Tropical Fish Discus Forum Questions Answered!

Archive for June, 2005

Salt and Plants

Monday, June 27th, 2005

My tank is planted. Could I get away with using a little less salt and not kill my plants? Not use any salt? Or get rid of the plants? the tank is in the Living Room so I would like it to look nice but of course I want the Discus to be happy and healthy. Another question The only Blood Red is pairing up the another kind. Should I pull it untill the other one pairs up with one of its own kind?

Reply:
1. The fish are all right. There is not necessary to add salt in the tank. Salt is only to disinfest bacteria and some kinds of parasites.
2. If the fish is sick, you should treat them in the hospital tank, which is bare without plants.
3. Inter-married is no harm. Next round you can pair them with their own kind.

Posted in Plants | Comments Off

Parasites and Diseases

Thursday, June 23rd, 2005

Are the discus you are selling parasite or disease free? If yes, how are we the “buyers” can be sure that they are parasite or disease free?

Reply:
1.We will do the quarantine before we transport the fish. We are sure they are free from parasite and disease. We won’t sell sick fish.
2.The buyers should also quarantine the fish before they put the fish in their main tank. During the transportation, the fish become weak and easily attacked by the parasites and bacteria. They need time to adjust the new environment.

Posted in Health, Diease and Treatments | Comments Off

Discus and salt

Thursday, June 23rd, 2005

I just got 11 15 month old Discus and put them in my 72 gal Bowfront they look great. The dealer told me to use 2 tbs of Non-iodized salt with their water. Is this necessary? How much should I use with each water change? Amount per 10 Gal?

Reply:
1. What your dealer says is true.
2. We do this quite often while changing water.
3. Your tank must be bare without plants.
4. Plants will die if you add in salt.
5. Your tank is 72 gal. You can add in as much as 3 tablespoons.

Posted in Health, Diease and Treatments | Comments Off

Discus not eating

Tuesday, June 14th, 2005

I have a 65 gal aquarium with three discus. Two of the three are about a third of the size of the largest fish. The smaller fish have not been eating. I removed the larger fish to another aquarium as I suspected that it was stressing the smaller discus. I have been feeding the fish blackworms and brine shrimp as well as flake food to entice eating. Even though I place the food in close proximity, they still do not eat. I would like to know how I can entice the fish to eat (different type of food, etc.) so that they do not starve. Any suggestions appreciated. I do need some soon!!

Reply:
1. Discus eats all kinds of food. Of course they like live food.
2. Brine shrimp is too small for the big fish to eat. The left over will pollute the water. The water is polluted the fish has no appetite to eat
3. Do water changed and starve the fish for a few days. Then feed them with live-food. Little bit at a time. Be patient. Repeat the above if they don’t eat
4. If the fish still not eating, most likely you have to deworm the fish
5. The fish by nature, they have very little things to eat. They don’t eat for one or two weeks, they still don’t die. Do not feed them too much. Over feeding is a bad practice

Posted in Food and Nutrition | Comments Off

Methylene Blue and salt

Saturday, June 11th, 2005

How much Methylene Blue and salt do I add to a 75 gallon tank for new fish?

Reply:
1. Make Methylene Blue solution:4 grams of Methylene blue in 1 liter of distill water
2. Add in the solution drop by drop until the water is blue. Its safe. The fish can tolerate even as blue as you could hardly see the fish
3. For 75 gallons of water, you can add in 3 to 4 tablespoons of salt. Provided its a bare-tank, otherwise the plants will die.

Posted in Health, Diease and Treatments | Comments Off

Heater

Saturday, June 11th, 2005

I have just installed a heater in my Discus tank butit seems to affect the Discus as they become inactive and the color ontheir bodies gradually faded as the water warmed up. Is a heater really necessary in a Discus tank? I am residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Reply:
1. What is your normal water temperature?
2. As long as they are in the range of 26 to 29 degree C that is excellent
3. In Malaysia, most of the people keeping discus without the heater. Unlike 10 or 20 years ago
4. Heater is used while we are doing the medical treatments. It needs to raise the temperature to 30 degree C
5. Your fish become inactive and discolors directly due to the heater. Check your water temperature with your heater on. What is the water temperature? Do you know how to operate the heater?
6. You have already stressed your fish. Treat them with Ariflavine and salt solution.

Posted in Discus Tank | Comments Off