Help me get my discus to eat!

[slapnutz]

So some of you helped me on my other issue (gasping). Fish have been doing great as far as that is concerned. My new issue is getting them to eat. The discus I got from my LFS were eating bloodworms when I got them. I continued that, until I read that I shouldn't use that as the staple for their diet. The 5 discus I got from a local breeder were raised on BH. I leaned off the bloodworms, and have tried to get them interested in tetra color bits, beefheart, NLS pellets. They don't touch anything, not that I ever see anyway. So I didn't feed them anything for 2 days, did a 60% water change and tried to get them to eat again. I thawed a couple cubes of bloodworms, and twice as many cubes of BH and mixed them together. This got them to eat, but only until the bloodworms were gone and they just ignored the BH, even the ones that were raised on it.

So what are your thoughts? How can I get them to eat something other than bloodworms?

[jayson]

stop giving them the blood worms and keep starving them.. I had a similar issue (check my post under food and nutrition by jayson). they're eating my frozen beef heart mix now. just gotta stay strong. :)

[Skip]

stop giving them the blood worms and keep starving them.. I had a similar issue (check my post under food and nutrition by jayson). they're eating my frozen beef heart mix now. just gotta stay strong. :)

yep

[slapnutz]

How long does it typically take for them to come around?

[Altum Nut]

As the others mentioned....starve them again, raise the temp to 86 and make sure to add an airstone. Try a variety of quality foods and don't go back to FBW until they take other foods.
I know you feel guilty and concerned if they don't eat for more than two days but it's the only way.

...Ralph

[jayson]

they're not gonna die even if you starve them for like 4-5 days, they'll just be realy hungry and desperate for food (we would too, n eat anything LOL). That's what i learned about fish, they're all quite similar. just stay strong and don't give in. don't mix the blood worms or anything. focus on giving them what u want them to eat first.

[cranford]

How long does it typically take for them to come around?

these depends on the size of the disucs the bigger the longer it could take, bought 2 blue diamoands last week here in Portugal they are ( 5cm ) they started eating after 3 hours in the tank ( home made Bife Heart mix and pellets ) the same day i bought to Maralbro REDS ( 12 and 14 cm ) the only started eating last night. just give it time..

[slapnutz]

Well, today was a sad day. I lost my two Marlboro's. There stomachs looked very empty, they wouldn't eat anything I was offering. On another forum, a member suggested de-worming them to see if it would help. What are your thoughts on this? Will it affect any of my community fish or plants? What medication would I used? Or ifyou have any other ideas, let me know.

[Eddie]

Well, today was a sad day. I lost my two Marlboro's. There stomachs looked very empty, they wouldn't eat anything I was offering. On another forum, a member suggested de-worming them to see if it would help. What are your thoughts on this? Will it affect any of my community fish or plants? What medication would I used? Or ifyou have any other ideas, let me know.

Damn, those fish must have been ill and they also must have not eaten for a very long time. I've had fish go 2 months and be just fine, not even look like they hadn't eaten. Another member on here has a fish that hasn't eaten in over 3 months and it still looks thick, healthy and vibrant. Guess those fish weren't in good health. Sorry for your loss

Eddie

[JDiscus]

Slapnutz... man I am sorry for your loss. As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with eddie, they were sick. Deworming is a must (jmo) and you can go to your vet to get the prazi... You need to mix it though with beefheart or shrimp mix (soaking flakes works, but it takes longer). Hexamita can be cured with Metronidazol (also available from your vet and mixed in with your bh or sm). Just don't give up!!! It's a learning process... Buy from a reputable dealer, keep the water clean and don't mess with your water too much. Todays discus can take alot of different parimeters. Some of the nicest Discus I have seen have been in tap water.... Chin up buddy;)

[JDiscus]

Let me go back.... deworming is a must (JMO) if you feed beefheart daily.... Sorry to all the other forumers (is that a word?) for venting but it is what it is..... :D

[JDiscus]

Well "warlock"..... Have you had a discus that has gone 2 mos. w/o eating and lived? I am VERY sorry for being a jerk, I am not a mean person (though it may seem like it now)... I'm done here... Slapnutz there are several people you can talk to and get a good answer... pm me and I will give you there emails...

[Skip]

JD.. i had a one that wasn't not eating.. and it seems for like a more weeks then it should have been.. i treated for worms.. but he did not help.. he never really ate... but mine didn't recover. his did..

[Skip]

Well "warlock"..... Have you had a discus that has gone 2 mos. w/o eating and lived? .

no..

[JDiscus]

Thanks Warlock for being honest... But we have gotten off subject... this isn"t about us bro (or broette... is that a phrase LOL!!!) This is about helping Slapspnutz... Slapnutz... if you need help, pm me.. I will shoot you in the right direction....

[brewmaster15]

This Thread got a little off track and too personal...I've editted accordingly.

-al

[Jennie]

JD, while trying to help slap with the issue behind the scenes, taking it there takes away from other members that are here to learn from these experiences.
Just thought I'd make note of it, that it doesn't really help us that might have these problems arise if this thread dies.

[slapnutz]

I made my own deworming food tonight using the guide in "the medicine cabinet". I made an 8 oz food mix of beef heart, tetra bits, and garlic. Mixed in 20 grams of panacur, and about 1.5 packets of gelatin. Left it in the fridge for an hour, gelled up quite nicely. Cut up 4 little cubes, the Discus were VERY interested, but didn't eat a whole lot of it. If they take to it, I may start making my own food mixes all together. Once the gelatin sets, this stuff is awesome.

[Jennie]

give them time. they will grow to like it:)