Diseases of discus and methods of their treatment

Discus fish are a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts because of their striking colors and distinctive shapes. But maintaining the health of these exquisite fish can be difficult. They are susceptible to a variety of illnesses and are especially sensitive to environmental changes. Maintaining the health of your discus tank can be greatly aided by being aware of the common illnesses that affect them and knowing how to treat them.

Diskus fish are vulnerable to a wide range of health problems, including bacterial outbreaks and parasitic infections. Every disease has a unique set of symptoms and necessitates a different approach to treatment. For example, common issues like ich or velvet can make your fish appear distressed, but you can usually successfully manage these conditions if you act quickly.

This post will discuss some of the most common illnesses that affect discus fish and offer helpful advice on how to treat them. You can guarantee that your discus fish remain healthy and lively by identifying the symptoms early and administering the appropriate care. Having a better understanding of these illnesses will enable you to provide a better home for your aquatic companions, regardless of experience level.

Why discus get sick?

First, talk about all the unfavorable effects of the selection procedure. The brown discus, which is rare to find these days, is arguably the most closely resembled natural form of all. Furthermore, in vain… One must witness the brown discus’s beauty. Although it isn’t very brilliant, the color’s intensity is what makes it so beautiful. But this is a different subject.

The aquarium is not the Amazon, which is the second reason for the change in habitat conditions. The water in the Amazon is primarily soft and acidic for discus, despite its varied composition. Additionally, as you are aware, bacteria cannot grow in acidic water.

The most common water used in discus aquariums is tap water, which is inherently incompatible with the charter. Additionally, it is harder than the Amazon even in the "soft-water" areas. It makes sense to be ready for illnesses since we have imprisoned beauty in an aquarium, an environment that is not natural for it. And they take place. And we truly do have the ability to "nip them in the bud" or minimize them.

Although discus fish are beautiful additions to any aquarium, they are susceptible to certain illnesses that, if left untreated, can develop into serious conditions very quickly. This article will examine common illnesses that affect discus, like bacterial infections and protozoan infections, and provide doable, straightforward treatments for these conditions. You can maintain the health and vibrancy of your discus and make sure they flourish in your aquarium by being aware of the symptoms of illness and the most effective treatments.

Hexamitosis flagellate infection

The inhabitants of aquariums are commonly afflicted with this invasive intestinal disease. Intestinal flagellates, or flagella of the genus Diplomonad, are the causative agents of octomicosis and hole disease.

The normal functioning of the intestine can be disrupted by single-celled organisms, known as diplomaonads, that belong to the genera Trichomonas and Bodomonas. These organisms differ in their body shape, number of flagella, and nuclear apparatus structure.

The body does not absorb microelements and nutrients in sufficient amounts, which causes bone and connective tissue to gradually deteriorate and cause ulcers and abscesses on the head as well as skin erosion and hexamitosis in animals.

By dividing, parasites can also form cysts. Once mature, these cysts can infect the entire aquarium’s population by contaminating the water with the excrement of infected fish.

The illness may be nearly asymptomatic at first, but if treatment is not received, the animal may eventually develop head ulcers and die.

• The edges of the fins crumble, burn;
• Separation from the herd;
• Slow growth;
• The appearance of ulcers on the head, holes from 1 mm to 1 cm in diameter;
• Discoloration;
• Sick people become lethargic, lose their appetite;
• Fibrous feces are transparent, whitish, sometimes discharge from almost undigested food;
• Exhausted appearance.

Only laboratory testing can provide the correct diagnosis, even in cases where all symptoms are present.

Feces from feeding gammarus to fish can also be white. Skin lightening and head acne are possible side effects of whooping cough and vitiligo.

Treatment of hexamitosis in discus

Put the fish in better water for treatment—one that has more filtration, aeration, and is free of ammonia and organic matter.

When adding metronidazole to the water does not help, gradually raise the temperature (3–4C per day) to 32–35C. This method is used because many species of flagellates are unstable to temperature increases. Verify that the aerator’s power is sufficient to prevent the aquarium’s occupants from becoming suffocated.

It is suggested to add the medication every day for the procedure to be successful.

If treatment is not continued for at least 13–16 days, the illness will recur. Metronidazole is given with intense filtration and aeration during the entire duration of the course.

Large head abscesses must be manually treated with betadine before being treated with medication.

A medicinal bath that includes one of the following medications:

• Sera med Professional Flagellol
• JBL Spirohexol Plus 250
• Spirohexol JBL

Given that these products are administered twice at a span of five to seven days, they are more convenient than metronidazole. They don’t throw off the natural equilibrium.

If you find that one fish in your aquarium has hexamitosis symptoms, be ready to treat all of the fish right away.

Rules for treatment with metronidazole

Biofiltration is unaffected by metronidazole (Trichopolum) treatment of discus. The fish can stay in the tank. The typical dosage is 250 mg/15–20 l. For five days, add the product daily and replace 20% of the water each day. After that, you can replace only 10–16% of the liquid with the product every other day.

It is important to note separately that when treating large fish, ammonia can become a serious issue. You can use ammolok or antiammonia to solve this.

When using this product for treatment, make sure that your nitrate levels are not elevated. If you see phosphate contamination in the aquarium, it will not benefit the fish and you will not get positive results.

Bacterial infection

Signs of a discus bacterial infection include:

• In advanced cases, dehiscence (peeling) of the skin begins, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy.
• They do not eat, they hide under corners.
• Discus with a bacterial infection have darkening and flattening fins.
• Discus cannot balance and tilt from side to side.
• The mucous membrane thickens in some places, the edges of the fins turn white, gradual tissue destruction occurs.

