Help! Discus has expanded gill.

[Mando]

I don’t see anything deformed or gill material sticking out. I think my phone is playing tricks on me. I only see some slight red on the gill plate and the plate opening a bit wider than normal.

[bluelagoon]

Gill just looks tranluscent to me. I see many discus and especially angles like that, especialy lighter colored ones. I can't see the deformity in the pic. It might be something that you haven't noticed before. I had a discus once with a clipped gill plate and didn't notice it til I had him for a while.

[Nsfaquatics]

See a vet. It could be a bacterial infection which will likely need prescription antibiotics.

I unfortunately have no fish vets in my area. Believe me I’ve looked. But I’ll look into the bacterial side of things. Thanks!

[Nsfaquatics]

What would salt do? I see something that looks deformed. Or late stage trauma. To me it's like dumping salt on a broken finger. They don't look inflammed. Nice red or pink gills is what you want.

What trauma do you think could’ve caused it? When I transfer my fish I don’t use nets, I actually use a 1 gallon plastic bag and let the fish swim in, allowing the fish to be free swimming throughout the whole process and not stuck in a net. Other than the transfer from quarantine, I can’t think of any other traumatic events. Thank you for your reply!

[Nsfaquatics]

I don’t see anything deformed or gill material sticking out. I think my phone is playing tricks on me. I only see some slight red on the gill plate and the plate opening a bit wider than normal.

I wish I could get a better picture. The Gill Plate is open pretty wide, and the gills themselves seem a little messed up. Almost like they aren’t layered evenly like a gill normally is. Also there’s a fine clear membrane that seems to act like a seal for the gill that is messed up on this side but not on the other.

[Nsfaquatics]

Gill just looks tranluscent to me. I see many discus and especially angles like that, especialy lighter colored ones. I can't see the deformity in the pic. It might be something that you haven't noticed before. I had a discus once with a clipped gill plate and didn't notice it til I had him for a while.

I might try to get a better picture of it so it’s easier to see. I’m most concerned about how wide the gill is stuck open.

[bluelagoon]

What trauma do you think could’ve caused it? When I transfer my fish I don’t use nets, I actually use a 1 gallon plastic bag and let the fish swim in, allowing the fish to be free swimming throughout the whole process and not stuck in a net. Other than the transfer from quarantine, I can’t think of any other traumatic events. Thank you for your reply!

Trauma was not inflicted by you. Trauma can be caused by a number of things, like gill flukes for example, which were mentioned. But may or may not be the case. Signs a gill fluke infection you will see fish shaking their head and a slight swim backward movement.

[bluelagoon]

Does it look like a malformed piece of skin flap at the edge of the gill? Sorta acts like a heart valve would act, while breathing.

ps..Usually they will rest on gill and only use one at times, when gill flukes are present.

[bachbeo]

I had a guy with the same symptoms as you, when I accepted he didn't eat for a long time, I kept him alone in a 50 liter tank, I fed Artemia alive, he started eating. and went to the toilet, but for 4 weeks there was no physical recovery, very thin, enlarged and moving slowly. We hope to have your comments. Would like to thank.