Discus and Angel with white fungus

[Aquarose]

I have a 75 g with three discus and one angel - one discus and one angel have what looks like some kind of fungus on their heads. It looks like white raised spots - it's not ich. It is around the eyes.

suggestions? I know I can't treat the discus the same as other tropicals. Should I remove the two to a QT?

[mgarrido]

Treat the entire tank and do not mix angels with discus. What is your tank parameters:
- Temp
- W/C frecuency
- Ammonia
- Nitrate

How old are your Discus?

[myjohnson]

By no means am I an expert with discus....

But from the facts provided, if you can treat them in a QT then I would do that.

You don't want it to spread.

[imagirlgeek]

Can you post a photo? We really need to figure out what it is before anyone can suggest whether you should treat the entire tank or not.

A fungus is going to be thready. If it's a fungus, there is going to be damaged tissue underneath it and you want to figure out what caused it, and treat that.

How large are the spots? Are they plain white, or grayish, or even pinkish?

[wesleydnunder]

Often, white raised spots around the discus' eyes result from poor water quality. What's your water change regimen?

Mark

[Aquarose]

Thanks everyone. The tank is 75 gal, three discus and 1 angel. They have been together at least a year. The Discus are a about two years old. I do a 1/4 to 1/2 water change every Saturday. This moring the parameters are as follows: Temp 83 - Nitrate - 40 / Nitrite - 0 / PH - 6.0 / KH - 40 / GH 120. After each water change the water is treated with chlorine remover , Wardley 3 in 1 water conditioner and aquarium salt.
They are fed once a day - either a combination of flakes and granuals or a frozen mix of beef heart. Their appetites are still good and they are not acting different. I just don't like seeing something strange on them!

I hope the picture is good enough to see what I'm trying to describe.Discus Angel.jpg

[wesleydnunder]

I think you're light on your water changes. If nitrates are that high then dissolved organic compounds are high as well. I'd up the water change frequency and volume to keep the nitrates at 10 ppm or less. This will go a long way toward your fishes' health.

Mark

[Darbex]

I agree with Mark 40 ppm is too high especially for Discus they are very sensitive. I would change 50% or more of the water about every 4 or 5 days with the stocking levels you have since you dont have much in the tank. Do you have any cories?

[Aquarose]

I have one cory and one clown loach inthe tank as well as snails in moss on the driftwood. Today those while knot looking things are gone - like they fell off, but there is a small hole where they were. WHAT ARE THEY? Will a 50 % change and aquarium salt kill whatever that is?

[FrontosaurusRex]

If I were you, these are the steps I would take as a precursor to whatever chemicals you have to use:

1. Crank the heat up (85-88 degrees)
2. Clean my filters with bleach. Make sure you rinse everything that touches bleach with hot water.
3. 75% water change every single day for a week
4. Add the necessary amount of Epson Salt that is needed for your tank size.

Hope this helps. I had a fungal outbreak in my Discus tank a while back and this is what I did and it worked. Within about 3 days I started noticing a huge difference. Then I added a few Fungus Tablets to the water and followed the instructions. Oh, and dont listen to people that tell you not to keep angels with discus....they will live long and happy lives together. Good Luck

[Darbex]

Look up Hole In The Head (HITH) your descriptions sound like it. The cause is in serious debate but by most accounts there is two possible causes. One is lack of proper nutrients which is probably the better of the two since it can be prevented or stopped by improving the food. You can also buy vitamins and dose the water as directed or also mix in the food to make sure they are getting the vitamins. The other cause of HITH is a parasite that digs into the head and will then leave causing a hole where it once was. If it is the parasite then you may be able to see the flagella of the parasite sticking out. There are medications to treat for this but you will need to do a full tank treatment since it hides everywhere in the tank.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2160&aid=2586

http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/hole_in_the_head.htm

[FrontosaurusRex]

I had no idea that Discus could get HITH...I always thought that was reserved for bigger, predatory fish...shows what i know...lol.

[nacra99]

Discus can get HITH, and are particularly prone to Heximita. There is a lot of discussion as to the relationship between the two, some say that HITH is an external manifestation of Hex and some say they are two separate diseases.
But either way +1 to the advice about keeping water parameters clean, and in your case, keeping nitrAtes a little lower until the fish heal up. Keep up the water changes and make sure to rinse out your filter sponge regularly in the water which you just removed from the tank. This should keep your nitrAtes down. The clean water should also prevent secondary infections to the raw wound.

I would treat the entire tank as is and not bother with the QT.

Treatment for Hex should be a broad spectrum antibiotic that works on anerobic bacteria like Metronidazole (Flagyl). Available at most pet stores as "metro plus" or "Hex-a-mit".

Its good that the fuzzies fell off and the fish are doing better.

[Aquarose]

Thanks! I've seen angels and discus together before and they are similar! Last night I did a 50% water change and added salt (I assume the Aquarium salt and Epson salt are different salts). I have some Pimafix???
I'll do changes for the next few days. Hope it works.

[Aquarose]

The fungus is exactly fuzzy - they look like white "horns". They fell off but by morning they were back and todya there are more! After last nights salting the Angel's look to be melting away; however the discus is no better.
They don't act sick though. We'll keep fingers crossed - I dont' want to lose my big turquoise boy!