Treatment of bacterial discus

In this instance, furazalidone and the antibiotic Cifran—ciprofloxacin—are used in combination for treatment.

Dosage: 1 tablet of furazalidone / 10 l and 1 tablet of ciprofloxacin / 50 l of liquid per day for 7 days. Never alter the water! On day eight, you can resume changing the H2O as normal.

Constipation and abdominal dropsy

Making a proper diagnosis with dropsy based solely on an external examination can be challenging because the fish may exhibit exophthalmos and have white mucus in their feces.

Dropsy is caused by unfavorable circumstances and general weakness. The fish can be saved in both situations if the illness is caught early.

Constipation causes the discus to swell in the abdomen, turn dark, and make it difficult to maintain balance. Discuss eat until their intestines burst; the same unhealthy diet is the cause of intestinal blockage.

Discus are typically treated with table salt in our nation. Similar illnesses are treated with Epsom salts overseas.

• During the entire treatment period, the fish are not fed.
• The water temperature is set at 33-35 C.
• 1 tablespoon of salt is dissolved in the aquarium per 40 liters of water for 3 days.

One to two teaspoons of dissolved Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) should be added to every forty liters of aquarium water. After four hours, if there is still no improvement, you can give it again, up to a maximum of 1-2 teaspoons per 40 liters of liquid in a 24-hour period. This can help ease constipation brought on by overindulging.

Within 24 hours, if the fish’s condition does not improve, a bacterial infection should be considered. It’s crucial to distinguish dropsy from bacterial infections, which can also result in bloating.

Gill or skin worms Discus flukes

Known as monogenous trematodes, they can complete their life cycle with just one host. These are common ectoparasites, or parasitic worms, that are 1-2 mm long and reside in the gills of tropical fish. They are so tiny that it is difficult to notice them.

Tiny hooks are attached to the gill petals by the gill petals themselves. The development of mucus plugs brought on by an abundance of parasites causes the gill covers to adhere to one another. The fish’s ability to take in oxygen suffers as a result, and it soon passes away from oxygen starvation or bacterial infection.

Diskus regrowth paralysis symptoms include:

• Discus stops eating.
• The gills swell and the gill covers become swollen.
• Affected by monogenous trematodes, fish become fearful, restless, rub against decorations, isolate themselves, sometimes show symptoms of lethargy.
• Sometimes one of the covers freezes, stops moving.
• An infected individual can suffocate on the surface or lie on the bottom with its fins tightly pressed to the body.

A gill biopsy or skin scraping is the only methods that can provide an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment options for gill or skin fluke infestation

An additional aquarium is used for treatment, with higher aeration and a temperature of 28 C. This aquarium is devoid of any plants, substrate, or filter. It is filled with fish 24 hours prior to treatment.

Many treatments for gill worms are added to the water, but they only work on the organisms that have hatched because the worm eggs are so resilient. Over several weeks, a number of procedures are needed.

Tremazolom treatment: use 1 milliliter per 15 liters of water; replace 80% of the liquid after 6 hours; repeat the procedure after a week.

The UV lamp is turned off, more aeration is needed, and the biological filters continue to function.

Gyrodol is a similar treatment that poses a risk to shrimp at a dose of 10 ml/40 l.

The following treatment techniques are employed by foreign aquarists to treat discus:

Formaldehyde exposure, Although the riskiest approach, this one works the best. Both the procedure’s duration and dosage are variable. The recommended dosage is 1 milliliter of formalin (formaldehyde) for every 40 liters of liquid; after 8 hours, replace 50% of the water; if the condition clearly improves after the first dose, you can continue the procedure every day for two weeks; if the temperature does not rise, additional aeration is needed; remove carbon filtration during treatment; and do not turn on the light bulbs.

Formalin is a poison that needs to be treated carefully:

• Do not use formalin with sediment due to its high toxicity.
• Always wash your hands after use
• Do not store the product in the refrigerator.

Disease	Treatment
Hole-in-the-Head	Increase water quality, add vitamins to diet, use anti-parasitic medications
Ich (White Spot Disease)	Increase temperature to 80°F (27°C), add salt, use anti-ich medication
Flukes	Use a fluke treatment product, improve water quality
Skin Flukes	Apply praziquantel-based treatment, ensure good water hygiene
Velvet Disease	Increase water temperature, use copper-based treatments, improve water quality
Internal Parasites	Use medicated food with anti-parasitic properties, maintain clean tank conditions
Columnaris	Use antibiotic treatments, ensure water is well-oxygenated and clean

Although treating diseases in discus fish can be difficult, you can maintain your fish’s health and well-being if you have the correct information and strategy. Knowing the common diseases that affect discus, like ich, velvet, and fin rot, will help you take prompt action to treat problems before they get worse. Maintaining routine tank maintenance and regularly monitoring the quality of the water are essential steps in preventing these issues from developing in the first place.

Depending on the illness, there are various treatment options, but early intervention is crucial. For example, following professional advice and using the right medications or treatments can significantly improve symptoms such as white spots or abnormal behavior. It’s also critical to carefully adhere to treatment instructions in order to guarantee efficacy and prevent adding to your fish’s stress.

Your best line of defense against many diseases is to keep your surroundings stable and clean. Make smart investments in filtration systems, change the water frequently, and monitor your discus’s general condition. You can take pleasure in a colorful and healthy discus aquarium for many years to come with a proactive approach and quick action when problems occur.

Video on the topic

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