i recently got this discus with a few black spots on it and i noticed recently that its been spreading. does anyone know what problem this is and how to cure it?
![IMG_1841[1].JPG](https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/data/attachments/494/494175-8ed64cea351d25dec78bc53d9f302e23.jpg?hash=jtZM6jUdJd "IMG_1841[1].JPG")
![IMG_1840[1].JPG](https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/data/attachments/494/494176-d5db9ef46e00d92ddd53553d4bc7575d.jpg?hash=1due9G4A2S "IMG_1840[1].JPG")
![IMG_1839[1].JPG](https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/data/attachments/494/494177-f4817a9cf74ac5a4f7f15fe93b3ba4e0.jpg?hash=9IF6nPdKxa "IMG_1839[1].JPG")
black spots on disucs?
- Thread starter wilsonlin45
- Start date
Yup, peppering. Due to dark substrates/backgrounds. Really nothing you can do unless you change your tank around.
It's because of your dark substrate. If the fish were on light colors, the peppering would fade.
Pigeon bloods do not have the 9 vertical mood bars that non-pigeon blood discus have. The pigeon blood gene causes a mutation with the pigment cells that make up the vertical bars. Instead of being aligned in bars, the pigment cells are scattered all over the body. This results in what looks like pepper.
Pepper can be brought on by all the things that cause discus to show their mood bars -- dark backgrounds are one cause because discus tend to try and blend with their surroundings. It can also indicate sickness, stress, aggression, or breeding. In your case, I'd say it's most likely just the dark background and substrate.
I keep all my discus in tanks with light blue backgrounds and tan bottoms. Pigeons look like this:
On a dark background, these fish would also show peppering. Lighten things up and it mostly fades away.
Pigeon bloods do not have the 9 vertical mood bars that non-pigeon blood discus have. The pigeon blood gene causes a mutation with the pigment cells that make up the vertical bars. Instead of being aligned in bars, the pigment cells are scattered all over the body. This results in what looks like pepper.
Pepper can be brought on by all the things that cause discus to show their mood bars -- dark backgrounds are one cause because discus tend to try and blend with their surroundings. It can also indicate sickness, stress, aggression, or breeding. In your case, I'd say it's most likely just the dark background and substrate.
I keep all my discus in tanks with light blue backgrounds and tan bottoms. Pigeons look like this:
On a dark background, these fish would also show peppering. Lighten things up and it mostly fades away.
From what i understand, it is genetic. and doesn't have anything to do from stress. Although the background arguement is very interesting.
The amount of peppering is genetic. Heavy peppering is considered undesirable by most breeders and hobbyists and so those fish are usually culled or sold to pet stores.
However, pepper will lighten and darken just like the bars on a regular, non-pigeon discus. If you have a fish with heavy peppering, lightening up the tank will help to lighten the appearance of the pepper that it has.
It is not always related to stress, as I said in my previous post, but stress can bring it out and make it more noticeable, just like regular discus' bars.
However, pepper will lighten and darken just like the bars on a regular, non-pigeon discus. If you have a fish with heavy peppering, lightening up the tank will help to lighten the appearance of the pepper that it has.
It is not always related to stress, as I said in my previous post, but stress can bring it out and make it more noticeable, just like regular discus' bars.
changed up my background to blue today, might still be too dark but its the only other background i got so we'll see how it goes!
^ It may actually be your substrate (sand/gravel) more than the background. It looks black in the pictures. Give it a day or two and see if anything changes.
You could always do an experiment and put it into a tank with light colored bottom/background and see if it lightens up. Usually after about a week you'll see a huge change.
You could always do an experiment and put it into a tank with light colored bottom/background and see if it lightens up. Usually after about a week you'll see a huge change.