We all know discus fish get sick, but do you know how to spot the symptoms or how to treat your beloved Discus? It’s not like you can just take them to a doctor or even a vet, therefore educating yourself regarding the signs and treatments of the various discus diseases is a vital part of discus care
Just like with humans, pathogens are the main reason for fish getting discus disease. However unlike humans fish live in water. If this water is not treated correctly or aquariums are not cleaned regularly it can become an ideal breeding ground for pathogens. These pathogens can then get under the scales of the fish causing them to become ill.
Looking round various internet forums I found that Discus disease is a quite a common and often debated topic. The main problem seems to be that many owners are unaware of what causes their fish to be sick or how to prevent this from happening. By implementing a few key things you can greatly reduce the risk of your Discus contracting disease:
• Make sure they are well-fed with correct nutrition but be careful not to over feed them. In particular ensure they are getting enough protein.
• Regular cleaning of the tank is essential, at least once a week.
• Ensure that their tank is not too small or overcrowded
• Regularly check the water quality and ensure the correct pH balance (between 5.5 and 7 is safe) and water temperature, between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (27-30°C)
• Keep your Discus from becoming too stressed – this can happen when other fish become aggressive so be very careful when selecting tank mates. Humans are also a big factor is stressing out fish when they act too aggressively, such as continually tapping on the tank glass.
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Being well aware of these points goes a long way to reducing your discus care headaches. Click Here for a list of Common Discus Diseases , their symptoms and treatments, however I must warn you to be sure you are using the right treatment in the correct dosage. Also NEVER mix medicines without being instructed as overdosing or incorrectly treating discus disease can do far more harm than good. If you are in any doubt whatsoever consult a expert as soon as you can, tropical fish forums such as Simply Discus and Tropical Fish Forum are also a good place to get advice. Obviously it is important to ensure the person giving you advice is qualified to do so.
As with humans, treatments can take time, you cannot expect a cure overnight. If you are giving a course of antibiotic to your Discus fish, ensure you give it the complete course. Cutting the treatment short runs the risk of developing an antibiotic resistant strain of the disease.
Prevention is always better than cure. If you ensure the correct steps are taken in caring for your discus fish most of the discus diseases are easily preventable, therefore I suggest signing up for my mini course and reading a book like Discus fish secrets. There are many books available but in my opinion this is one of the best for discus owners and breeders and will give you some amazing tip on keeping discus disease free.
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Here is an example of a common discus disease, the “itch” or white spot disease
Hi...Adam here,
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