discus staying in top left corner of tank

[kitykatfunkiehat]

I came home today to find that my red marlboro is staying in the top left back corner of the tank. All fins are clamped, breathing rate seems to be a little slow, sometimes drifts to bottom and swims back up. He is kind of suspended with his head a little bit up. No other physical symptoms except maybe a little extra slime coat? I can't exactly tell. I just changed 10% of the water and added some stress coat. He is also kind of tipped on the side. Feces is normal. All other fish are normal.
Temp 84
pH 7.2
0 ppm ammonia
0 pom nitrite
15 ppm nitrate

What do I do?!


EDIT: now my smallest blue diamond has joined the red marlboro by doing the same thing and is suspended right next to the RM. whats happpeeennnninnggggg

[kitykatfunkiehat]

Okay, update:

Upon double checking levels with a dropper, it appears that my nitrite level is at about 0.5 ppm for some unknown reason? I have added salt to the aquarium to hopefully bring it down or help reduce stress. My GH is about 100, KH about 40.
I really don't know what could have caused this. I did a water change friday night, but all fish were fine through saturday afternoon. I always treat with prime. I went up to canada last night, my mom fed them dinner, and this afternoon I come home to this fish acting strangely. I've never heard or read about these symptoms so I'm not even sure how to start treating!

[kitykatfunkiehat]

He's now laying almost on his side. Well pretty much.

[nc0gnet0]

Have you done a water change? That is the first thing I would do. Second is to ask mom what she fed them and how much.

[kitykatfunkiehat]

I did one as soon as I got home.
I told mom specifically to put in only three cubes of beefheart at night and a few omega one flakes for this morning which is my usual routine. She's pretty good about knowing how much to feed them,

[nc0gnet0]

When you say you did one when you came home are you refering to the 10% water change? If your getting a nitrite spike, that won't do much, you need to do a 50-75% one IMHO.

[kitykatfunkiehat]

I know I will do another one, I just had noticed uneaten food and stuff so I just quickly vacummed it up and thought he might perk up but he isn't

[Eddie]

Jenna,

Fill this out please.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=38545

Very sorry to hear about the fishes, hope I can help.

Eddie

[kitykatfunkiehat]

DISEASE QUESTIONNAIRE


Problem

1. Please explain the problems with your fish/when and how they started

As far as I know the problems started this morning. He's inactive and staying at the top of the tank.



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)

clamped fins, slower breathing, sometimes is head up, sometimes leans on his side against tank wall, but normal coloration. possibly excess slime coat, but I can't really tell. normal poop. normal eyes. no bloat. fins are fine




3. What medications/ treatments that you have already tried and results. Include dosages and duration of treatment.

10% water change as of this afternoon, stress coat and aquarium salt



Tank/Water

4. Tank size and age, number and size of fish

55 gallon, year old, 3 discus all 3-4"

5. Water change regime/ how long has tank been running/ bare bottom or gravel/ do you age your water?

water change 50% every other day, tank has been running for a year, gravel, don't age water but treat with prime

6 Parameters and water source;

- temp __84___

- ph __7.2___

- ammonia reading __0__

- nitrite reading __0.5__

- nitrate reading __15__

- well water __no__

- municipal water __yes__

7. Any new fish/plants added recently

no. i took all the decorations out.

[Eddie]

Daily 50% water change and add salt at 2 tbsp per 10 gallons. Replace any salt removed from water changes.


Eddie

[kitykatfunkiehat]

Doable...but what is wrong? Is he being affected by the nitrite spike? I'm not sure what caused that?

[Eddie]

Doable...but what is wrong? Is he being affected by the nitrite spike? I'm not sure what caused that?

More than likely, definitely don't want nitrites in the tank. Dont worry about using stress coat.

[kitykatfunkiehat]

Man, time to get the buckets flowing. I'm totally exhausted from canada last night..but anything for these guys. Should I worry about vacumming the gravel?

[nc0gnet0]

When you say three cubes of beef heart, may I ask what kind? It seems a bit much for three juvies, but maybe I am picturing a different size cube. Do they typically eat this much in say 5 minutes?

[Eddie]

Man, time to get the buckets flowing. I'm totally exhausted from canada last night..but anything for these guys. Should I worry about vacumming the gravel?

If you want to, but I'd just make sure there is no food collecting as this will be a source for nitrites to rise. Also feed light feeds to keep the nitrites in check.

Eddie