History - I have 5 discus (5-6") - 3 are very healthy, the other 2 were a mating pair - a year ago they were producing eggs every10 days or so for about 6 weeks. (Couldn't get any to hatch). Introduced some new plants to water - all of the discus got sick. Ended up treating with metronidozole and eventually got them back on their feet - at that time put in an ultra violet light. The male discus (tourquoise) never really got back 100%. Off and on for the past year he has developed clamped fins, the start of ick (I usually start treating the whole tank with Quick Cure when this happens). He gets a half moon type whiteish circle at the back of his body (see picture) and has shrunk down to half the size he was when I got him. I have a 140 gallon tank, an assortment of louches, neons, catfish,algae eaters, ghost fish, one 12" pleco (all healthy and no bother to the discus). Temp - 86, ph 7 - 7.2 - all tests OK. Do 30% water change once every 10 days, about 10% every other day. What should I do - I am concerned I will do more damage to him putting him into a tank by himself (1 have a 10 gallon emergency tank) and I don't want to put the female with him - she is also smaller than she started and although she has black stress stripes her over all health seems OK. I gave him a salt bath yesterday and it took most of the day for him to recover - I don't know what drugs to treat him with. I am hesitant to treat the whole tank - any help would be much appreciated. Also, ever since we put the ultra violet light in we have been getting a black substance on our rocks and the cord to the fibre optics light. Comments??
Discus shrinking,fins clamping.....
- Thread starter ragits
- Start date
Where is the UV light? Is it actually on the tank, or is this a UV sterilizer?
How long have you been treating for ick? If it keeps returning without a vector (ie, a new fish added to the setup), it's likely that you haven't completely removed the parasite from the system, and have low-level infections in most of the fish (though I'd doubt this, since the elevated temperature should prevent this). Increased water changes--both volume and frequency--would be my immediate recommendation.
How long have you been treating for ick? If it keeps returning without a vector (ie, a new fish added to the setup), it's likely that you haven't completely removed the parasite from the system, and have low-level infections in most of the fish (though I'd doubt this, since the elevated temperature should prevent this). Increased water changes--both volume and frequency--would be my immediate recommendation.
The uv is a uv sterilizer, 25 watt. It is from rainbow-lifegard and manufactured by Pentair-Aquaculture.
Just started teating for ick last week. Have tried several times for a week each and doesn't seem to get rid of it. (uv off & carbon out when using). No new fish. Do a 10-15% water change every other day.
Just started teating for ick last week. Have tried several times for a week each and doesn't seem to get rid of it. (uv off & carbon out when using). No new fish. Do a 10-15% water change every other day.
Okay, so this means you're not treating the ick completely. It's lifecyle allows it to survive through many chemical treatments, since it is protected from the chemicals while inside the fish. Check out the article by daveedka on ich, and give that a shot. I'd suspect that the low level infection is causing the problems for your fish. UV, like chemicals, won't eradicate the parasite, either.
the amount of knowledge I have on discus you could write on the back of a postage stamp, but I do know that any chemicals in your water will most likely be altered by your UV sterilizer, by adding chemicals and using a UV you might actually be changing the strucutre of the chemicals and making something the discus dont like, I know there very sensative fish. Have you tried using a bit of salt instead of chemicals ?. Apologies to every1 if salt and discus dont mix as i say I have very limited exposure to these fish. Obviously before you add salt it might be worth checking its alright to use with your fish.
Many people will say catfish and other scaleless fish suffer with salt in the water but at a low dosage most fish do absolutely fine.
Many people will say catfish and other scaleless fish suffer with salt in the water but at a low dosage most fish do absolutely fine.
That doesnt sound like Ick....ick cant survive at those temperatures (84+). If the fish is getting a "halfmoon whittish circle" on it, then its not ick as ick looks like a dusting or very tiny spots on the body. To me, it sounds like 1 of 3 things...costia, chillondronella (sp?), or columnaris. Most likely one of the first two...move the fish into a hospital tank and treat with high doses of salt (6-7 tablspoons per 10 gallons), high heat (92-93), acriflavine or malachite green, and increase your water changes to no less than 50% daily in the hospital tank. Follow dosages on package for the acriflavine or MG, and replace lost salt when doing water changes (50% w/c...replace 50% of salt) to maintain a constant salt level. Keep this up for no less than 7-10 days. Once treated, back down on the heat a few degrees everyday in the hospital tank until it is the same as the normal community tank and then move it back into the community tank. if the problem still persists later down the road, then a more needs to be done with other medications to hit it harder.
-Ryan
-Ryan
Thanks Ryan - I will set up my hospital tank and start treatment tomorrow. Should I put him in alone or should I put the female in with him. She is not in as bad shape as he is but she has definitely shrunk in size and usually has the black stress lines. My other 3 are in great health and even though they started out smaller than these two are substantially larger now. Also, I live out in the boonies and right now I only have Clout in the house. Will this work OK or should I try and get hold of one of the two you suggested?
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