Help!! My discus is sick!!!

[akudewan]

I have three discus in my tank. All of them were doing pretty well, until yesterday, the blue one became sick. Here are the symptoms in chronological sequence:

1) Lost appetite
2) Stopped schooling
3) Started hiding, and didn't respond to me, or even food
4) Sat between two rocks and breathing heavily

If you ask me, it looks like swimbladder disease, since it was sitting at the bottom, and not coming up. I have changed the water and put it in a separate container. Is it necessary to separate the fish? I have separated it now because I didn't want to take any chances. (The other two were not bothering this one)

What should I do?

Also, if you recommend any medicine, please give the chemical composition rather than the name, coz I don't get the same things here in India.

PS: water is good. Other two discus are perfectly ok

 

[akudewan]

It died. It just died within an hour. What went wrong? it didn't seem so serious

 

[George&Ade]

Very sorry to hear about your loss

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss, what are your test results in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph to rule water quality out first.

 

[maestro]

discus are quiet specialised, you may want to check out simplydiscus.com as they have hundreds of experts there.

Im sure there are experts here too by the way its just that with them being so expensive you dont really want to lose them all

 

[jbatt]

I am sorry to hear your loss. If you can provide some test results someone maybe able to tell you whats up

 

[elgecko]

Sorry to hear that.
I hope the rest do good for you.

 

[babyfish]

I have three discus in my tank. All of them were doing pretty well, until yesterday, the blue one became sick. Here are the symptoms in chronological sequence:

1) Lost appetite
2) Stopped schooling
3) Started hiding, and didn't respond to me, or even food
4) Sat between two rocks and breathing heavily

If you ask me, it looks like swimbladder disease, since it was sitting at the bottom, and not coming up. I have changed the water and put it in a separate container. Is it necessary to separate the fish? I have separated it now because I didn't want to take any chances. (The other two were not bothering this one)

What should I do?

Also, if you recommend any medicine, please give the chemical composition rather than the name, coz I don't get the same things here in India.

PS: water is good. Other two discus are perfectly ok

All of the above symptoms sound like a water problem.....Discus are very sensitive fish and cannot tolerate anything out of the ordinary in thier water.

Most discus(with the exception of wild caught) are bred in R.O water... this has had everything removed from it so that the end result is pure water....you have to remineralise the water before adding to the tank.

Water that comes out of the tap usually has many contaminants in it...heavy metals...nitrates...phosphates...arcenic....to name but a few. Discus kept in this water will not thrive and normally stop eating then starve to death.

The best thing I can recommend is to invest in an R.O unit to clean up your water.

 

[akudewan]

Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I dont get R.O. water here. But did a 50% water change, things seem to be OK now.