Hi everyone,
I've been out of the loop for years due to the discus pest issue - has there been any progress on this front? I'd love to get back into it if it's been resolved.
Thanks,
faldo.
Discus Plague
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
Honestly, I'm not familiar with the term "Discus pest" - could someone fill me in on what that's all about?
Honestly, I'm not familiar with the term "Discus pest" - could someone fill me in on what that's all about?
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
They go through this phase where they turn black, hang head down, and get all this mucus covering them, which in turn fills the tanks. They seem fine after about a week, but the thing is, they're still carrying the virus for months afterwards and end up infecting the others.
They go through this phase where they turn black, hang head down, and get all this mucus covering them, which in turn fills the tanks. They seem fine after about a week, but the thing is, they're still carrying the virus for months afterwards and end up infecting the others.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
I believe he's talking about the discus plague. It seems to have been pretty much eradicated. I think cross contamination was a big part of the problem, and that's still around, but there are ways to prevent it.
I believe he's talking about the discus plague. It seems to have been pretty much eradicated. I think cross contamination was a big part of the problem, and that's still around, but there are ways to prevent it.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
The original virus that hit the discus world was a real game-changer, devastating many hatcheries and hobbyists. It's been a while since I've heard of any confirmed cases, though. These days, whenever a discus turns dark or black, people immediately start talking about the "plague". But the truth is, discus change color for many reasons. The term "plague" has kind of evolved to mean bacterial or parasitical cross contamination. Bacterial cross contamination is pretty common, especially among newbies, but it's easily preventable if you're doing strict quarantine on new arrivals.
The original virus that hit the discus world was a real game-changer, devastating many hatcheries and hobbyists. It's been a while since I've heard of any confirmed cases, though. These days, whenever a discus turns dark or black, people immediately start talking about the "plague". But the truth is, discus change color for many reasons. The term "plague" has kind of evolved to mean bacterial or parasitical cross contamination. Bacterial cross contamination is pretty common, especially among newbies, but it's easily preventable if you're doing strict quarantine on new arrivals.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
I've had firsthand experience with the real plague - it decimated my collection, just like it did for so many others. If I were to buy discus again, I'd only consider purchasing from a trusted sponsor here. Thankfully, it's been a long time since I've heard of any confirmed cases.
The distinction between the plague and cross contamination is crucial. While the plague itself may be under control, cross contamination remains a persistent issue. Resellers often source fish from various farms, which can lead to the introduction of pathogens that some fish have overcome but still carry. When you introduce these fish to your existing collection, which hasn't encountered these pathogens, illness can quickly spread. Proper quarantine techniques can mitigate this risk, but it's a topic for another discussion. I'm happy to share my knowledge on the subject if you're interested. Buying from a single supplier can also help minimize the risk of cross contamination.
I've had firsthand experience with the real plague - it decimated my collection, just like it did for so many others. If I were to buy discus again, I'd only consider purchasing from a trusted sponsor here. Thankfully, it's been a long time since I've heard of any confirmed cases.
The distinction between the plague and cross contamination is crucial. While the plague itself may be under control, cross contamination remains a persistent issue. Resellers often source fish from various farms, which can lead to the introduction of pathogens that some fish have overcome but still carry. When you introduce these fish to your existing collection, which hasn't encountered these pathogens, illness can quickly spread. Proper quarantine techniques can mitigate this risk, but it's a topic for another discussion. I'm happy to share my knowledge on the subject if you're interested. Buying from a single supplier can also help minimize the risk of cross contamination.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
I recall my experience running Acara Discus, a discus hatchery in Bangkok, from 1998. The plague would hit every winter for three years, and I eventually discovered it was linked to tubifex during the coldest months. The breeders would use oil candles to warm the tanks to 32°C, while the exterior temperature was 24°C. I, on the other hand, used electric heaters in my RAS and avoided feeding my discus live tubifex, opting for a cow heart mix and shrimp instead. However, I did buy discus from others who fed them tubifex, and those discus would often get sick. Interestingly, the discus fed tubifex grew faster, almost twice as big as mine. I also met Kitty Panaiqui, who claimed to have "discovered" the pigeon blood and Marlboro Red discus, but in reality, he bought the original pigeons mutations from an old Thai breeder named Mac. I remember seeing barrels of an antibiotic called chloromicine, but it was ineffective against the discus plague. Kitty would often use "survivor" discus, still contagious, to breed the next batch, leading many to believe it was a virus rather than a bacterial infection. I experimented with a mix of oxitetracicline, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole, but unfortunately, it didn't work either. However, this mix did prove effective against other discus diseases.
I recall my experience running Acara Discus, a discus hatchery in Bangkok, from 1998. The plague would hit every winter for three years, and I eventually discovered it was linked to tubifex during the coldest months. The breeders would use oil candles to warm the tanks to 32°C, while the exterior temperature was 24°C. I, on the other hand, used electric heaters in my RAS and avoided feeding my discus live tubifex, opting for a cow heart mix and shrimp instead. However, I did buy discus from others who fed them tubifex, and those discus would often get sick. Interestingly, the discus fed tubifex grew faster, almost twice as big as mine. I also met Kitty Panaiqui, who claimed to have "discovered" the pigeon blood and Marlboro Red discus, but in reality, he bought the original pigeons mutations from an old Thai breeder named Mac. I remember seeing barrels of an antibiotic called chloromicine, but it was ineffective against the discus plague. Kitty would often use "survivor" discus, still contagious, to breed the next batch, leading many to believe it was a virus rather than a bacterial infection. I experimented with a mix of oxitetracicline, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole, but unfortunately, it didn't work either. However, this mix did prove effective against other discus diseases.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
When buying discus from the same supplier, it's easy to assume they're all healthy, but you never really know who's carrying the plague. The issue arises when people mix new discus with existing ones in the same tank - it's hard to pinpoint who's to blame. In my experience, it's crucial to quarantine new discus for at least 3 months to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
When buying discus from the same supplier, it's easy to assume they're all healthy, but you never really know who's carrying the plague. The issue arises when people mix new discus with existing ones in the same tank - it's hard to pinpoint who's to blame. In my experience, it's crucial to quarantine new discus for at least 3 months to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
As a hobbyist, I've been fortunate enough to steer clear of the discus plague by sticking to a single supplier for all my discus. Adding discus from different sources piecemeal is a major no-no.
As a hobbyist, I've been fortunate enough to steer clear of the discus plague by sticking to a single supplier for all my discus. Adding discus from different sources piecemeal is a major no-no.
Re: Discus Plague
Re: Discus pest
I agree with you, but I believe people need diversity in their discus collection.
I agree with you, but I believe people need diversity in their discus collection.