I think my discus was sleeping during the day

[FishyMatty]

When I came home from running errands my 3"+ blue diamond was laying on his side on a rock. Up till now he has been fine. eating, good color. I did a water change last night. all the other fish are fine. He was breathing normal, not labored at all. I stuck my hand in to see what was wrong and he got up and swam away. later he ate like normal. What the hell!!!
Has anyone ever seen anything like this????
A few days ago one of my apistos got bloated and swam "drunk" then turned up dead the next day. Is this contagious? What is it. My discus seems fine.
I'm sure someone will ask so here it goes.
ph-6.4
kh-30ppm
nitrates-10+
nitrites/ammonia-0
45g-completely planted, co2-20-30ppm/3bps

 

[Pagan]

I don't know much about discus, but many fish will lay on the bottom if they don't have something to hide in, or behind. If you have an odd number of fish the others may have paired up, and taken over the best hiding places to spawn(if they're old enough).

It sounds to me like the apisto may have had a bacterial infection that affected the swim bladder, or even an intestinal blockage, but I'll let the diagnoses to someone more experienced than I am.

 

[FishyMatty]

This was the head discus, the one that runs the tank. And there is more places to hide than fish that want to hide. He was just laying completely horizontal. But breathing normal.

 

[J double R]

ive seen FM's tanks before in person, those fish are definitely NOT at a loss for hiding places.. perhaps he's just a lazy fish.

 

[Star_Rider]

mine vary in sleeping positions..the smaller ones always hide in cover so you can't see them..the dom male sleeps at the front of the tank..listing to the side and nose down.

I'd keep an eye on him

 

[FishyMatty]

since I put my hand in the tank he has been fine. It was so weird. He was laying on his side and he looked dead. He looked stiff. but his color was good and he is acting totally normal now.

 

[kmail5776]

When I came home from running errands my 3"+ blue diamond was laying on his side on a rock. Up till now he has been fine. eating, good color. I did a water change last night. all the other fish are fine. He was breathing normal, not labored at all. I stuck my hand in to see what was wrong and he got up and swam away. later he ate like normal. What the hell!!!

My discus learned to lie on their side in my 30 gal. I had no decorations in there before. They all did it, and sometimes sleep that way now.

 

[FishyMatty]

I'm talking early evening with all the lights still on. I am away now but when I left yesterday afternoon he was still doing just fine. Eating, perfect color and swimming fine.