How to identify sick Discus

Vincent explains the 5 signs to look out for when your Discus is sick.

Everyone loves a happy Discus, however, during it’s lifetime it’ll be common for your Discus to get sick on the odd occassion. The main thing to remember is don’t panic. Discus are very resiliant fish and can often overcome most illnesses.

Below are 5 common signs that your Discus is sick:

1. Loss of appetite

A change in your Discus’ environment can often lead to a loss of appetite. You may have recently introduced new tankmates causing your Discus to become stressed. Or, you may have decreased the water temperature, leading to a slower metabolism. If this is the case, monitor your Discus closely and consider moving new additions to a separate tank and increasing the water temperature.

On the other hand, a prolonged loss of appetite may be a sign of something more serious. Check your Discus for visible external diseases such as bloat and white spots and treat them accordingly.

2. White poop

If you’ve noticed your Discus has white segmented poop, this is a sign of parasites such as worms. This may be caused by new additons to your tank such as other fish or new plants.

It is recommended that you deworm your Discus regularly to help prevent parasites.

Read our article to learn how to deworm your Discus.

3. White mucus on the body

White mucus on the Discus’ body is common during the early stage of a bacterial infection. The white mucus is often found under the Discus’ fin.

4. Clamped fins

Healthy Discus have fins that are wide open. Clamped fins are a sign of a mild bacterial infection in your Discus. Once you have identified the particular type of bacterial infections, treat your Discus appropriately.

5. Discus is turning black

Discus are not naturally black in colour, so if you notice that your Discus is turning black, this is a sign of a severe bacterial infection.

Please do not purchase a Discus if it is black. It is a clear sign that the Discus is unwell.

Should I put my sick Discus in a hospital tank?

If you have identified that one of your Discus is sick and doesn’t appear to be improving after monitoring, then it is advised to place the Discus in a hospital tank.

Read our article about how to set up an affordable hospital tank at home.

How does OZ Discus treat sick fish?

At OZ Discus, we have a quarantining process that is kept separate to our Discus sanctuary.

When new Discus enter the store, they are kept in the quarantine area. We worm them and treat them anti-bacterial medication. The Discus are only moved to the Discus sanctuary for sale once we can see they have no illnesses, are strong and eating well.

Watch our behind the scenes video to see what happens when you receive a new Discus shipment.

Disclaimer: This is a guide only. OZ Discus is not liable for any losses and holds no responsibility in the event of the death of the fish. Users of this guide are to use the information at their own discretion and accept all risks resulting from the use of this guide.