discus (RIP)

[mecedesfish]

I had brought 4 discus to be introduce into my planted tank. i placed the bag to the tank to allow for the temp. change.

Abt 20 min later, I open the bag n introduce the discus into the tank. All the discus swim very aggressive, from one end to other end hiting the glass and looking to jump out on the water surface for the next 25 min. 3 discus started to lay flat on my sand.

This morning the 3 discus RIP.

[Justikanz]

You did not mix the water from your tank to the water in the bag before you release the discus?

Also, did you introduce the fish when the lights are on or off?

[sage08]

i think it's the temperature and the ph tht did them off.. 20 mins is not enough to regulate the temperature, as their's were prob at 30 degrees in lfs compared to yours with chiller at say 25-26 degrees. also, most discuss are kept in soft water with peat to lower ph... a 1-2 point ph change can be fatal.

[bclee]

I had brought 4 discus to be introduce into my planted tank. i placed the bag to the tank to allow for the temp. change.

Abt 20 min later, I open the bag n introduce the discus into the tank. All the discus swim very aggressive, from one end to other end hiting the glass and looking to jump out on the water surface for the next 25 min. 3 discus started to lay flat on my sand.

This morning the 3 discus RIP.

Is this a newly setup tank? Are there already fishes in this tank?

To acclimatise the fish you need also to introduce water slowly from the tank to the original water.

This is what I do. I transfer the fishes together the water from the bag into a pail. I put a tube (a silicone air hose) to siphon water from the tank into the pail, controlling the flow to a trickle with a clip on the tubing. As water trickle slowly into the pail, I also add an additive, Sera Aqutan, to help calm the fishes. After 45 min to 1 hour, I will net the fishes and introduce the fishes into the tank with the lights dimmed.

BC

[michael lai]

Hi Mecedes,
I would have to agree with the guys here, 20 mins is too short. I usually give about 2 hours for temperature and another 2 for mixing of water. Discus are quite sensitive so any spike in temperature and PH will definitely freak them out. Sorry about the fish though.

[mecedesfish]

Hi
Those were the most valuble advise that you, expertise had given.

I am trying to find what was the cause after all 20 min was insufficent for the discus plus PH plus temp it used to live before released to my planted tank with a lower temp abt 25 d. i will make sure in future i will exercise with great care.

I will be getting another 3 discus. What kind of discus do expert think i should buy.........red melon, etc....

Thanks

[evolim83]

Bro, think 25C is abit low for discus!
Maybe you like to turn it up to around 27C!
Not much difference for plant growth, better for discus!
Anyway, do keep us posted!
I am now also reading up on discus in planted tanks!

[michael lai]

Hi Mecedes,
Since you will be embarking on another 'try', here's my 2 cents. You got to decide which is more important to you? The Discus or the planted tank? Then you work the entire setup to which is important. For example, if discus is your preference then you would have to adjust the temperature more for them than for your plants. There are alot of plants which would do well in a non-chilled tank.
As for the species, what fun would it be if we were to chose for you? Half of the fun is chosing the stuff or fish yourself, right? Have fun and keep us posted

[Justikanz]

25C is WAY too low for discus... Most plants can take a higher temperature of 27-28C, which is still on the lower side for discus keeping. There are some fish that just picky naturally and cannot take lower water temperatures, the discus being the most infamous.

[mecedesfish]

25C is WAY too low for discus... Most plants can take a higher temperature of 27-28C, which is still on the lower side for discus keeping. There are some fish that just picky naturally and cannot take lower water temperatures, the discus being the most infamous.

Hi Justikanz,
My temp at 26C and there is only on discus alive out of 4. hope to get 1 more to pair it. May adj the temp to 27C.

Anyway do you guy know where can i get Altum Angel?

cheers

[bclee]

Hi Justikanz,
My temp at 26C and there is only on discus alive out of 4. hope to get 1 more to pair it. May adj the temp to 27C.

Anyway do you guy know where can i get Altum Angel?

cheers

I hope you are not trying to add Altum into the same tank as the discus. I have read articles discouraging this due to disease or something of that sort. Do make a web search for more information before diving into it.

BC

[mecedesfish]

I hope you are not trying to add Altum into the same tank as the discus. I have read articles discouraging this due to disease or something of that sort. Do make a web search for more information before diving into it.

BC

In fact, i had altum angel for the last 2 years and did not give me problem but as i had just added the chiller 2 mth ago plus 4 long nose angel 3 weeks ago. So far.............. ok la.

Two fish farm, 1 tank, 10 ft had abt 8 altum plus some discus ( cant remember the nos) and another with small altum (more then 15 nos) in the planted tank both are installed with chiller at 25.5-26C

Maybe in longer term it might encourage some virus or it might not grow big/fast as compared with a normal tank. Thank you brother for your advise i will read more imformation and hope that we can share together.

Thanks

[Justikanz]

Oh, you never mentioned... How big is your tank, anyway?

Anyway, it is true that wild angels usually carry a kind of parasite that can harm discus as discus have no immunity against them. Since altums are usually wild (so far never heard of home/farm bred altums), it is risky to the (also very expensive) discus if you mix them. However, it is really up to you whether you want to do so.

[mordrake]

altums n discus do fine together if fishes are quarantined before adding to main tank.

in fact, all new fish should be quarantined since you never know what sort of parasite they are carrying.

the only problem you'll face is that altums are more aggressive feeders. the discus may get bullied during feeding time and may not get their fair share.

now back to the introduction of the new discus.
if you had a quarantine tank, you probably wouldn't have that nasty accident.

assuming no space to set up a q tank.
you need to know that the pH of the water at most discus shops are ard neutral. they do large water changes daily (reputable discus shops) and it's not cost effective to treat the water to lower the pH. usually only to treat for stuff like chlorine etc.

temp aside, the killer of your 3 discus is the pH diff. when introducing a fish from higher pH to lower pH, it must be done slowly and gradually.
if not, the fish will suffer from gill burn resulting in death. less serious would be burn marks on the discus body, cloudy eyes.

the drip method suggested by bclee is one of the most effective way to intro new fish without q. in fact some even practise this for their q tanks.

ok temp too low but pH taken care of. your discus will probably get ich. pretty easy to treat and not so life threatening.

just sharing my exp from transferring 14 adult discus (wild n domestic) from bare tanks at 7 pH and 30C temps to a planted tank at 6.5pH and 27C temp.

the discus got hit by ich but recovered fully within 2 weeks.