Gill problems

[holmbow]

Hello,

I am making this post on behalf of my father who has a 700+ liter tank with 4 discus fish, 3 scalares and maybe 10 other smaller fish.

We have lately noticed that the biggest of the discusses on it's leeft gill has some kind of damaged gill. We have searched far and wide but didn't find anything fitting this problem, which is why we hope that you can help us.

The left gill seems torn, so it might "just" be from a fight? We haven't seen this one in a fight though, so we figure that it might be some kind of disease.

Video is uploaded.


https://youtu.be/mjvhvLS3ylA

- Simon

[danotaylor]

http://youtu.be/mjvhvLS3ylA

[LizStreithorst]

I've seen this when there has been a long standing gill fluke infection but in my limited experience with this it generally effects both gills. I don't know if this is the case with your fish. Are the other Discus breathing fast?

[holmbow]

Nope - I was actually just watching them all to see if any of the other fish had any noticable symptoms, or unusual breathing behavior, but it wasn't the case - all though I saw that one of the scalares are developing cataracts.
All other fish's gills are acting and looking normal :)

[holmbow]

And maybe I should add - the discus with gill symptoms is acting completely normal with regards to not being shy, doesn't hide, eats as normal etc.

EDIT: The fish is 5+ years. Don't know if it's relevant :)

[BrendanJ23]

Any updates on this fish or insight as to what it might be?

[Second Hand Pat]

I have seen older fish at the NADA shows with this and according to Paul B. there is nothing which can be done about and it doesn't hurt the fish. He mentioned it could be caused by accumulation gill damage caused from overuse of med etc during the fish's life.
Pat

[bluelagoon]

I had that once on 7 year old 8" discus. That discus was treated with levamisole for gill flukes; the only med that was ever used on him. They did seem to have gill flukes from the head shaking. After treatment the head shaking stopped. Also on a younger 3 year old. It never seemed to bother them. I was told back then, that it may have be cased by gill flukes.

[Mando]

Any updates on this fish or insight as to what it might be?

I purchased a Juvie discus that had that, and some how I missed it when I selected him at the store. However, the fish always acted normal and I could not find myself to get rid of him just because of that. He is one of my favorite fish in the tank. It's not something that bothers them and it's not something that can be fixed. I've had this discus for 2 years now.