Discus turned black please help!

[dogofwar]

Do a large, warm water change.

Have you tested the water?

Matt

 

[migdem]

lately no but it had some nitrites because the filter was new. Should be fine though or getting fine now.

 

[apisto]

29 gallons is too small a tank for discus. That's for starters and as mentioned earlier they do better in groups, however, only if you upgrade the tank. Rule of thumb is 1 fish per 50 litres. Don't introduce new fish if your one is sick. Forget the salt unless the fish is suffering from whitespot or Costia. Increase temperature to 34 degrees and add an airstone, don't feed any bloodworm. You drag in more diseases than you can shake a stick at and it has a very low nutritional value. Check your water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate

 

[Petahhd]

I read that discus don't like salt. Is that true?

 

[migdem]

I read that they benefit from salt but not in long term. Just until they settle down.

 

[halvyt]

Do a 100% water change daily, crank the heater to 90-92F and give him some metro everyday for about a week. Sounds like you are dealing with hex.

 

[migdem]

what is metro?

At the moment I have place diluted rock salt with 5 1/2 table spoons for 110 litres. Until now alive will see tomorrow.....

 

[halvyt]

Metronidazole and is used for treating Hexamita. Hexamita is a protozoa that infects the intestines of fish. One of the first signs in discus is the fish will turn really dark, almost black depending on the color of the fish. After a day or so the fish will develope stringy white pooh. There are several different metro drugs on the market but the best imo are the kind you can feed to the fish...if you are lucky that they are still eating. If they arent eating anymore then you will have to add it to their water.

The best way to treat for Hexamita is to do a 100% water change and medicate according to the instructions. Crank the the heaters up to the low 90's and do daily water changes...the more the better...and add metro according to how much water you changed.

 

[halvyt]

Salt really doesnt do that much at all for internal parasites. Some say it helps as a laxative but if the parasite isnt on the outside of the fish to be exposed to the different salanity you really arent doing much. If you cant get any metro tonight I would start with the water change and raising the temp to the low 90's. That will be a good start untill you get some metro.