A week ago I picked up my first Discus, and they've done fine this past week. Yesterday morning I found one of them floating on her side, but still breathing. I watched her for a bit and she didn't move, just floated there, so I decided to net her and euthanize her to put her out of her misery. As soon as she saw the net, like a bolt she was at the bottom of the tank, but still on her side. I tried to net her again and the chase was on with her swimming like a flounder. I realized this must be an air bladder problem, and sort of remembered reading about epsom salts used on Discus with air bladder problems since it can be a symptom of constipation. Quickly found the info via google and ran to Freddy's and picked up some Epsom Salts.
I siphoned about 3 gals of tank water into a bucket and added 1.5 tsp ES per gallon, then I snuck up on her and got her netted and in the bucket. I left her in the Epsom Salt solution for an hour. I noticed that she did have a big ol' bloated belly when I had her in the net. After an hour she was swimming at a pretty acute angle, but not on her side any longer and I placed her back in the tank. After about 8 hours she was back on her side in the tank, so repeated the proccess with a new batch of ES water and left her in it for about 2.5 hours, then I dosed the entire tank with about 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon ES per gallon (good ferts for the plants too). This morning she looks fine - swimming vertically again and eating, bulge is gone as well.
So what causes this? Anything else I should do to treat her or was this good n nuff?
Oh, and water parameters are: Temp 84, pH 6.6, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5-10, KH 3.
I siphoned about 3 gals of tank water into a bucket and added 1.5 tsp ES per gallon, then I snuck up on her and got her netted and in the bucket. I left her in the Epsom Salt solution for an hour. I noticed that she did have a big ol' bloated belly when I had her in the net. After an hour she was swimming at a pretty acute angle, but not on her side any longer and I placed her back in the tank. After about 8 hours she was back on her side in the tank, so repeated the proccess with a new batch of ES water and left her in it for about 2.5 hours, then I dosed the entire tank with about 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon ES per gallon (good ferts for the plants too). This morning she looks fine - swimming vertically again and eating, bulge is gone as well.
So what causes this? Anything else I should do to treat her or was this good n nuff?
Oh, and water parameters are: Temp 84, pH 6.6, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5-10, KH 3.
