Similar to any other fish, discus disease can strike your tank if you are not paying attention. In this article, I will go over some of the common ailments your fish may develop. By identifying problems early and taking action, you will minimize the risk of serious problems. Overall, the best way of reducing the risk of discus disease is to create the proper recommended environment for your fish, which usually means controlling water quality, temperature, and diet.
Hole in the Head
Hole in the Head is a common discus disease. Early treatment is important because the longer it lasts, the harder it is to cure. Left untreated, your discus fish will die. One common method to treat Hole in the Head disease is to raise the water temperature to about 36 degrees C for 8-10 days. You must make sure to increase aeration at the same time, since the additional heat will lower oxygen levels. If you notice that the heat treatment is stressful to your discus, you must lower the temperature and try medication.
Gill fluke
Gill flukes are a type of discus disease involving external parasites that infect the gills and cause heavy breathing and erratic swimming. Gill flukes are an especially bad problem for discus fry since their immune system is not strong enough to fight the infection compared to adult discus. Gill flukes can be treated with medication, but the best practice is to isolate discus fry into their own tank as soon as they are big enough to eat external food. This way, they won't be infected in the first place by the adults.
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections usually occur in aquariums with less than ideal conditions, but they can also happen in well maintained tanks as well. It would be impossible to identify every possible type of discus disease bacteria here without access to a laboratory, but fish stores can supply you with broad spectrum antibiotics that will treat a number of different infections. Make sure to follow the directions closely, so as not to overdose your fish. In many cases, a significant improvement can be seen within 8 hours.
Most cases of discus disease can be prevented in the first place by regular water changes, a clean diet, and quarantine methods. However, if your discus fish become sick it is important to take action immediately. In an enclosed ecosystem such as a fish tank, small problems become big problems quickly. I encourage you to become knowledgeable about various fish diseases and treatments so that you will be ready to act if need be. Good Luck!
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