Discus - Flagellate Issues

[Yoda1]

Hi All,

So about 3 months ago I got 12, 6cm Discus.
3 of them developed flagellate issues. I treated with Metro, and they are doing well, but at this stage are a bit smaller than the others.
Hopefully they will catch up.

The others are really getting bigger. Amazing how much the have grown in a few months.

I am thinking of adding a few more fish to the tank.
I have been told that if you get Discus at 10cm, the chances of flagellate issues developing is a lot lower.
Is there any truth to this?

Thanks
Yoda

 

[decoy50]

That doesn't make much sense to me - flagellates being parasites, don't care what size the host is.

What the informer probably meant was that it would be harder to stunt the fish at 10cm if you had to treat for parasites & they went off food for a while, as the fish are of a larger size.

 

[Yoda1]

That doesn't make much sense to me - flagellates being parasites, don't care what size the host is.

What the informer probably meant was that it would be harder to stunt the fish at 10cm if you had to treat for parasites & they went off food for a while, as the fish are of a larger size.

Would bigger fish not be more resilient?

 

[decoy50]

Possibly, but I think overall health of the fish is more important than size when it comes to fighting off parasites. Discus are so easy to stunt & consequently ruin, when young. I think this is more what your informer was getting at.