Fins edges turning black

[Scotti]

My checkerboard pigeon has developed a black patch under its lower jaw and the bottom fins edges as well have started to turn black. What's going on and what should I do?? There are only 4 fish in the tank. Treatment? Isolate? Help...

[Akili]

Before you start with medications, do large water changes everyday ( large water changes mean 75% to 100%) Maintain the tank temperture of 28/29 C (82/84 F)

[Second Hand Pat]

Pictures would help.
Pat

[Larry Bugg]

Sure it's not just peppering?

[Scotti]

100471
Pictures would help.
Pat
This isn't the best pic but you can see it compared to how I got her

[Second Hand Pat]

Sure it's not just peppering?

That was my thought Larry hence the request for a pic.
Pat

[Scotti]

Unsure what peppering is

[Scotti]

100472
Here she is a week or two ago. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

[Akili]

Sure it's not just peppering?


That was my thought Larry hence the request for a pic.
PatLooks like peppering due to the dark substrate in the tank after looking at the pictures.

[Second Hand Pat]

Looks like peppering due to the dark substrate in the tank after looking at the pictures.

Could be. I am wondering if the fish has reached breeding age.
Pat

[Akili]

Scotti how old are the fish?

[Ryan925]

I vote for pepper. I made the same mistake with black gravel

[Scotti]

I'll ask the breeder I got them from this morning. I hope it's nothing but still going to do a large water change. I've gotta take most of the driftwood out anyways. I'd like to keep the black sand and rock since I just paid quite a bit for it. I'd like to keep it planted, but I'm going to use plants I can vacuum and clean well.

[Scotti]

Not sure if their behavior is affected by health issues cause she's moving about the tank business as usual like nothing's wrong. Eating, chasing the red tiger around. Nothing's changed.

[Second Hand Pat]

Scott, I suspect this is peppering vs a health issue. Peppering in PB can be caused by a dark substrate, stress etc. Also when PBs are in breeding mode their tails etc turn black. I would suggest just observing for now. However I have not kept PBs so perhaps others will weight in.
Pat

[Ryan925]

My golden check, checkerboard & rafflesia all have black tail. My checkerboard has a pepper moustache. I'd highly recommend ditching the black substrate. The peppering can get worse depending on genetics. My pbs showed relatively minimal peppering but all fish have brightened since changing to white sand. Pepper has decreased on my checkerboard as well

[Dhavalsp]

I vote for peppering ... but both the fish have some fin damage...is that onset of of fin rot?

get rid of substrate and do at least 75 % WC daily for few days...say 3-4 weeks or so...

[Scotti]

Dang. I'll ditch the black and change to light colored sand. I guess if I don't want to waste the black, I'll just have to set up another tank.....what a shame...lol!��

[Scotti]

Off topic. Where would I find a pre filter sponge that slips onto the intake? None of the pet stores here carry them.

[DJW]

This is what I use.

https://www.amazon.com/Pre-Filter-Sponge-Pack-Fluval-Aquarium/dp/B004K9A15G

[Ryan925]

Off topic. Where would I find a pre filter sponge that slips onto the intake? None of the pet stores here carry them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006UNK5AG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471180606&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=eheim+prefilter&dpPl=1&dpID=41BKJRkx-eL&ref=plSrch

[Scotti]

Scotti how old are the fish?
They are about 4 months old/young

[Scotti]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006UNK5AG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471180606&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=eheim+prefilter&dpPl=1&dpID=41BKJRkx-eL&ref=plSrch
Perfect. That's what I ordered this morning...

[Scotti]

100491
I swapped out the substrate and made sure I'll be able to vacuum all surfaces. Since its out in the family room, didn't want to go bare bottom. I hope this is more suited for discus..

[camthi609]

Actually sand would be best for planted but nothing beats a bare bottom. But I can understand where you're coming from as a "family room" tank, more pleasing to the eye, but remember it isn't all that for you discus because they're still juvie, which needs the best food/often food/excellent water quality(everyday wc)/and Consistency if you want them to grow to their full potential. Now if they were fully grown, then planted would be more suitable. As for your discus, they do not look like they're sick, besides all Pg blood's peppering is normal, it's in their genes. Although there are breeders out there today who have tried to discard/minimized this trait, it still exist and of course you'd pay a higher price for those that has no peppering, but if it breeds w/a none pg, then the peppering cycle begins again.... Although for some, I think "peppers" brings out their character, only some. It all depends on how you look at it I guess :-) But yes, fish picks up surrounding colors so go light will def minimize their peppering and just keep up w/your wc and feed them well and Enjoy your new pet friend. Best :-)

[Scotti]

Thank you.:)
I tried to find sand yesterday and since I'm off weekends and didn't want to take a chance with this little guys health, I took what I could get without driving a couple hours. I did ask around and nobody could tell me definitively if they had the sand I was looking for so... I did what I thought was best for them. For now...
LOL...Just noticed Camthi609 where you're at. I've been here in Central California now about 2.5 yrs. Moved from Oahu after living there 24 yrs. I miss it...anyways...

