discus Parasite???

B

brad6006

AC Members
Dec 5, 2005
9
0
0
I got about ten discus just over a week ago, slowly they've been dying off. A couple have acted like the discus from the recent post, darting around out of control. Now I see another discus near the water surface, dark in color, but if I look close I can see two bright green growths, one near the head, another near the dorsal fin. The growths look like tiny tiny leaves growing out of the skin. I'd say the growths are a little larger than a speck of pepper. The 6 discus left look healthy so far.
Should I wash him in the salt solution mentioned earlier or dose the entire tank?
I have a 125 gallon tank with plants and cardinals.
Temp is 84, ph is 7.23, ammonia is 0, nitrites .3.
 
brad6006 said:
I got about ten discus just over a week ago, slowly they've been dying off. A couple have acted like the discus from the recent post, darting around out of control. Now I see another discus near the water surface, dark in color, but if I look close I can see two bright green growths, one near the head, another near the dorsal fin. The growths look like tiny tiny leaves growing out of the skin. I'd say the growths are a little larger than a speck of pepper. The 6 discus left look healthy so far.
Should I wash him in the salt solution mentioned earlier or dose the entire tank?
I have a 125 gallon tank with plants and cardinals.
Temp is 84, ph is 7.23, ammonia is 0, nitrites .3.
Click to expand...


Any pics?
 
nah no pics, guess I didnt think of that, maybe I'll try to get one tomorrow, gonna be weathered in with a blizzard, so I'll try to figure out how to post a pic.
Just sent you an email about my order.
Thanks!
 
Couldnt help but noticed that you posted your Nitrites were at 0.3ppm.....ANY measureable level of nitrite is very bad. It is possible that the stress this is causing is creating opportunities for parasites to take hold. First thing I would do is a nice big water change. If you wanted to, you could do the salt dip on the affected discus. Im pretty sure that the tetras are salt intolerant/sensitive (as are the plants)....so adding in salt to the tank itself would be a bad thing. Start by focusing on the current affected fish and treating it with a salt dip for now. If other fish become affected by this then we'll need to look into other options. And yes, pictures are always helpful

-Ryan
 
Dkarc, maybe I should have said my nitrites are less thank .3? Every time I test my sample shows yellow, which is the lowest level on my color reference chart. My test leaflet states "ideally nitrite levels should be kept below 0.8, of course discus are probably more sensative. I've never had a test show anything but yellow (<0.3)
I'm using a Laborette kit, maybe theres a better kit I should have?

After I logged out last night I was going to take a picture, but the green flecks were no longer there. Got a couple pictures but theyre not sharp enough to show anything, and I couldnt figure out how to post a pic, I'll work on it some more.
 
I believe API FW Masters Test Kit is the best/most recommended. On API, if the solution is light blue nitrite is zero, and any level above that shows a different color. I've never heard of that brand, but since .3 nitrite can be pretty bad, and obviously 0 is perfectly fine, it doesn't really make sense for the most accurate reading to be ".3 or less."
If you can get an API kit and re-test, it would be useful, since your parameters may be perfect, or may be dangerous, from that reading. If it's not the parameters, parasites would be my guess, but I'm not sure what sort. PraziPro is the med I hear most often recommended for parasites.
 
Were your discuss shipped to you? Just curious. There is a period of time that it is beneficial to perform partial daily water changes until the fish relieve their shipping stress. I would dose your whole tank with Prazi (if you have it or can get it), get the temp up to 90, turn of CO2 if you are using it and aerate the tank if you have an air pump. Keep the water changes going daily for a few days until you start to see positive change. Remember, discus have the unique ability to let you know when they don't like their environment. When they start to show what you are describing, take action right away and you will be glad you did.
 
My test kit is Tetratest Laborett "for the professional measurement of the most important parameters." I've not seen much else for kits, guess I'll have to order a better one online.
Went to the store too see what they have for medication, no Prazi, they have Melafix by Aq Pharmaceuticals. We dont have any fish stores close that are worth their salt, everything has to be ordered.
My fish were shipped to me about two weeks ago. I've been doing water changes since day 2. I've slowly raised my temp but only to 86, will 90 hurt my cardinals? The discus with the problems seems to be doing better, he's hanging out with the others now and eating, still has a bit of white discoloration on his fins, but he's acting a lot better now.
Thanks for the help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom