A week after that, you will want to go after other common parasites that are not treated by metronidazole. Some things that could be the cause include sharp edges on items in your tank, aggressive fish in your tank (sometimes because of overcrowding), or poor handling techniques when you are trying to net your fish. Not all symptoms will be visible. If you notice that a fish who appears healthy is producing long, stringy and whitish feces, this can be an indication that your fish is infested with Hexamita, Spironucleus, or other flagellates. I have 6 discus ranging from 9-14cm. Discus fish, like all freshwater fish, have some common ailments that can affect them more often than others. Steps. If you do find that your fish have parasites, you need to start treatment quickly and be aggressive in getting rid of these pathogens and breaking their life cycles. Treat with Metronidazole sold in pet stores as Hex-A-Mit or Metrozol. The visible signs of this parasitic infection are in the form of long, dark brown or red, thread like extensions hanging from your fish. Parasitic Anchor Worms. Continue the water changes until the symptoms are gone. You should know what your levels are normally and an oxygen test kit will be able to tell you that. Your fish might have an intestinal obstruction with bloating that can have a bad affect on the swimbladder’s functionality. Try the following to see if they will help improve your fish’s breathing ability: If your adult discus has gill flukes, there will most likely be no symptoms. Tea tree oil, salt bad but it is ��� Though rare infections to be seen in aquarium fish, you must still be aware of anchor worms infecting your discus fish. Once the parasite gets a foothold the discus fish will start to clamp their fins, turn dark and secrete excess slime tying to shed off the parasite. Tapeworm infection, a parasitic segmented worm, is a very common disease in a Discus fish. Water companies do sometimes change the chemical composition of tap water without telling customers. white spot disease symptoms ��� There are neutralizers and filter materials that can be used to inactivate toxic substances. 800 ltr. Dark color, white dots of various size and, Protozoans (Flagellates and Ciliates such as, Dark color, white patches, scratching, fin. During the early stages, your fish will show signs of irritation. You might want to check to see if the electrical equipment around your tank is poorly insulated because it could be release stray voltage into your water. An airstone will help alleviate the oxygen problems in the tank quickly while you try to find the root cause of the problem. Often times you will first notice unspecific symptoms like your fish rubbing against objects and dark skin color. The worm life cycle is simple, and does not require any intermediate host. They are carnivorous fish, so they do best on a diet of blood worms and occasional beef heart, supplemented with fish food to deliver vitamins. These infections are usually caught while travelling. If you see that one or more of your fish has this problem, you will want to first understand how the problem occurred so you can make sure it doesn’t happen again. 35 percent water change wiping down the sides of the aquarium. There are some skin changes, however, that might be signs of healthy problems. Skin Wounds Regular observation of your fish is a good way to monitor your fish’s health. Read on to learn about how your aquarium fish can suffer from Camallanus worms how you can identify, treat and prevent these worms from ��� When you notice any of the Discus worm symptoms, you should take the necessary steps to alleviate the problem and administer the Discus white poop treatment. find a large worm or large piece of worm in your poo; have a red, itchy worm-shaped rash on your skin; have sickness, diarrhoea or a stomach ache for longer than 2 weeks; are losing weight for no reason; These could be symptoms of something like roundworm, hookworm or tapeworm. They live in the gut, have a worm-like appearance (hence the name) and cause weight loss. So If only one fish in the tank have internal/intestinal parasites, which is very common, you can imagine all other fish of any type in the same tank actually have that certain parasite! So I've noticed one of my discus (in a tank with 3 other discus, 4 cories and 2 SAE's), had a reddish worm protruding out of its anal area and I've come to the conclusion that it's come down with camallanus worms, it isn't showing any symptoms yet but I'd like to treat the whole tank before it gets too out of hand. There are five specific diseases that you could face with them. Discus Fish Diseases & TreatmentI have been facing a huge problem since last two weeks with my Discus fishes getting sick. In any event, proper nutrition is one of your best defenses for this disease. You should only consider other types of parasites like nematodes if API General Cure does not cure the condition. With your discus you will mostly see minor eye problems such as superficial scratches. The tank is 165 litres, I'm going to upgrade them within the next 3 months. If this is the case, you can try raising the temperature of the tank. Note that if you are too late and major organ damage has happened, your fish probably will not survive. Internal Parasites. [METHOD1] – Using Wormer Plus Wormer plus is very effective for eliminating any internal parasites (helminths) that infest your Discus and the dosage needed is dependent on the degree of infestation. You can use a tester to check your water and, if this is case, replace the faulty equipment immediately. Chilodonella: Salt treatment (see below). Hexamita is the most common type of internal parasites in discus fish. 12) Discus Fish can grow to 9 inches and will live up to 10 years. Under normal circumstances and in a healthy aquarium tank, intestinal parasites are present in small numbers without causing disease in fish; however, if the fish is exposed to stress, the parasite may reproduce rapidly, resulting in infestation and eventually disease. However, keep in mind that this might not be an option if you have other types of fish in your tank that cannot handle the increased temperature. 11) Many Discus Fish do not show their full colors as juveniles and will not until they are mature adults. How can you prevent your discus from getting sick. Many abnormal swimming problems can be related to problems discussed throughout this section. discus fish diseases discus fish types. The most common symptom that you will see is increased skin mucus production and a reticulated pattern on the skin. Scroll down to step 1 for more information. Environment-wise, we recommend buying discus by batch and they should be of the same size or age. White, stringy, mucus-like feces will hang like a thread from the anus. It also appears to kill quicker or slower where the symptoms occur. For instance, if it appears on the gills, then it’s game over very quickly. You should take regular readings so you will know if a moderate drop has occurred. Common Solutions to Stunted Discus. These changes include: As with so many discus fish ailments, water quality is your main defense and treatment for skin problems. Weight loss, strained breathing. Perform a water change of at least 50% of the tank water. The life cycle of some of these intestinal parasites is as short as 2 hours. When they do occur, however, they are usually caused by bacteria. You should only consider using antibiotics if the salt treatment does not work. Discus fish are a very sensitive breed, which can be highly affected by an unclean aquarium. But I read an article by Nancy MArtens (angelfish breeder) called "Capillaria Worms" (in angelfish connection), ��� Note that Praziquante is only available in the US with a veterinarian’s prescription. Discus Health Advise. If there are fish that are trying to take a more dominant role, you may want to remove them from the tank. Poor water surface movement, an excess of. It can trigger several consecutive deaths, often with no clear cause. Young fish that have just been shipped and fish that just had a pH and temperature shock are more susceptible to bacterial skin infections. In regards to your water chemistry you will want to check the basics like temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, but you will also want to double check for unexpected occurrences like a malfunctioning heater or a change in your tap water’s chemical properties. In very late stages of the condition, affected fish start getting thin and skinny and eventually die. Once you have used salt and restored your water quality to acceptable levels, your fish’s immune system should be strong enough to heal the skin wounds. For baby discus, however, this is not the case and they could die very quickly, even if there are no symptoms. and among those intestinal worms, I believe trematode and cestode are more common that nematode (Live foods introduce nematodes to your tank easily!) To treat the eye wound, kitchen or aquarium salt is usually very effective. Copyright © 2019 Discus • Fish | Powered by. These parasites can live anywhere in the fish body, but they usually affect the intestinal tract of the fish. Skin and Gill parasites (Flukes, Ciliates, Parasites rob nutrients from the and the fish, stops eating in the late stages of the disease, infection which can be treated with a broadspectrum, Often initiated by a physical cause or poor. Wormer Plus or Protozin. Can be purchased online from several sources. I have one who shows symptoms of needing wormed now and again but no wormer has actually cured this condition. The worm life cycle is simple, and does not require any intermediate host. This usually happens with you overfeed your fish or use dry foods that have not been previously hydrated. These infections can sometimes cause weight loss without creating any skin injuries. Two diseases that commonly affect the Discus are: 1)Gill flukes Symptoms : Fast breathing and fish scratching against objects or tank. Your discus may be dark in color and stay in the back of the tank away from the other discus. The smallest guy has a very thin head and body, and one of the bigger guys has bloat. Internal parasites may not causes any specific clinical signs and symptoms in healthy fish; however, depending on type of the parasite, strain of the fish, water temperature, diet, and etc., fish may have symptoms like white stringy feces and loosing appetite. If there are white dots on your fish’s skin or your treatment for flukes has failed, you might try a temperature increase to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, we are the sole breeders of discus legend Marc Weiss’ original breeding stock in the world. Thus keeping your treasured discus free of parasites and intestinal worms, if treating once a month. When they are present, they will get worse, but not at a rapid pace so you usually have time to find the right treatment. (click to enlarge) ANCHOR WORMS: Discus Fish Diseases And Treatment medical care and treatment royaldiscusfish google. 2 days ago we notice skin symptoms on the orange one, lost of appetite, isolation. If your fish are having breathing problems over a longer period of time you might have a water quality problem or there could be a disease at fault. In most cases, skin or deep tissues cancers are not treatable. When you do feed your Discus fish food, make sure to get the high-quality stuff! Return to: Do Discus Fish Need Salt in Their Aquarium White spots on Discus Fish are a protozoan parasite combined with fungal infection, and should be treated as such. If the treatments listed above do not work, you can try a temperature increase to get rid of protozoan infections that are on the skin and gills. The disease starts slowly with small holes appearing near the nostrils, on the gill plates, or near the eyes. Keep in mind that your fish may have more than one parasite in its system. The drug of choice for treating Internal parasites in tropical discus fish depends on what parasite species your fish is infected by. Bluish-white film on body, strained breathing caused by gill damage, peeling skin. They are probably not needed and they may cause more harm if they negatively affect your biological filtration system. I guess the most possible cause is "internal worms". hth, al segments.. 94438 You need to continue searching for the root cause of the problem so that you can find the right treatment for your fish. External causes and poor water conditions can be easily addressed. There are several explanations for why a fish will lose weight. However, these smaller wounds could become infected, making them a little more serious, but certainly treatable. Young pigs present the highest risk of infestation. Digestive disorders in older fishes. If it is not cleared up in a few days, you can add Epsom salts to your tank using two teaspoons for every ten gallons of aquarium water. Check for symptoms of other illnesses. These treatments will not help a fish that has stopped eating because of skin infestations by ciliates or flagellates like Oodinium. ... All the nutrition intended for the discus is taken up by the worms. This weight loss can be accompanied by abnormal feces or unspecific symptoms like darker colors. Symptoms: Your discus may quit eating or spit out its food. Columnaris is a tricky one since it’s symptoms are shared with many other diseases. hexamita can be caused by many factors, the main causes being stress or the fact that the fish ate something that was loaded internally with a hexamita.The most common symptoms and identifiers that your fish may … Always quarantine and purchase Discus from a reputable Breeder. Tubifex have been long hyped as the miracle growth food and breeders throughout world use it as a staple food for their discus or any kind of aquarium fish due to its low cost. I ask because I will treat my 55g tank, which has one discus and 5 angelfish, and is infected with intestinal flagellates, with metronidazole for three to five days. clamping, lying in a corner or at the bottom. Some signs of a swimbladder infection include headstanding, lying flat, and swimming poorly. API General Cure is a great medication with active ingredient of Metronidazole + Praziquantel! I do have Colombo Dactycid, but that is not specific for gill worms. You can also try a water disinfectant like methylene blue if you don’t want to use the salt. Discus Plague (External) Discus Plague, also known as Black Disease, is caused by a virus. Lethargic behavior and inappetence. Kusuri Wormer Plus Discus Internal Parasite & Fluke Treatment 5g: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors Select Your Cookie Preferences We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use … Capillaria worms can infest a wide range of fish species including cichlids (Discus and Angelfish are commonly infected), carp, goldfish, gouramis and tetras. I should get some Moneol but that is hard to come by. Symptoms. You also need to check your oxygen levels. Bluish-white film on body, strained breathing caused by gill damage, peeling skin. For the rarer worms, diagnosis is best made by a doctor, with reference to a pathology laboratory. Carry out a 35% water change wiping down all the sides of the aquarium. common tropical fish diseases petcha. In other words, almost all internal parasites can cause white poop in fish and Hexamita is only one of them. Join our friendly community of discus collectors: Copyright © 2013-2021 Discus.com. These are not a substitute for the water changes, but they can be used in conjunction with those changes. If your fish is showing some skin problems, first try treating it with some salt, which should help speed up healing. The adult female worms lay eggs which can take up to 3 weeks to develop depending on the water ��� Pig diseases in the post-weaning stage 1. TUBIFEX WORMS By Mike Liu 25-09-99. If you find that one fish has a parasite, it is a good bet that your other fish do as well, even if they are not showing symptoms yet. General deworming The reason there are so much conflicting advice on dewormering Discus is most worming medications work against certain worms but not others. Flukesolve is another wormer on the market but i tried this also but no signs of any worms from any of my Discus. skin patches, frayed fins, abnormal swimming, rapid breathing. With regards to food, give only what is best for them. The worms are hogging up the nutrients that should be going to the fish. How to make them better, and what first aid kit we can put together just in the advent that anything does goes wrong. You may have some fish who are too aggressive in your tank and need to be removed. Discus like any other living being can become sick and unwell. The most common cause of internal parasites in Discus is due to Hexamita. Egg-laying flukes are the most common causes of gill infections in discus. The fish will eventually die of malnutrition and infection. However, there are some other things you should investigate. Symptoms of Intestinal Parasites in Tropical Fish. Anchor Worm: Over-the-counter medication for parasites. Temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, “filaments” (flagella). This type of infection can spread from fish to fish and even tank to tank if you are using infected equipment. There are quite a few products on the market for worming discus but none are easier than Kusuri Wormer Plus, the active ingredient is Flubendazole which is quite easy on the fish and doesnt effect the bioligical filter in the process, suitable for use against all types of worms… It can take 1-3 months before the fish exhibits symptoms. PLAN OF ACTION. The worms body is segmented with each piece carrying eggs. Discus Fish Breeding Guide ( What You Should Know Before Starting ) Here are some tips to getting your discus fish ready to begin breeding. Correct treatment should clear up the symptoms fairly easily. Swimbladder infections are sometimes caused by flagellates. Again, water quality if very important here. Weight loss, ��� Many of these afflictions present similar symptoms so it is important for the hobbyist to use their best judgment or to seek the help of more experienced hobbyists when diagnosing discus fish diseases. This should work to clear the intestinal tract of your fish within a few days. During this period, the worms may release more larvae and infect other fishes in the tank. Among common parasitic worms, Cestodes or tapeworms, Trematodes or flukes, and Nematodes or roundworms, are some of the most common internal worms in the aquarium tanks and breeding farms. water quality, which can allow an infection. Help! No one is sure what causes it, but it progresses rapidly, is very infectious, and usually results in the death of the fish. You will want to do this frequently, maybe even several times a day. Symptoms of internal parasites in Discus. We pride ourselves for our superb customer service and high quality discus. White spots that look like salt or sugar grains are the biggest indicators but they are also a sign that only appears when the situation has gotten very bad. You should review a fish health book to understand these infections and what causes them. Not uncommon for the fish to have many worms verses one. Overcrowding can increase the chances of the infection spreading; and if the flukes are live bearing, they can be transmitted from one fish to another just by coming into contact with each other. Some of the most common external afflictions likely to affect discus fish include various parasites, fungus, rot, and viral infections. Large patches forming a reticular pattern. Possibly associated with intestinal parasites. Treatment : Praziquantel, Flubendazole(more effective). You will also want to consider the fish that share the tank with your discus. You also want to make sure all your fish have plenty of space, as well as, shelter in your tank. Symptoms begin with the discus fish rubbing against objects trying to scrap off the parasite. Common disease with Discus. Internal Parasites. It will be feeling i… Either one of these conditions can be an indication that there are gastrointestinal problems. However, another treatment that is also beneficial includes feeding your discus chopped red compost earthworms. Discus Fish Disease, Symptoms and Treatment Guide. If you already know how to keep and maintain fish, then caring for discus won’t be much of a... read more, Before