Blackish eye on blue diamond

[dalejrinc]

I have two blue diamonds, in the beginning both had beautiful bright orange eyes with the black dot in the middle when I put them in with my others , but then one started getting really dominate over the other and keeps him at bay most of the time. I guess that's the pecking order right.

Before
http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/IMG_0811.jpg

and now:

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/IMG_1225.jpg

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/IMG_1214.jpg

I feed them FBW,FBS,BH and Tetra Color granulers, do at a minimum 3 water changes a week.

Is this normal or is there something wrong with my diamond?

Advice needed, Gee, I hope I posted the pictures correctly, if you need a better shot let me know.

Thanks Dale

[pcsb23]

It is difficult to tell from thos pictures :o

The one with the darker eyes do the eys still look bright or are they dull? If dull I would suspect a problem, maybe nematodes, but it is guesswork.

[dalejrinc]

I will try and post a better picture tonight. I am hoping it was a pecking order thing keeping him stressed out.

It is dull looking, none of the others changed their eye color but this one. It eats well, is right there when you come up to the tank.

First time I have ever had a sick fish, if this one is sick........crap, I was doing so well. :(

Ok no more posts until I get a better picture so you guys can help me try and diagnose this issue.

Thanks.

[Don Trinko]

I had a BD with similar symptoms. The eye started like yours but eventualy started to cave in. Erethromycin ( i know the spelling is wrong) cured mine. Don T.

[Wahter]

Are both eyes dark? It looks to me like it's just showing it's remnant stress bar. High grade blue diamonds aren't supposed to have the stripe / bar show through the eyes, but many of them do when they are stressed. If both eyes look that way, it could be the stress bar.

Also, take a look at the fish's eyes at night when they are sleeping to see what it looks like.


Walter

[alpine]

When the Blue Diamonds get stress the eyes turn very dark. That is Normal.

Roberto.

[dalejrinc]

Last nights pics of my BD problem with blacken dull eyes.

[IMG]http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/Discus2IMG_1326.jpg

[IMG]http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/Discus2IMG_1326.jpg

[IMG]http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/Discus5IMG_1301.jpg

He is still eating good, comes right up to me. Watching the two, I really noticing that the dominate is pushing him around a bit.

What can I do about that, get another one around the same size, or wait for my others to catch up?

Was getting (2) of each the wrong thing to do? I have (8) discus all together, and this one BD beats up on the other.

[dalejrinc]

Ok, just called the guy who gave me the BD, he said to put salt 3 cups of aquarium salt into the 55 gallon. Does that sound right? To see if that helps him. (I have 8 other discus with him in the tank including the dominate BD his size).

Well not sure about salting up the 55g, I went out and brought a 10gallon QT tank, filter, and heater. I thought it would be better to keep an eye on him and also it would help give him a mini vacation from the other one harassing him.

From everything I read, it is 1 tablespoon to every 10 gallons, correct?

But my biggest question is, what about the water change, how long do I leave the salty water in the 10g tank with him without changing it? Do I add more salt if I do the water change.

I am confused. Can you tell?

PS: I read the issues everyone has on the salt, and I am one of the believers that salt is a healer if used in modiration.

[Graham]

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/dalejrinc/Discus2IMG_1326.jpg

To be honest with you I don't think there's anything wrong with that fish. I think it's just the natural colour of the eye

The dealer that told you to add 3 cups of salt was correct in the amount, in fact a little low . It works out to about 144 teaspoons of salt. 1 teaspoon per gallon works out to roughly 0.1% salinity . To treat fish with problems, salinity at 0.3% should be used. So that would be 165 teaspoons per a 55 gallon tank, but this should be done in a QT

1 tablespoon per 10 gallons is fine for a bit os shipping stress but useless for medicinal purposes.

BTW Aquarium salt is a rip off, when using it, find any cheap salt including table salt is fine. Just watch for the anti-caking agent YPS

[mikel]

I dont think salt will do anything for the submissive BD. I have a younger BD which is of a lower quality in with a much larger BD and Red Turquoise. i got it as a dither fish so that the big BD wont attack the more docile red Turquoise. The small BD has the same eye bar as yours, and it still eats well...it just gets chased a bit by the much bigger BD. I wouldnt worry too much. Leave it alone, especially if you have other discus in with them. There will always be more dominant and more submissive fish in a group. Dont fuss. mike

[dalejrinc]

So far I agree with everyone, I believe it is due to the stress he is going thru with the other BD. Since he is fine in every other way, eating, pooping and fins and body are good. (he is about 4.5 almost 5 inches.)

I am going to give him a mini vacation, and to get him some TLC and privating feedings for a week in the 10gal.

I am curious to see if his eye bounces back to the same pretty orange as the day from when I got him.

I will post an update next week to let you know what happens.

Dale