I have a 77 gallon tank with 7 discus and a few smaller fish. I introduced a small stingray into the tank last week on Tuesday (see other thread). After keeping the stingray for 3 days, I took the stingray back to the fish store as my discus were way too stressed. They went dark colours and kept huddling in the corner of the tank - one of the front corners I might add (seems odd as they dart to one of the back corners to hide if I come in to vacuum the tank). Also, their eating slowed down dramatically. I just couldn't take the stress myself as I am used to having happy, colourful, and outgoing discus who will continually ask for food. They didn't dart away with fear from the stingray but they developed their stress symptoms a couple of hours after introducing him.
Well, it has now been three days since I took back the stingray. The stress signs are still in full force (inconsistant eating, dark colours, huddling in the front corner of the tank, fear of the very people who feed them).
I have kept the lights off the tank for the last 3 days to try to calm them down. I tried to turn the lights back on this morning but they huddled right close together even tighter. This seems weird to me as they never had a problem with the lighting even when they were first introduced to the tank.
I have done two 40% water changes and two doses of antibiotic over the past 3 days and will do a third tomorrow. The last time I had an issue with one of the discus, this cycle of treatment was already producing results by this point.
I am not sure if this is a coincidence but I lost a clown pleco this morning and I think that a glowlight tetra is on his way out. The clown pleco yesterday was huddling by the top corner of the tank where the filter output has its strongist current - for oxygen I suppose. The glowlight is now swimming with its head near the surface. I mention this as this is the same corner of the tank the discus are huddling at but at the bottom of the tank. Could this be a sign of a contaminent from the stingray or increased need for oxygen due to stress? I see no signs of spots, fungus, etc on the discus. The water quality is very good - at least for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate which I test for.
I worry most about the ones that eat rarely if ever. Some others eat but are easily distracted and I have been vacuming a lot of uneaten food out.
Is this a normal reaction to an unwelcome tank mate even when that mate has been removed? I removed a few bala sharks from the tank back when I first got the discus and the discus came out of their hiding spots within a couple of hours.
Anyway, if anyone could offer up any suggestions or experience it would be greatly appreciated.
Well, it has now been three days since I took back the stingray. The stress signs are still in full force (inconsistant eating, dark colours, huddling in the front corner of the tank, fear of the very people who feed them).
I have kept the lights off the tank for the last 3 days to try to calm them down. I tried to turn the lights back on this morning but they huddled right close together even tighter. This seems weird to me as they never had a problem with the lighting even when they were first introduced to the tank.
I have done two 40% water changes and two doses of antibiotic over the past 3 days and will do a third tomorrow. The last time I had an issue with one of the discus, this cycle of treatment was already producing results by this point.
I am not sure if this is a coincidence but I lost a clown pleco this morning and I think that a glowlight tetra is on his way out. The clown pleco yesterday was huddling by the top corner of the tank where the filter output has its strongist current - for oxygen I suppose. The glowlight is now swimming with its head near the surface. I mention this as this is the same corner of the tank the discus are huddling at but at the bottom of the tank. Could this be a sign of a contaminent from the stingray or increased need for oxygen due to stress? I see no signs of spots, fungus, etc on the discus. The water quality is very good - at least for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate which I test for.
I worry most about the ones that eat rarely if ever. Some others eat but are easily distracted and I have been vacuming a lot of uneaten food out.
Is this a normal reaction to an unwelcome tank mate even when that mate has been removed? I removed a few bala sharks from the tank back when I first got the discus and the discus came out of their hiding spots within a couple of hours.
Anyway, if anyone could offer up any suggestions or experience it would be greatly appreciated.
