White patches on discus

[Davidzil]

Hi,
Went away on vacation for 8 days, no feeding for the 8 days.
Had everything prept, no water changes for the duration.
Discus are 4+ inches.
Came back 3 have white patches, one has a cloudy eye.
Started changing water like crazy, added salt.
This is a BB tank, tested all parameters are normal.
Has need 4 days, all are eating and moving, but the patches are still there.
Thinking of starting on triple sulfa or kanamycin.
Any suggestions on my next move, never had this issue.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi David, can you fill out the questionnaire http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...lease-complete and post it here. Also pictures of the affected fish would be helpful.
Pat

[Davidzil]

Hi Pat,

Not at home at this time to take pictures, will have to be at the end of the day.
Going off memory from yesterday on the API water test.

Problem

1. Please explain the problems with your fish. When did you notice the problems and did anything unusual happen that you think started them?
was away on vacation for 8 days, all normal prior. came back 3 out of 7 4.5 inch plus discus have white patches on the body. lightly on the fins, one has a cloudy eye

2. Symptoms (i.e. turning dark, excess slime, not eating, clamped fins, flashing, darting, clamped gills, white/yellow/green poop, hiding, headstanding or tailstanding, white on tips of fins, rotting or fungus, blisters/white zits on fish, bloated, cloudy eyes, wounds).
All are active and eating, just the patches, that are long one is about an inch by a quarter. Eye is cloudy,not pop eye. Might be fungus, parasite?

3. What medications/ treatments have you already tried and what were the results. Include dosage and duration of treatment.

Large water changes and salt 1tbs per 10 gl

Tank/Water is tap - not aged

4. Tank size and ages, numbers and sizes of fish.
this tank is over 3 yrs 75GL all discus are over 4.5 inch and cory
nothing new


5. Water change regime (What percentage and how often).
75% every other day


6. How long has tank been running? Is it bare bottom? If you have substrate, what type and how deep is it?
BB over 3 years


7. Do you age your water? If you do for how long and what is the ph swing.
No no PH swings, soft 6.5 water


8. Parameters and water source;

Note: Water Parameters are important in diagnosing problems within a tank. If you don't own test kits for the following information, you can purchase them, test your parameters and post this info as soon as possible.


- temp __86___

- ph _6.5____

- ammonia reading ___0_

- nitrite reading ___0_

- nitrate reading __20__

What type of water or combinations of water sources do you use? If it is an RO/tap/well water mix, please list percentages in the mix.

- well water ____

- municipal water _X___

- RO water ____


9. Any new fish, plants or inverts added recently.
NO

10. Please tell us what you feed your fish and how often. This can be critical information for solving the problem so be as specific as you can.
2 times a day, Als worms, soft pallets, flake...



11. Include any pictures or videos you have which shows the symptoms. If you can't add them to this post, please provide a link to them.

no pic at this time

[brewmaster15]

Dave, Going by the description alone I would say you have a bacterial infection there not parasite or Fungal. Seeing Pics would definitely help but I think a good salt dip or two and many good water changes will fix the issue.. If it doesnt than Furan2 probably will. I am interested in a pic of the "cloudy" eye as i suspect you had a pH crash that caused all this.. may be able to tell from the eye.

al

[Davidzil]

Thanks Al. will try to get a picture when back in the house.
Will pick up some Furan2.
PH crash? from no water changes while away?
Usually my PH is stable, and I have taken vacations before, same prep, large water change prior and no feeding.

[Davidzil]

Thanks Al,
Will send one when back home.
PH has been stable, are you saying because no water changes while away?
How to avoid this issue.
I have been away on vacation before.
Will pick up some Furon2

[Davidzil]

Pictures are not that great

[Davidzil]

I tried posting several replies, but they didn't post?

[Davidzil]

I thought that Cloudy eye on discus is a common fungus that is caused by poor water quality.

[brewmaster15]

David,
Not sure why you had trouble with posting the pics...I will have to check the permissions, odds are I missed a setting on my recent changes to this section.

As for the "cloudy" eye.. I am literally 100% percent positive you had a pH Crash. That eye isnt really cloudy..its more like a burn. My water here has less than 1 kh... its prone to crashing. Over the years I have seen this many times..

In most cases the fishes eyes will heal. Yours are not as bad as they could be. It may take several weeks there. .The patches are most likely from burns as well. At this point salt (NaCl) at 1 true tablespoon(use measuring spoon...level) per 1 gal should fix all.. daily water changes .. if it doesnt have a positive effect after a few days .. use furan 2..no salt.

Please keep us posted.

hth,
Al

[Second Hand Pat]

I tried posting several replies, but they didn't post?

You should see your posts now David.
Pat

[Adam S]

Al,
1 tbsp salt per 1 gallon, right? Just clarifying, because that's the same amount I use for ich with copper.

[brewmaster15]

Al,
1 tbsp salt per 1 gallon, right? Just clarifying, because that's the same amount I use for ich with copper.

yes thats correct Adam. Sounds alot but really isnt. Discus dont mind it short term at all (week-2 weeks)


al

[Davidzil]

Sounds like a typo, 1 tbs per 10gl is what I have been using - day 5 now.
Looks like will have to start on Furan 2 tomorrow, keeping the directions on the box?
Never had to use Furan 2 before, my go med was kanamicyn.

In respect to PH crash, have another trip planned in several months, anything I can do?
I do have some crushed corals that I can use.

[brewmaster15]

David,
Its not a typo... 1 Tablespoon salt per 1 Gal water.
.. What you have been using is good for stress and nitrite poisoning. Its really not good for much else.
al