happygirl65
02-07-2008, 01:15 PM
So my sad confession is that when I asked the question about QT I had already purchased 6 discus from an online source.
Taking into account all the responses I decided that with only a 10 gal available to me that was not cycled that it was probably better to put them in the 46 gal planted tank and forego the QT this time. (my first time with discus incase that is not painfully obvious)
Admittedly I beleived that since the tetras and kuhlis had all been in this tank for 7 months with no losses even in the beginning that they probably didn't have any diseases.
The discus seller assured me that they would be healthy with no diseases and that I would not need to worm them.
I didn't use a sponser here (BIG mistake) and it ended up taking two days in transit to me. (They only offered USPS Express shipping) 2 out of 6 were DOA. While it was packed in styro with 2 small heat packs the bags were zip tied shut and there was almost no air in the bags by the time I got them. Two fish per bag and the water smelled FOUL. I began kicking myself in the butt harder than I ever have before. :mad:
So I followed the sellers instructions for acclimating to the letter and confirmed after staring at the two dead ones for 3 hours that they were infact dead. (Seller says he will refund me for the 2) :(
I left the lights off in the tank for the entire day, didn't feed, wanted to let them settle in and such. Within a few hours all 4 of the ones who made it were swimming around, hiding occasionally but coming out to check things out and going back behind plants etc.
Today I turned the lights on and they are hiding as I expected them to, they are taking turns venturing out more and more but I am noticing damage to them. Mostly fin damage.
A couple of them look like the top (dorsal?) fin is fuzzy and I am not sure if this is amonia burn or a fungus...it doesnt really look like any fungus I have ever seen before (I have kept FW fish for 15 yrs and seen just about everything....or so I thought)
One keeps swimming into the current and swimming sideways but I am not sure if fin damage is causing him trouble there.
Now I am wondering if I should stress them further by removing them to the 10 gal and using filter media to instantly cycle the small tank. The advantage I guess being that they would have nothing to hide behind and I could see them better, as well as using less medication should I need to.
I could do several wc per day if necessary either way, I am just not sure what to do.
I can raise the temp but I am not sure how high to raise it, I can add salt but am not sure if I can add aquarium salt to a planted tank.
I can tell you before I ever buy more discus I will have a large QT available (learned my lesson there for sure) and I will have them shipped the fastest way possible from a sponsor here:o
I am open to any comments but please remember that I have been beating myself up for 24 hours now. :( Anything constructive is appreciated.
Taking into account all the responses I decided that with only a 10 gal available to me that was not cycled that it was probably better to put them in the 46 gal planted tank and forego the QT this time. (my first time with discus incase that is not painfully obvious)
Admittedly I beleived that since the tetras and kuhlis had all been in this tank for 7 months with no losses even in the beginning that they probably didn't have any diseases.
The discus seller assured me that they would be healthy with no diseases and that I would not need to worm them.
I didn't use a sponser here (BIG mistake) and it ended up taking two days in transit to me. (They only offered USPS Express shipping) 2 out of 6 were DOA. While it was packed in styro with 2 small heat packs the bags were zip tied shut and there was almost no air in the bags by the time I got them. Two fish per bag and the water smelled FOUL. I began kicking myself in the butt harder than I ever have before. :mad:
So I followed the sellers instructions for acclimating to the letter and confirmed after staring at the two dead ones for 3 hours that they were infact dead. (Seller says he will refund me for the 2) :(
I left the lights off in the tank for the entire day, didn't feed, wanted to let them settle in and such. Within a few hours all 4 of the ones who made it were swimming around, hiding occasionally but coming out to check things out and going back behind plants etc.
Today I turned the lights on and they are hiding as I expected them to, they are taking turns venturing out more and more but I am noticing damage to them. Mostly fin damage.
A couple of them look like the top (dorsal?) fin is fuzzy and I am not sure if this is amonia burn or a fungus...it doesnt really look like any fungus I have ever seen before (I have kept FW fish for 15 yrs and seen just about everything....or so I thought)
One keeps swimming into the current and swimming sideways but I am not sure if fin damage is causing him trouble there.
Now I am wondering if I should stress them further by removing them to the 10 gal and using filter media to instantly cycle the small tank. The advantage I guess being that they would have nothing to hide behind and I could see them better, as well as using less medication should I need to.
I could do several wc per day if necessary either way, I am just not sure what to do.
I can raise the temp but I am not sure how high to raise it, I can add salt but am not sure if I can add aquarium salt to a planted tank.
I can tell you before I ever buy more discus I will have a large QT available (learned my lesson there for sure) and I will have them shipped the fastest way possible from a sponsor here:o
I am open to any comments but please remember that I have been beating myself up for 24 hours now. :( Anything constructive is appreciated.