Discus in trouble?

[megatrev62]

I have a 90 gallon with eight semi adult discus. Water changes have been heavy and consistent and they have been growing quite nicely since I had them as 3 month olds. Just now looking in the tank I noticed one discus (the largest)...heart up my throat!! swimming erratically and upside down. I looked at the other fish and all are fine but breathing fast. I immediately went heavy aeration to see what would happen. The affected fish is upright and still in a corner of the tank. I don't know if the aeration is helping but that is all I have done. The other discus are acting normally. Nothing that I have done with the tank has changed. What could this be? The fish is chilling upright as I say at the moment. Tank is at 86 degrees with a few vallis in a small quantity of substrate. WC are every 2nd day at 75 percent and has not changed.


I feed HM beefheart and flakes on occasion. Is this something that will pass, or anyone familiar with this, it would be nice to hear from you. Thanks folks

[megatrev62]

Also the color is fine and no shedding ....looks normal

[Phillydubs]

You should really fill out the disease questionnaire for best results...

Nothing has changed on the tank at alll....? No new additions, recent water change? Everything is running fine, filters, heater, etc...

Did you recently feed new food or a lot of food.... Could be bloated or swim bladder. I would try a big water change and add some epsom salt to start and wait and see and keep the heavy airation going...

[megatrev62]

Thanks a million for response. He just came out of the corner and seems normal at this point. I will pick up Epsom salts for sure. This is weird.How much salts for a 90 gallon? My heart is feeling good right now....unreal.

Yes nothing has changed...no new additions, filter maintenance, water changes all the same. I immediately thought swim bladder and this " whirling disease", but he seems fine I really thought this fish was gone. I have never seen it before and the turn around was within 2 hours. Going around now like nothing happened.

[Phillydubs]

Was it bullied or in a fight w another fish? Did you hear any bangs or crashes like it hit the glass maybe?

[megatrev62]

No nothing. I was up for some time and all was fine with the tank. Just took a casual look at the tank and this was going on. I saw no aggression or fighting but as I say the first thing I looked at right away was their respiration which seemed a little fast. Heavy aeration and nothing more. Still have that going. After doing whirls and upside down for maybe 10 minutes, he sat up in the corner upright with both pectorals moving normally. Shortly after you response he came out and is now apparently unaffected and perfectly normal.

[Ryan925]

No nothing. I was up for some time and all was fine with the tank. Just took a casual look at the tank and this was going on. I saw no aggression or fighting but as I say the first thing I looked at right away was their respiration which seemed a little fast. Heavy aeration and nothing more. Still have that going. After doing whirls and upside down for maybe 10 minutes, he sat up in the corner upright with both pectorals moving normally. Shortly after you response he came out and is now apparently unaffected and perfectly normal.

It's possible maybe he crashed into something?

I've had discus crash into wood and get a gash and head stand for a short time until they feel better. They can do some really off things when not feeling right

When I did a substrate change I removed all my fish. When I put them back one apparently got stressed from the process and was doing backflips for awhile them after some time was back to normal

I'm assuming your tested your water params? Didn't see any mention of that

[CliffsDiscus]

Sounds like freshwater allergy. Sometimes the water
companies changes the water chemical. Try doing
smaller percentage water changes.

Cliff

[RogueDiscus]

Maybe he had gas :) I say that totally as a joke, and sorry it seems like a hard one to figure out, but I have seen one go crazy for no obvious reason before, too. Filling out the questionnaire like Phil said is a good idea, or at least a bit more info about you setup. Might get you more responses.

[megatrev62]

Just got home and all is well. Nothing to see that there was anything wrong at all. Like I said I thought he was a goner. All good in the tank. Thanks all for input. That fish is doing best kind.

[megatrev62]

Weird !!!!!!

[megatrev62]

Sounds like freshwater allergy. Sometimes the water
companies changes the water chemical. Try doing
smaller percentage water changes.

Cliff

Thanks, I will tone it down some, stunting is not a factor anyway. Will go for every 3 days 50%. See how it goes.

[Neptune]

I had a fish do this about a year ago. He was fine for a day or two, went crazy with the whirling, looked fine for a day or two, then died. No one seems to know why some discus succumb to this.

[Mapet]

Speed - bacteria

[megatrev62]

Speed - bacteria

??

[megatrev62]

The fish has been perfect since. I did not add any Epsom salts to the tank.

[megatrev62]

Maybe the fish ran into something? Other than that, I have no idea and I appreciate all the input. Lasted like 10-15 minutes until he "sat" in the upper corner of the tank and came out an hour or so later, seemingly unfazed.

[Neptune]

Maybe the fish ran into something? Other than that, I have no idea and I appreciate all the input. Lasted like 10-15 minutes until he "sat" in the upper corner of the tank and came out an hour or so later, seemingly unfazed.

Others have experienced this. Do a search, it comes up every so often and no one has an answer. It does not seem to be a head injury thing....mine did it after a normal water change.