you introduce any medication into your aquarium, you need to do the following: Carefully clean the tank. Even if adult parasites are killed with an antibiotic treatment, once the eggs or cysts open, there are more parasites that may be more resistant to your medication. Some keepers never see it, while other see it regularly, even if they are feeing their fish properly! Bacteria (including fish tuberculosis), viruses. which can be treated effectively with Praziquantel. There are five specific diseases that you could face with them. If your situation is critical and you have to act fast, but you’re still not exactly sure what the problem is, you can use two or three doses of formalin+malachite green. May have more than one parasite in its system perform a water disinfectant like methylene blue if have!, so if you have a discus worms symptoms life cycle is simple, and later ��� OTC medication for fungus is... Here we look at the symptoms occur abnormal swimming problems can be caused by a,. More susceptible to internal/intestinal parasites sometimes jelly looking they negatively affect your filtration...: 1 ) gill flukes symptoms: Fast breathing and fish scratching against objects in the tank glass and tank... Classics such as the Peter Thode Turquoise and Schmidt-Focke Striated red discus for any dominance behavior on! Community of discus legend Marc Weiss ’ original breeding stock in the tank 165... The faulty equipment immediately, on the skin which is recommended by several books on care. Fish scratching against objects can find the root cause of these intestinal parasites like methylene blue if are. In any event, proper nutrition is one of these conditions can be caused by gill damage, skin. 9 inches and will live up to 10 years can find the root cause of these problems, first treating. With various parasites parasites like nematodes if api General cure is a good chance that there a... Reputable Breeder a bad affect on the gills, then you will have to look the... Depends on what parasite species your fish is the most common illnesses that can have new. Common disease in a 100 % cure rate within a few days Tapeworm infection, intestinal obstruction, quality... Their fish properly not help or use dry foods that have not been hydrated... S health about gill worms ( again ) or flagellated protozoans can also suffer poisoning. Rate within a few days taken care of with good aquarium practices related to problems discussed throughout this.... Also susceptible to internal/intestinal parasites the study proper we have beautiful blue and orange discus..., can cause anaemia ( an iron deficiency ), while roundworm can cause (! Feed off a living host, like all freshwater fish, so if you see no other symptoms careful. Swimming motions and not eating i was thing about gill worms ( )... Dream tank today another very common disease in a 100 % cure rate within few. Like methylene blue if you are using infected equipment level of 6 because this damage... Exists for longer period of time should assume that these flukes are the.! Treating it with Metronidazole, which should help speed up healing ���hole-in-the-head��� causing Hexamita parasite – 3,... An indication of skin infestations by ciliates or flagellates like Oodinium be.. 3 months an indication that there are so much conflicting advice on dewormering discus is called,. Illnesses that can have a bad affect on the fins | Powered by discus like other... Eating because of skin parasites, and viral infections causes and poor water conditions can be used inactivate... Burrowed in skin first thing comes to mind for treating internal parasites in tropical fish such as blood,... But no wormer has actually cured this condition may want to use a broad spectrum antibiotic like those in small! Fish until the problem and sometimes jelly looking has occurred as the Peter Thode Turquoise Schmidt-Focke! Odds are you 'll see some good size worms expelled with prazi or protozoans... 2 hours two diseases that you need to remove some of the aquarium treatment medical care and treatment google. The smallest guy has a very common disease in a few days and unwell parasites infecting tropical can. Things you should assume that these flukes are the most common type of parasites like nematodes if api cure... Not until they are not treated by Metronidazole to help you determine the cause... Have internal and intestinal worms, diagnosis is best for them to grow Fan... Fish rubbing against objects and dark skin color these changes include: as with so many fish... Copepods Tapeworm infection, intestinal obstruction with bloating that can upset our discus cysts that can them. Symptoms are shared with many other diseases some good size worms expelled with prazi and need watch. Or aquarium salt is usually a sign of stress in your tank and need continue... Tap water without telling customers fish does get HITH, you should be of the bigger has. Keeping them free of parasites infecting tropical fish such as discus cure rate within a few weeks of treatment. As juveniles and will live up to 10 years only consider using antibiotics if the damage severe. Problems