Nina Kiernan
01-02-2006, 06:02 PM
I'm new to the forums but not new to discus. I've had a 125 gal. discus tank set up (not the same set-up) for the past 30 years. My current tank is about 15 years old. I have run into something that is not described in any of the discus sights I have been two. Every so often my discuss will get one or two white spots (mostly the spots are on the fish's sides but not by the tail). The spots start out as a pimple looking thing (but not red or inflamed) and in a couple of days it will look like a white worm (1/4 inch long) protruding from the body. Sometimes they will develop these on the head area and it will leave a hole like "hole in the head". There is no erratic swimming, no rubbing or itching. When the spots start, the fish are in good color, eating well, don't hang in the back or at the surface. Here's my short list of stats:
-- Right now I have 5 discus, 2 clown loaches, and some cardinal tetras.
-- The tank is well planted
-- Water is RO (Tap Water Purifier)
-- Main filter is a Magnum 350 with biowheels + a Aquaclear 300
-- I change water frequently and test, test, test.
-- At most phosphate is my only reading that imay be high. Amonio - O, Nitrate and Nitrite are ok
-- I use Black Water Extract; vitamins, Discus essential, etc.
-- Ph is 6.8
-- Temp is about 84
-- Fish color is great, they are active and eating well.
-- Food is frozen blood worms, live brine shrimp, live worms (sometimes)
-- I gravel siphen, have a manageable amount of algae, use compact phlorescent lighting, etc.
I have had sick fish before and pulled them through with things like Kanacin, hexamit, etc. None of the pictures of heximita, spiro, or hole in the head look like these white spots. Nor do any of the disease descriptions I have read. Can anyone help? Sometimes treating the tank with formalin helps, sometimes not. Have not have much luck with anything else except maybe "General Cure" and I'm not real sure about that. But I think I was successful mostly through hit and miss. I raise the temp etc. I have had some discuss live 5-8 years and this thing crops up it's ugly head about once a year. I can't get close enough to see if the worm like thing has two heads.
Got any ideas? I just lost one fish (in a hospital tank) and now I see another is just starting to develop a white spot on its side. Got a suggestion? I hope so. Tanks for any reply or help you can give.
Here's my mystery: .
-- Right now I have 5 discus, 2 clown loaches, and some cardinal tetras.
-- The tank is well planted
-- Water is RO (Tap Water Purifier)
-- Main filter is a Magnum 350 with biowheels + a Aquaclear 300
-- I change water frequently and test, test, test.
-- At most phosphate is my only reading that imay be high. Amonio - O, Nitrate and Nitrite are ok
-- I use Black Water Extract; vitamins, Discus essential, etc.
-- Ph is 6.8
-- Temp is about 84
-- Fish color is great, they are active and eating well.
-- Food is frozen blood worms, live brine shrimp, live worms (sometimes)
-- I gravel siphen, have a manageable amount of algae, use compact phlorescent lighting, etc.
I have had sick fish before and pulled them through with things like Kanacin, hexamit, etc. None of the pictures of heximita, spiro, or hole in the head look like these white spots. Nor do any of the disease descriptions I have read. Can anyone help? Sometimes treating the tank with formalin helps, sometimes not. Have not have much luck with anything else except maybe "General Cure" and I'm not real sure about that. But I think I was successful mostly through hit and miss. I raise the temp etc. I have had some discuss live 5-8 years and this thing crops up it's ugly head about once a year. I can't get close enough to see if the worm like thing has two heads.
Got any ideas? I just lost one fish (in a hospital tank) and now I see another is just starting to develop a white spot on its side. Got a suggestion? I hope so. Tanks for any reply or help you can give.
Here's my mystery: .