Ghipsi
Fish Fanatic
Hi, Its all been a bit of a rush, here goes:
Bought a tank earlier this week with a number of interesting fish including a discus, picked it up yeaterday & was expecting to get home & set everything up as it had been running. When I got there he had emptied the tank and let the filter dry out (GREAT! filter not mature now, but can sort that), asked what was the ph? Was told 'wouldnt know as I don't bother testing water'. Ok fair enough can sort things out for myself but not happy with a Discus kept on its own so I stopped off at a shop on the way home in the off chance there may be something interesting:
There was a tank of Adult Discus (tank was a little high for me to look in properly), then I spotted the price!!! £22 OMG, I immedietly chose the largest most colourfull Discus I could see (tank high & me only 5'4"). I couldnt get my money out fast enough! Fella was a while in the back before he came out with the fish, his boss came out and kept on walking (looking very unhappy!), I was then told that I had gotten a real deal as the boss had forgotten to change the prices & they were meant to be £120.... Ok I headed home very happy at my £22 spent.
So now I had to quikly sort tanks out for fish, didnt want to put the new disus in with the other new fish so quikly emptied a small tank of fish & did a full water change & put the new discus in, I took my time acclimatising the shop discus to my water (floatingin bag & adding a little water every so often) the discus was not loooking happy in the bag so after an hour I let her out.
I checked on them later, the shop discus was looking miserable, dark, resting at an angle & had a small sore on her head & possably some tiny holes??? (see piccy)
Next morning she looked no happier (I thought the she was not happy in a crampt tank), so I did a massive water change on my 180ltr community tank, evacuated the Neons & small rasboras (the shrimps will have to take their chances!) then placed the discus in.
Both hid at each end but the shop discus got her self trapped beside a filter and rock, I moved stuff and then tried to guide her out but she scrapped her side in the process, I have now added Melafix but she is realy at an angle, not hiding, not gasping, spreading her fins so not looking clamped at the moment, the other discus is fine (stunted by the looks but healthy).
So what is problem with shop discus? Stress or illness?
What is the best thing to do?
Info:
Aquarium: planted rio 180 (no co2) & well areated (sorry about spelling), large external filter & Fluval 4 internal.
Temp: 77
Amomia, Nitrite & Nitrate should be good as I keep an eye on this tank with plenty of water changes.
Our water is pretty soft & comes out of the tap with Hardness GH 4.
Tank PH 6.4
Piccys:
Bought a tank earlier this week with a number of interesting fish including a discus, picked it up yeaterday & was expecting to get home & set everything up as it had been running. When I got there he had emptied the tank and let the filter dry out (GREAT! filter not mature now, but can sort that), asked what was the ph? Was told 'wouldnt know as I don't bother testing water'. Ok fair enough can sort things out for myself but not happy with a Discus kept on its own so I stopped off at a shop on the way home in the off chance there may be something interesting:
There was a tank of Adult Discus (tank was a little high for me to look in properly), then I spotted the price!!! £22 OMG, I immedietly chose the largest most colourfull Discus I could see (tank high & me only 5'4"). I couldnt get my money out fast enough! Fella was a while in the back before he came out with the fish, his boss came out and kept on walking (looking very unhappy!), I was then told that I had gotten a real deal as the boss had forgotten to change the prices & they were meant to be £120.... Ok I headed home very happy at my £22 spent.
So now I had to quikly sort tanks out for fish, didnt want to put the new disus in with the other new fish so quikly emptied a small tank of fish & did a full water change & put the new discus in, I took my time acclimatising the shop discus to my water (floatingin bag & adding a little water every so often) the discus was not loooking happy in the bag so after an hour I let her out.
I checked on them later, the shop discus was looking miserable, dark, resting at an angle & had a small sore on her head & possably some tiny holes??? (see piccy)
Next morning she looked no happier (I thought the she was not happy in a crampt tank), so I did a massive water change on my 180ltr community tank, evacuated the Neons & small rasboras (the shrimps will have to take their chances!) then placed the discus in.
Both hid at each end but the shop discus got her self trapped beside a filter and rock, I moved stuff and then tried to guide her out but she scrapped her side in the process, I have now added Melafix but she is realy at an angle, not hiding, not gasping, spreading her fins so not looking clamped at the moment, the other discus is fine (stunted by the looks but healthy).
So what is problem with shop discus? Stress or illness?
What is the best thing to do?
Info:
Aquarium: planted rio 180 (no co2) & well areated (sorry about spelling), large external filter & Fluval 4 internal.
Temp: 77
Amomia, Nitrite & Nitrate should be good as I keep an eye on this tank with plenty of water changes.
Our water is pretty soft & comes out of the tap with Hardness GH 4.
Tank PH 6.4
Piccys:
/www.fishyfarmacy.com/articles/hexamita.html
