Sick Discus (photo and vid included)

[Quagulator]

No question about that. IME most times when a fish shows symptoms like you described the odds are slim that you can save it. And trying to pinpoint the cause and possible remedy is almost impossible.

My guess is that there are myriads of things in the tank that could affect fish but most are strong enough to combat it. Some succumb and when they do it's usually not good.

And I do feel your pain. I have had some Bows for over a decade, and when you lose those it's even worse. You develop a connection when you have been caring for observing a fish for that length of time.

Thanks Gregg.

Even though I've only had this individual fish for 3 weeks or so, it would still have the nicest fins out of all the discus in the tank, and is one of the nicest blue turquoise discus I have seen around my area. Would be a shame to loose it, I figured picking the strongest / dominant fish from the heard at the store would have been a good thing! Some things are just out of our control.

Good point on the level of difficulty it is to notice symptoms, diagnose an illness, figure out a cause and a corrective action to take. Not the easiest for any level of hobbyist.

I thought this fish was not going to live 2 nights ago, but again this morning it is still alive - floating around unable to control it's swim bladder, however today the fish is calmer, not nearly as stressed it seems. My hopes are still very low, probably they are simply out of energy to try and swim normally, and has just picked a spot to lay and breath.

 

[MrMuggles]

I literally did all the same things when I lost my first group of fish (seems to have been supply chain shock, likely not my fault), so you're not doing anything terribly strange or wrong.

When it comes to epsom salts in particular I should explain more - I don't think they're making anything worse, but I think its important to focus on treatments that are definitely known to help a disease with a positive ID. Otherwise you're acting with a lack of clarity about how or why your efforts are going to help. Unfortunately "swim bladder" disease is not one disease, and does not have a single cause or even a narrow range of causes. It can strike like lightning due to a defect/mutation, latent infection that was lurking since birth, physical blunt force trauma, fast moving bacterial infection brought by new tank mate, the list goes on. And plausible treatments for so-called Swim Bladder Disease will vary depending heavily on the root cause.

By comparison, Marine salt is well-proven to be beneficial in the fight against ailments innumerable, and so it's well worth the effort in a situation where you lack clarity on root cause.

 

[Quagulator]

I literally did all the same things when I lost my first group of fish (seems to have been supply chain shock, likely not my fault), so you're not doing anything terribly strange or wrong.

When it comes to epsom salts in particular I should explain more - I don't think they're making anything worse, but I think its important to focus on treatments that are definitely known to help a disease with a positive ID. Otherwise you're acting with a lack of clarity about how or why your efforts are going to help. Unfortunately "swim bladder" disease is not one disease, and does not have a single cause or even a narrow range of causes. It can strike like lightning due to a defect/mutation, latent infection that was lurking since birth, physical blunt force trauma, fast moving bacterial infection brought by new tank mate, the list goes on. And plausible treatments for so-called Swim Bladder Disease will vary depending heavily on the root cause, so IMO treatments really can't be generalized.

By comparison, Marine salt is well-proven to be beneficial in the fight against ailments innumerable, and so it's well worth the effort in a situation where you lack clarity on root cause.

I agree with everything you have said.

Lost the initial one during this morning's water change.

I'm at a bit of a loss here, 2 more have come down with similar symptoms, I have removed them.

Clean water and salt for now...

 

[BigWave]

@Quagulator hit up Marcos Rene Mendiola over on Facebook tell him I sent you to him. He is very good friends with one of the larger discus retailers in Florida. They will for sure be able to help you.

 

[Quagulator]

@Quagulator hit up Marcos Rene Mendiola over on Facebook tell him I sent you to him. He is very good friends with one of the larger discus retailers in Florida. They will for sure be able to help you.

Thanks @BigWave

2 of 3 have died, the last one I might do the dead on their behalf... unlikely to make a recovery.

The remaining 7 in the display tank are all well, fingers crossed they are immune to whatever I was dealing with. UV sterilizer has been in the display tank for 2 weeks now.


Moving forward I will buy purchasing from 1 supplier who uses the same Asian farm, quarantines each shipment and has them eating pellet / flake prior to allowing them for purchase.

I believe I was hit by some sort of cross contamination bacteria that some fish were immune to but others were not. Using this same supplier will hopefully bring in resistant fish. However I am officially a new dad to a little boy, so new fish will have to wait. Oh, and I will be following a strict quarantine regime when I do end up bringing in new fish from him.


Thanks again all, these things happen. I'm still on high alert for the display tank, but things have calmed for now.