It turns out that discus fish can “catch” something and get sick. Discus Fish diseases?
It’s
true; it is basic biology. Living organisms (discus fish) can be
infected with disease.
You
get sick, you go to the doctor. Your dog or cat gets sick, you carry
them to the vet. What about fish? Where do they go when they get
sick? Unfortunately, there is not a Fish Hospital in most
neighborhoods. You will need to educate yourself on treatment
procedures.
Pathogens
are usually the cause of discus disease. They are the itty bitty
critters that infect things. In the case of fish, these pathogens can
reside in the tank water. Or, the pathogens can infect the fish by
living in and under the scales and slime coat that is supposed to
protect the fish.
Reasons
for discus fish disease are varied. Fish are actually natural homes
to disease carrying pathogens. So it is possible that a disease comes
into the tank when you introduce a new discuss into the community.
Other
reasons that discuss may fall prey to pathogens may be one of the
following:
- When they become stressed – this can happen from other fish species that are too aggressive, or (believe it or not) when humans are too aggressive with the fish, such as continuously tapping on the tank glass.
- If there is a water quality problem that goes untreated, such as improper water pH or temperature.
- Nutritional deficiencies.
It
is a good idea to have a resource manual (or an Internet connection)
handy to diagnose your discus fish disease. If your discus is in need
of medication, make sure you know the proper dosage. It may be a good
idea to contact a professional before administering the medication.
NEVER
mix medications without being instructed to do so. It is true that
some medications can actually cause fatal results when mixed
together. Yes, it is possible to overanalyze the problem and over
medicate, causing more problems than your had originally. Just as in
humans, the right dosage is critical. Don’t think that if 1 drop is
good, 2 drops will be twice as good… follow the instructions.
And
again, just as in humans or human pets, discus treatment may take
time. Do not expect an overnight cure. If an antibiotic is indicated
to treat a bacterial infection, make sure you treat the fish for at
least 10 days. Otherwise, you will run the risk of creating a much
stronger bacteria strain that is resistant to the antibiotic you
first tried. Make sure you kill the pathogen with proper treatment
for the proper length of time.