Sick Discus, I'm starting to stress out!!

[oshp132]

Short version. I got rid of my SA Cichlids last week and replaced them with six discus (Approx. 2" each, 2 pigeon blood, 2 red turquoise, 2 brilliant turquoise). O.K., a couple of them were pooping white colored poop. I figured internal worms, so I upped the temp to approx. 86 and treated with Jungle parasite (Internal and external) med. A couple days later, I notice ich on a couple of the discus, and also on 3 or 4 of my clown loaches. So, I added salt to the tank (75 gal). From what I read, I should add about 15 tablespoons, but I didn't have any salt in there, so I added 7 tb on the first day, 3 on the second and 2 on the third, etc. I didn't want to change the water chemistry too fast. So, it has only been a few days, the ich is slowly looking a bit better (I know that when I can't see it, it isn't gone yet).....O.K. now, one of the smaller discus is hanging on the top of the tank, not doing much at all...Looks real weak, and when I feed, he spits it back out (Like his worms are getting the best of him)..........

HELP.

I don't want to overreact. I'm thinking that if I keep my temp around 86-88 and keep salt in the tank that everything will eventually work itself out. I pretty much think the weakest of the discus is done, I don't expect him to be here in the morning.....My other concern is that I don't want my clown loaches to die. My largest is 6", and is my favorite fish...

Any comments or advice will be greatly appreciated. I have a ton of respect for the people that post here.
Thanks, MIKE (Madison, OH).

 

[greyhoundfan]

First off. Let's talk about the treatment.

White poop could be caused by a number of things, worms, bacterial infections or even stomach lining.

Since you already used Parasite clear and you saw no improvement you could possibly rule out worms. Did you notice any expelled worms on the bottom of the tank after you treated them. They would be white tapeworms.

If your fish are still eating you it'll be better to mix meds with their food and you'll be applying the medicine right where it needs to be. I have used Gel-Tex Ulstra Cure PX with good results. It contains Metronidazole for Praziquantal. Metro for bacteria nemotode infectons and Prazi for the worms. Soak your dry foods in it and hope for the best. If your fish aren't eating than you'll need to buy powered meds. Metro is sold in powdered forms and should be administered at 250 mg per 10 Gallons every 8 hrs or at least 12 hrs. Do 50% WC before every treatment. Keep this up for at least 5 days.

Your discus are juvies so it's important to get them well fast to avoid any future problems. If you can get a hold of some live California Black Worms feed them that or Froze bloodworms. I'd try the Frozen bloodworm route first it's safer, if not than do the CBW. I wouldn't use CBW on a continual basis as it could pass along other nasties to your discus. At this point you just want to put stuff in their bellies.

These meds are rather mild and shouldn't affect your clown loach. Make sure you add an extra airstone for aeration. None of this will affect your bio-filter so you don't have to worry about it.

You should at least closely examine your tank situation after all is said and done. Juvie discuses require clean water, mega feedings, and did I mention clean water?

WC's should be done at least once a week the more the better. Make sure you do a lot of gravel vacuuming as a lot of detritus can accumulate there and cause your water pollutants to go up. That is why a lot of discus keepers tend to keep their tanks as bare bottoms. You can raise discuses with a substrate bottom but it just takes a little more time to clean.

If possible, you should change water with pre-treated, pre-aged, pre-heated and aerated water. It's a PITA but your discus will be a lot more happy.

 

[oshp132]

Thanks for the reply...No changes yet. I have not noticed any expelled worms. The struggling discus is still hanging in there. He is mostly at the top of the tank, or swimming aimlessly. He tries to eat, but doesn't....I do a water change at least every seven days, but usually about every five. When I do, I usually change about 25-30%. The ich is clearing up off the discus, but I know that it will still be in the gravel reforming. I am still applying salt. So far, it really looks like just the one discus is sick. The two with the ich are eating and acting normal. Their colors are great, just a few white spots of ich that I'm working on.

I'll keep ya posted, any more suggestions are welcome/.

MIKE

 

[guppy]

Ageed, a metro and prazi combo usually helps, the metro used to treat the tank often also helps improve the fishes appetite.