Discus Losing Red Color

**emster1** · 12-08-2012, 12:28 AM

I have a 65 gallon discus tank that has been established for 6 months. All discus are healthy and eat, but i noticed one of the red ones has lost alot of color. No other signs of anything. Any ideas?

**Cermet** · 12-08-2012, 02:01 PM

Can be the food; are you feeding both a high quality (B vitamin fortified) and giving some live brine shrimp? These can get color back.

Also, what temperature do you keep them? 82 F is low and I feel 84-86 works best. Are your water changes large enough and often enough?

**emster1** · 12-08-2012, 09:53 PM

i keep at 84-86. fish died this am i do large h20 changes feed frozen black worms, hikari ciclid gold, tetra min flakes. I had noticed my tank was at 90 so i lowered it. Prob my tank was too warm for too long.

**Cermet** · 12-08-2012, 11:42 PM

Sorry for the loss.

Maybe if the temp was that way for a long time; discus can handle 90 F but more than two weeks I don't know.

That said, next time try salt (aquarium) 1 tsp/gal and do hold the temp at 90F but do this only for two weeks (this assumes the tank isn't already that high ... for sick fish only.) This has cured a lot of problems for my discus.

I do not trust frozen or fresh black worms - frozen still is filled with bacteria and parasites and sooner or later, I'd get sick fish. I would use only sterilized frozen worms. Brine shrimp (alive) are safe and with a good pellet offers good nutrition.

**emster1** · 12-09-2012, 12:04 AM

how do i know if the frozen is sterilized? will say on package? i thought they all were sterilized if frozen.

**Cermet** · 12-09-2012, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by emster1

how do i know if the frozen is sterilized? will say on package? i thought they all were sterilized if frozen.

Yes, it must say it or it isn't.

**Lady Hobbs** · 12-17-2012, 01:00 PM

Do you have any water parameters like the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Fading out in fish is a sign of stress. How about aggression with others? What is in the tank with the Discus?

Temps for Discus is debatable all over the internet. Many claim
86-88 for the young ones
82-84 for the adults

I have never kept these fish so can only go by what is told in articles but in a closed system, fish can not move into cooler area's when they get too warm like in the wild or in huge fish tanks.