Discus turning dark & clamped fins

[Rhyscat1]

Hi all, my names Rhys. I’m from London UK.

I have a 450l tank. 8 discus.

I have a problem with one of my discus, I noticed turning dark then light at times then dark, also fins clamped occasionally opening up. Not very active and also his head is facing down , eating as usual.

My water parameters are :

0 ammonia
0 nitrite
10/20 nitrate
Ph is 7.4

I’m running 1 fx6 filter, temp is 85.

Feeding on frozen mussels mix , beefheart , vegetable, garlic mix, and tetra granules.

30 % water change every other day. Using Prime.

Hope you may be able to help with my discus symptoms.

Thank you

[jeep]

Hello Rhys. Your nitrate is a little high. Try upping your water changes so you can get nitrates to <5. I would also bump the temp up to about 90 for a week and see if there's an improvement...

hth,

Brian

[Rhyscat1]

Hello Brian, I will do this and see how he goes.

Thanks for the advice. Very worried:(

[slicksta]

What Brian? No salt? LOL.... Just playin' :-D

@Ryscat... Don't be worried just yet. This is common if nitrates get a little high and typically some additional clean water is all that's needed.
He's still eating and that's a good sign. I'm thinking you'll be fine with Brian's recommended course of action.

[Rhyscat1]

What Brian? No salt? LOL.... Just playin' :-D

@Ryscat... Don't be worried just yet. This is common if nitrates get a little high and typically some additional clean water is all that's needed.
He's still eating and that's a good sign. I'm thinking you'll be fine with Brian's recommended course of action.


Hi Slicksta! Yes he’s still eating. But just at the back of the tank , sort of at the top and basically vertical face down! I did a water change last night, I will do another tonight, 30%? Or more/less? Iv also upped the temp to reach around the 90 mark.

Thanks a lot for the replies / advice. Appreciate it

[jeep]

I would increase to at least 50% with aged and temp matched water. If you don't age your water, a ph swing can be just as stressful as high nitrates...

[Rhyscat1]

Ok Brian, at present I haven’t Aged the water when doing wc, I Did a 24hr ph test on the water when I first set up the tank and it stayed consistent, and hasn’t swung at all that I know of.

[jeep]

How large are your discus? I would still age your water for at least a few hours if possible. If not possible, try doing 2 or 3 smaller changes per day at least several hours apart. Micro bubbles are almost always present in municipal water supplies and are an irritant to discus, especially smaller ones.

[Rhyscat1]

I understand, I will have to go with smaller changes every few hours. They are around 3.5/4”

[Rhyscat1]

Also, would you happen to know maybe what’s going on and what his symptoms ring any bells with illness ?

[jeep]

At this time, I'm thinking the high nitrates may be the cause. Even thought they aren't exactly small, discus can be very sensitive to nitrates. Once nitrates are <5 for a day or so and the heat has run its course then we can explore other causes if needed.

I'm not sure why it would be pointing down at times. Have you noticed any swelling in the stomach?

[Rhyscat1]

I understand, and there’s no swelling that I notice. I’d like to point out I did turn down the heaters a few times during the week because was raising up a bit with the heat in my house, would this cause any issue? Also he’s seems to be constantly vertical now, occasionally swimming around

[slicksta]

I typically see that when they've eaten something that they don't agree with or a swim bladder issue.
See if you can get them to accept something easily digested such as a seafood flake. Something with krill & spirulina
An example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Plankton-Krill-Spirulina-Flakes-FREE-12-Type-Blackworm-Color-Pellet-Blend/331161455176?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=540361577270&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[jeep]

Can you post a photo?

[Rhyscat1]

Can you post a photo?

....

[Rhyscat1]

That’s come out the wrong way round, he’s vertical here

[Rhyscat1]

I cannot work him/her out. One min vertical and not much movement, the next swimming around and sort of shaking fins shaking in general and shivering. Also noticed being a bit aggressive yesterday to all fish except one. I initially thought maybe pairing or trying to. But today with the vertical stance not so sure. At this very moment very active and doing above again

[jeep]

Have you noticed any white stringy feces?

[Rhyscat1]

No all been normal poo

[slicksta]

When swimming vertical... Is it like a bob - weave motion like trying to swim down but cant

[Rhyscat1]

He doesn’t swim vertically, he swims normal, but he was sort of stationary when in that vertical position. Iv noticed he has sort of done what you mention, not a lot though.

[slicksta]

If it's not happening more consistently, then it's probably not a swim bladder issue.
Do you notice if it happens shortly after feeding.
I've seen it happen with frozen a freezedried foods.
I'm still thinking Brian's initial thoughts for getting nitrates down is the best place to start and then continue from there.

[Rhyscat1]

I’m actually not too sure in regards to doing it after feeding. He was just stationary vertical for quite a while. I have upped the temperature and also performed 30% water change. Will continue to monitor him and hopefully things improve. Thank you both for your time, help & advice. Really appreciate it boys. Il keep you updated

[Sturiosoma]

Check the ph of your water change source against your tank ph, and also nitrate, and what are you using to remove chlorimines.


Jeanne