[Ryan925]

Thank you.:)
I tried to find sand yesterday and since I'm off weekends and didn't want to take a chance with this little guys health, I took what I could get without driving a couple hours. I did ask around and nobody could tell me definitively if they had the sand I was looking for so... I did what I thought was best for them. For now...
LOL...Just noticed Camthi609 where you're at. I've been here in Central California now about 2.5 yrs. Moved from Oahu after living there 24 yrs. I miss it...anyways...

I'm also in Cal. Bay area. I was able to find white pfs at ace hardware. The gravel is so tough to keep clean. I thought I did a great job but when I removed it I couldn't believe how much stuff was still in there. Especially once your plants start to fill in. The roots trap so much debris

[camthi609]

Hahahaaa, I moved from Ca. over 20yrs ago, ended up in La. for a job offer and then here after I sold my business in '07. Loving it but I'm beginning to get that island fever, lol. Small world, yeah.?. Best w/your new pets and pl keep us utd and we always love pictures!:-).

[Scotti]

I'm also in Cal. Bay area. I was able to find white pfs at ace hardware. The gravel is so tough to keep clean. I thought I did a great job but when I removed it I couldn't believe how much stuff was still in there. Especially once your plants start to fill in. The roots trap so much debris
Damn. Thought I was doing the right thing. Sh$t!! I'm not swapping again for a while. Too much work. I tried something a long time breeder does religiously. I put a goldfish/koi in with them. The breeder swears by this. The gold fish is constantly picking up the leftovers and even recycles the discus droppings. Apparently discus have a very short digestive tract and fast metabolism whereas the goldfish/koi have a very long digestive tract. Discus waste apparently is filled with nutrients the goldfish recycles and turns into useless waste.
It sounds logical and makes sense so, I'm trying it..
I know there may be pro/con opinions about it, but let's see if this works..
Thanks and Aloha!

[Scotti]

100501

[Scotti]

Not the pic I wanted to attach and sorry it's sideways...

[Scotti]

100528
I hope the overhaul and extra company in the tank improves their quality of life..

[Ryan925]

Stay on top of WCS and vac the S*** out of that gravel as much as you can and your fish should be happy. At least until you decide to go sand ;)

It's def true what they say about sand. Everything just sits right on top making it very easy to clean. Well most everything sure some stuff settles

[Scotti]

I'll be sticking with this set up for a bit since I just swapped everything.

[Ryan925]

I'll be sticking with this set up for a bit since I just swapped everything.

Don't balme ya my friend. It's a lot of work. Enjoy your fish and keep us updated on progress

[Scotti]

I keep trying to attach a video of them feeding. It gets compressed, but disappears after I hit upload. Oh well...

[Ryan925]

I keep trying to attach a video of them feeding. It gets compressed, but disappears after I hit upload. Oh well...

If they are anything like mine it looks like a piranha feeding frenzy lol

[Second Hand Pat]

I keep trying to attach a video of them feeding. It gets compressed, but disappears after I hit upload. Oh well...

Scott, the forum software will not upload a video. It is not setup to do so. You could create a YouTube account and upload it there. Once the video is uploaded to YouTube grab the link and use it in a post. Here's is how to do that http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?106217-YouTube-How-to-and-FAQ.
Pat

[eye4get56]

I recently purchased two additional Discus for my 185 gallon freshwater tank. One is yellow and the other a red checkerboard. I don't know if they are male or female. I placed them in a quarantine tank. Not long after, I noticed they were sick (whiter poop and fin tear) and not eating. The yellow one almost died. Lucky I didn't added them to the main tank. After several weeks of isolation, frequent water changes and medication they recovered, started eating and swimming normally. These two Discus have some peppering. They are swimming and eating the same as the other fish. None of the other Discus are peppered. Anything to worry about?


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