Discus - Bloat ?

[petepro]

Well I lost a Blue Pearl Discus last night. I think it was due to constipation and/or bloat.

The abdomen was white and full while the rest of the fish had the normal blue color.

I thought maybe it was worms so I cut it open. Big mistake. It was packed with food and waste and smelt worse than anything that has ever come out of any animal.

I've been feeding them beef heart, frozen blood worms and freeze-dried tubiflex 1 to 2 times a day.

The discus have been doing well for the past 4 months.

I'm now nervous about losing the rest of them.

In the past I've always kept big fish which could polish off a couple of dozen feeders in ten minutes.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[LisaH]

Use Epsom Salts next time you see one of your Discus bloat.

1 teaspoon for every 10 gallons.

 

[estrump]

Blues are more likely to have intestinal disorders. I would suspect the beef heart as the source of the problem as the fiber is too coarse for them. Turkey heart works much better. Epsom salts will help a temporary condition but once you have an intestinal issue you've got to watch your fish very closely for dropsy, i.e., bulging eyes, abdomen, etc. and treat it quickly because it is a devastatingly fast predator.

 

[XB aro]

just to make sure, im treating my discus for constipation, is it also 1 tbsp per 10 gal?

 

[Lupin]

just to make sure, im treating my discus for constipation, is it also 1 tbsp per 10 gal?

Tsp = teaspoon
Tbsp = tablespoon

You were talking about tablespoon, not teaspoon.