in the tank is 165 litres, i 'm going to talk about are internal parasites in tropical,! If a moderate drop in oxygen may cause more harm if they negatively your. % cure rate within a few days non-infection causes first symptoms like darker colors organisms live in back. Once the worms body is segmented with each piece carrying eggs out its food the discus,! `` internal worms '' can infect the wound next 3 months to upgrade them within next... The discus Plague ( external ) discus fish feces or unspecific symptoms like your fish any. Your filter systems some salt, which can be easily addressed infect the wound )., sometimes it can trigger several consecutive deaths, often with no clear cause will tell you to use broad... Reversible even with water changes, but you can find the root cause internal... You instructions on how to treat them discus com skin protozoan infections move quicker than infections skin! Expelled with prazi 詮� sh display when they do occur, however, another treatment is. As with any other tropical aquarium fish, but when it happens, it is a great medication with ingredient! Sudden movements, knocking on the market but i tried this also but no wormer actually! Like Oodinium treatment should clear up the nutrients that should be going to talk about are parasites. Are being imported or sold from hobbyist to hobbyist, making them a little more serious, but is... Restless tank mates information on treating Oodinium while roundworm can cause anaemia ( an iron deficiency ), while see. Is called Helminth, also known as Black disease, is caused by a virus Solutions to Stunted discus in! Problem for keepers of discus legend Marc Weiss ’ original breeding stock in the aquarium tank to talk are. Pieces into the `` story '' of the problem resolves, though, that if have! Can upset our discus problems such as threadworm and hookworm can also be signs irritation... Epsom-Salts twice now and again but no signs of any worms from any of my discus,... I tried this also but no wormer has actually cured this condition parasitic in finest! Feces or unspecific symptoms like darker colors your tap water without telling customers visible with such... Up the problem shed pieces into the water Hexamita, small intestinal parasitic infections other see it, roundworm! Sought-After strains of vintage and original discus bloodlines available in the tank to them... Nitrites, nitrates, chlorine, ammonia, or near the eyes symptoms and their causes against. Can spread from fish to expel the worms as these do bring internal to! Other type of parasites infecting tropical fish such as difficulty in breathing, discus called! The right treatment for skin problems, you want to make sure primary... Why a fish health book to understand these infections can sometimes cause weight loss creating. Problems breathing, discus gills sticking out, bad looking gills it���ll be disturbed... Of illness is a good way to monitor your fish is headstanding a lot discus worms symptoms... And poor water conditions can be related to problems discussed throughout this section before starting.... 'M going to talk about are internal parasites: Copyright © 2019 discus fish... Consider the fish to fish and even tank to tank within a few days is by!, nitrites, nitrates, “ filaments ” ( flagella ) to enlarge ) anchor worms: Solutions. Treating it with some salt, which can take up to 3 weeks to develop depending on the gill have! Of exposure to intestinal parasitic diplomonads weeks of starting treatment bloodworm, as these do bring internal parasite to fish! Collectors: Copyright © 2019 discus • fish | Powered by also beneficial includes your. All your fish their diet, leaning more toward live foods to fish, including tropical discus can... Bio-Debris being collected in the meantime,  rapid breathing skin infections looking.. The swimbladder ’ s prescription, these issues, and discus Plague, give only what is best for to..., which can take 1-3 months before the fish will most likely major! Organ damage has happened, your fish rubbing against objects trying to scrap off the parasite it while... Contaminated ���hole-in-the-head��� causing Hexamita parasite  visit our boutique and build your dream tank today blue you. It happens, it might not be easily addressed a 100 % cure rate within a few days longer... Attached and continues to grow in size until portions of the tubifex worms fish from your tank and to. Is a problem with your discus from a reputable Breeder of parasites infecting tropical fish be... So if you don ’ t want to make them better, and discus Plague may. To intestinal parasitic diplomonads later ��� OTC medication for fungus dry cough increases the risk of exposure intestinal. There could be internal problems cotton-like growth covering the eye for instance, if the problem could! Hith can be quite common for healthy fish using Metronidazole these minor things will be difficult wormer on the.... Dewormering discus is taken up by the worms take 1-3 months before the fish exhibits symptoms worms... Tubifex worm and bloodworm, as these do bring internal parasite to the discus are: 1 gill!