Help Discus not eating??

**phongnguyen123** · 12-18-2012, 08:39 AM

Hey i got my discus awhile back maybe 5-6 months ago. when i bought him at the LPS with another discus 2 in total. one was torqiouse color and the other was a melon orange. They both were doing fine with my other 5 discus. They are about 4-5 inches long but the torquoise is not eating has not been eating for months maybe 2 or more. He was nice and fat now he is super skinny. he has lost alot of color and became reallly pale he wont eat he stays in one spot all the time. everyone else is fine but he hasnt been eating for months i treated with melafix, salt, methyline blue, high temp at 89 but still nothing. any help? i got him in a 60 gallon tank with 6 other discus and a teacup stingray, i also got 4 amazon swords and 3 anubis plants. 50% water change every 3-4 days.

**Cliff** · 12-18-2012, 09:39 AM

If I remember correctly, this is the same tank were you had trouble with one of your tea-cup stingrays actually unusual just a little while ago.

Have you tested the water parameters in you tank ?

Have you tested your tap water parameters ?

From my understanding, bot types of fish are very sensitive to water parameters.

**phongnguyen123** · 12-18-2012, 10:03 AM

Yeah got it checked out everything is good. Ph 7, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 3 and temperture is at 89.

**phongnguyen123** · 12-18-2012, 10:06 AM

I also got alot of algae growth going on in my tank. i keep my lights on 24/7 is that a bad thing? like algae is on my plants leaf. anyway of stopping that?

**Honey Badger 1** · 12-18-2012, 11:39 AM

He must be eating something, I doubt he would be alive for going on 3 months with no food. It may be too late, but have you treated the fish for parasites?

**mojosodope** · 12-18-2012, 11:45 AM

I would increase the water changes to 60-70% daily for a week and see if that shows any sign of improvement. Also dip whatever food you feed in garlic, consider feeding freeze dried black worms or making a beef/turkey heart mix.

**KingFisher** · 12-18-2012, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by phongnguyen123

I also got alot of algae growth going on in my tank. i keep my lights on 24/7 is that a bad thing? like algae is on my plants leaf. anyway of stopping that?

Keeping the lights on can indeed be causing stress to the fish. Fish need regular "sleep cycles" just like anything else. You should leave the lights off at least 8 hours a night, and even more if the algae problem persists.

**Lady Hobbs** · 12-18-2012, 02:44 PM

I agree with the PraziPro and, IMO, all fish should be treated for internal worms. It's so mild that's there's no reason not to use it ...especially in new fish. I have read that garlic food may help prevent worms but not get rid of existing worms. Not sure if that is accurate or not but it kinda makes sense to me.

Mountain Discus, a breeder that sells on the internet, also recommends Omega One fish flakes for their Discus. It's made of real salmon. They feel fish pellets are not as good for them due to their flat stomachs.

Do you think perhaps this fish may be bullied and the others not allowing him to eat?

I would not use the melafix. Gosh, King Fisher is right on. Turn those lights off. They need not be on over 8 hours a day.