Behavior of "Alpha": yolo devouring -> constipated -> bloated -> rinse & repeat

Hi all,

I would like to discus(s):p about behavior of the "alpha" in the tank.

I have a 150g (5'x2'x2') with 11 (4.5"- 6") discus in it.

My 2nd biggest (5.5" CKB) is the leader of the pack, say "alpha".

Attachment 117194

There weren't such a clear "bullying" behavior in my tank, (since I moved a psychotic BD to another tank)
but normal pushing while feeding and territorial defensing for wannabe couple here and there.

The thing is, this guy had been through a few cycles of
"eating like there's no tomorrow" -> "constipated" -> "bloated".

Those occasions were kinda bad that I had to separated them to hospital tank
and treated him with epsom salt and antibiotic.

- It would start with "I'm not hungry" look, which then you know it's weird because this guy was "always" hungry.
(no other symptom though, swimming normally not hiding, just swimming by the food when feeding)
- Then few days later, long grey-ish-white poop, but not fluffy-stringy like parasite poop.
(might be a bit of diarrhea? or too much brine shrimp?)
- After separated him to hospital tank, treated with epsom salt for few days,
a series of giant poops like from a 14" cichlid would come out.
- Still he wouldn't eat for a few days, and if it looks bad (like secondary inflammation) I'd throw in antibiotic.
- After he started eating again, I waited another week to make sure if he's really ok
(checking how they eat/poop), then I'd put him back to main tank.
- and then... few weeks later,,, same thing would happen again. :mad:

First, of course I thought I "overfed" them, so I reduced the amount of food per feeding (but fed more often),
but seemed like then others didnn't get their fair share.
When fed more often with less amount per feeding, that guy would eat more than others anyway.

I usually feed;
- frozen beefheart
- frozen krill
- frozen brine shrimp
- Hikari&Tetra pellets (pre-soaking for 5-10 mins)

Above, not all at once but randomly shuffled.
- Morning 7-8am x 1
- Noon (pellets with auto-feeder, but stopped now since the feeder can feed only "non-soaked")
- Evening 6pm
- Late night snack 10-11pm

Beside this one, other folks are fine (touching on wood, hard.)

Anyone have had more or less the same experience?
Any advice/recommendation?


PS. JFYI; I wormed them with Prazi few weeks ago, nothing came out.
Gonna worm with Leva next week when the med arv.

Cyrus do you make your own beefheart or is it premade?
The krill and brine shrimp should help with the issue not cause it.If you have your fish taking krill, I would feed more of and less of the pellets.Discus can be picky with krill but its a solid nutrional powerhouse food.

If the beefheart is pre made /commercially made ..Id avoid it. Theres no control.on whats in it unless you really trust the vendor.Better to make your own .Gives you more control over the ingredients.

Its not good if you have to treat for blockage and use antibiotics like that regularly.It sets you up for a serious infection of some drug resistent.

al

Hi Al,

Thank you for late night reply :D

Beefheart was purchased from the vendor... the seemingly safest one I can find around here...
(Frankly, I thought you'd go like "stop making your own beefheart you are killing your fish!",
I mean, if you know my cooking skill lol.)

But seems like I gotta leap to my kitchen then /rollingupsleeves

I am indeed worried about that guy's drug habit,,,