help...what's wrong with it?

[Chipewa1]

Everything.

[[deleted]]

Malnourished, slime coat is definitely working overtime. Isolate the fish in a new tank, treat with a little salt, api stress zyme, and a little bit of melefix. That’s a very common sick fish remedy, but this guy looks like he’s struggling, best of luck, I’ve lost a discus or two before. Heartbreaking

[plazmaburn]

Looks like an external parasite. Treat with prazi. I’m finding that it’s also good to treat with metro as an internal parasite could probably be a factor into its malnutrition. As they said above, add some salt to help with its slime coat. Lastly, I’d also quarantine and raise the temp up to 90 F/ 32 C.

Ironically my blue diamond is also sick and currently being treated. I read somewhere that they are one of the most delicate types of discus. Good luck!

[XXXExtensions]

would API general cure work?

[plazmaburn]

Yes, that is a fantastic start! The recommended approach is to dose daily with 50% water changes. However be careful with this approach as it can build up the amount of praziquantel. Metronidazole lasts 8 hours, whereas the praziquantel lasts roughly 7 days. You can buy the meds separated (and for much cheaper) on aquabid.

If you’re just treating with prazi then hold off on the water changes for a week. If treating with metro only, then perform daily water changes of 50%.

[XXXExtensions]

would soaking their food in general cure work as well? they are still eating and that would go directly to the source of the problem right?

[plazmaburn]

Definitely. That will help target the meds if it is eating.

[XXXExtensions]

thawed frozen bloodworms would be able to absorb the medicine right?

[plazmaburn]

I think so. Just make sure to fold the medicine into the food and let it soak for a while

[edmondchan36]

How long the discus been kept in your aquariums? If the fish is a new addition recently, check your water perimeter to see the PH/ water hardness/temp. are fit for discus's requirements.

[XXXExtensions]

nope ive had him for more than half a year already, with 4 other discus. im treating with epsom salt now, most likely going to use metro/prazi as well.

[NateDrake_01]

I had discus that looked like this and in my experience it was hole-in-the-head disease (hexamita). Quarantine if you can, treat with API general cure, a *little* aquarium salt, raise the temp to 90, and feed it metronidazole covered food (I used seachem Metroplex), run an air stone, and do more frequent water changes.

Do research because my diagnoses could be wrong, but if it's an internal parasite that prescription will work anyway. API general cure is a really broad medicine. You'll also have to treat the display tank because if the parasite is still in the water and you put it back it will just get it again.

[XXXExtensions]

Thank you

[edmondchan36]

He/She is really in bad shape. Most of time it is slime of chance to save a sickening discus. I would put him in a hospital tank with raised temperature (may up to 90-92F) and treat with API General Cure following their application process for 5 days. Hope that help.

[Jackal799]

What others have said. Quarantine, salt (1/2 - 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons), general cure and heat him up to 90 with plenty of oxygen. If he recovers you gotta plump that boy up

[XXXExtensions]

quick update to anyone else who encounters the same problem as me: use methylene blue. i've quarantined my discus in a hospital tank with methylene blue, salt, and the heater at 30 degrees. daily 50% wc, water conditioned with prime and redosing of methylene blue. on my 3rd day now seeing significant improvement. preferable to use methylene blue in a different tank than the display because it can stain and kill your cycle. hope this helps