Help! Discus not eating,hiding and ball hanging out of anus - unsure if prolapse or disease

Hi There

Please can someone help and advise to treatment with my one discus. She’s been hiding and not eating tried using entice but no joy. She hasn’t showed any symptoms but now has a ball hanging out of anus. I want to treat straightway but unsure if this is a prolapse, hexamita or worms? Any thoughts? Has anyone seen this before? I’m debating removing her from tank and giving an Epsom bath if prolapse but worried it might be too stressful.

I can't tell anything from the pictures.

Epsom salts doesn't do anything for a prolapse intestine sticking out the butt.

If it's not eating it could have an internal bacterial or protozoan infection. Discus that get fed a lot of meat based foods regularly get internal infections and need Metronidazole to treat them. If you're in the UK then you will need a vet prescription for that medication.

You have lots of plants in the tank and that is good because the discus will graze on them.

Intestinal worms don't cause fish to stop eating.

Moving a fish with a prolapse intestine is risky and can harm or kill the fish. If you have to move it, scoop it up in a container of water so it doesn't get exposed to the air and isn't lifted up in a net. Lifting the fish with a net can scratch or damage the intestine and lead to infection and pain.

You can try live brineshrimp.

If it's a prolapse intestine it's a matter of cross your fingers and hope it goes back in by itself.

It's an extremely thin Discus. I think it's a prolapse, and I'm afraid Colin's treatment is what I see too - hope for some luck because there's little you can do.

Hi both

I’ve woken up this morning it’s gone back in but she’s not doing well is at surface looks dark, I’ve moved her to a temp fish hospital as Colin suggested with jug (even though I can’t see prolapse anymore) she’s quite lifeless. Do you think maybe a hexamita treatment would help? As a last resort?

It would be treating a different problem while the fish is in dire condition. I wouldn't do it.

Okay do you suggest euthanasia with cloves oil?

@Colin_T , do you know if the ingredients of Interpet anti internal bacteria has metrodizanole?


It says:
Say "hello" to healthy fish and "goodbye" to the expense and inconvenience of getting a vets prescription. Anti Internal Bacteria is a breakthrough non-prescription product.

My local aquarium store doesn’t have it they ntl labs because I’ve used it in the past unsure if it has metrodizonle? I do have a bacterial treatment in house but don’t know if it would be any good? I’ve sent pictures to my aquarium store and spoke on the phone they think it’s too far gone

Also fish is now very slimy is still breathing I feel so bad I just don’t know what to do for the best

I was clutching at straws I guess, if you trust your fish store then put it out of its misery

He died 5 minutes after my last post I should have euthanised him really I feel bad but we get the urge to want to save them no matter what don’t we. Thank you all for your help

Naughts said:

@Colin_T , do you know if the ingredients of Interpet anti internal bacteria has metrodizanole?

Interpet - Anti Internal Bacteria Plus - 100ml

Anti Internal Bacteria Plus – 100ml | Treat systemic bacteria infections. Includes market leading breakthrough formulas for the best results.

interpet.co.uk

It says:
Say "hello" to healthy fish and "goodbye" to the expense and inconvenience of getting a vets prescription. Anti Internal Bacteria is a breakthrough non-prescription product.

Click to expand...

I would say no it doesn't have Metronidazole in because you need a prescription for that in the UK. The website doesn't say what the ingredients are and they are not listed on the web when I Google search the product and ingredients. It could contain absolutely anything.

Yeah didn’t think it did you can’t get them anywhere in uk other than exotic vet which aren’t easy to find either

Pets at Home has images of the box on its website. Assuming it's up to date, this is what it shows: