Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi Everyone,

I'm still learning about Discus Husbandry, and I've got a question for you all. I've got this Alenquer Bully who came to me in rough shape. He was a real tank bully, and I think the stress of being in charge finally caught up with him - he developed fin rot.

I've had him in a hospital tank for a few days now, and I've treated him with salt a couple of times. He seems to be healing slowly, but that's not what's got me curious.

I've noticed a huge change in his coloring. He used to be super dark, but now he's lightened up so much. I've posted some pics, and you can see the difference. When I'm far away, he's light, but when I get close, he darkens up again. I've seen him change colors right before my eyes - it's really cool.

So, I'm wondering, is this his natural color? And if it is, how can I make sure I'm giving him the best care possible? I'm also thinking, is it better for him to be alone? Is being with other fish just too stressful for him?

I'd love to hear from you all - is this something that's not that unusual? Thanks so much!

Hi Regina,

Thanks for sharing your experience with your Alenquer Bully. I must say, I'm intrigued by the change in his coloring. I've had a similar experience with one of my discus, and I've been doing some research on the topic.

From what I've gathered, discus can change color due to stress, but also due to changes in their environment. It's possible that your Alenquer Bully's natural coloring is indeed the lighter shade, and the stress of being a dominator in the tank caused him to darken up. Now that he's alone, he's able to relax and show his true colors.

As for whether he's better off leading a solitary life, I think it's definitely worth considering. Some discus can be quite territorial and may do better on their own, especially if they're prone to fin nipping or aggression. However, others may thrive in a community tank with plenty of hiding places and visual barriers.

I'd love to hear more about your tank setup and the other fish you have in there. What's the tank size, water parameters, and what kind of filtration are you using? Also, have you noticed any other changes in your Alenquer Bully's behavior since he's been alone?

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

Thanks so much for rotating the pics, Francis! Got any thoughts on this discus's color change?

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

In my opinion, you may want to consider using antibiotics like kanamycin to treat any internal bacterial infections that could be contributing to your discus' stress and color changes. I would also recommend adding salt to the water - about 3 Tablespoon per 10 gallons - as it can help relieve stress and fight external infections. Salt is effective against many protozoan parasites, such as Costa, Trichodina and Chilodonella, as well as other ectoparasites. It can also help clear up any secondary infections that may be connected to the fin rot.

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

Thanks so much, Francis. Your help is truly appreciated. I'll definitely give the antibiotics a try, along with the salt treatment. I'm hoping this will help my little guy recover fully and maybe even reduce the stress that's causing his color changes.

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

I've had my share of Red Alenquer Discus and I must say, they're quite unique. Their ability to switch between dark and light shades is quite common, in my experience. I rarely see stress bars on them, so I think the color changes are driven by other factors. The salt treatment you're using is an excellent choice - it's often my go-to for any fish.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Red Alenquers. I'm so glad to know they can switch between dark and light shades, it's been really helpful. I've been wondering if my Alenquer's coloring was stress-related, but now I'm thinking maybe not.

I did buy two Alenquers from the same seller, same size, same time, and they're complete opposites. The other one is super friendly, light-colored, and has never gone dark. It does have stress bars, but they've gotten darker over time.

This is the first time my dark Alenquer has lightened up, and I was worried he was having a bad reaction to the salt at first. But now I think the salt has really helped soothe him. It's like having a new fish all of a sudden.

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

I've taken a closer look at the pics, and while the lighting isn't great, I can see some damage to the pectoral and tail fins. It's possible he's got a bacterial infection, but it's also similar to ammonia burns. I'm wondering if there was a mini cycle with an ammonia spike around the time this issue started?

I'd recommend starting with a salt treatment of 6tbsp per 10 gallons. Also, try dropping the temp to 80-82 degrees and doing 50% water changes daily for 7 days, replacing the salt each time. If things don't improve in 7 days, we can reassess and consider adding kanamycin to the treatment.

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

Thanks so much Daniel. I'm quite sure there was no ammonia spike in my care. My tank is well-cycled with no nitrites, so I'm in the clear there. The damage to his tail and pectoral fin was already present when he arrived with me. Recently, he developed the beginnings of a fungus problem in those areas and one eye.

I've had him in a salted hospital tank for 3.5 days now, and I've seen a lot of the fungus problem recede. The only area I still see it is around one eye. I've been using a lower dosage, so I'll up that to try and clear the area around his eye.

I'll try to get some better pics in a few days for you all to assess his progress.

Re: Is this Alenquer Discus Normal?

I'm curious, is your Alenquer an imported one from the Amazon or was it bred domestically? I ask because I've noticed that the wild versions often seem to have fin damage. I remember watching some YouTube videos of wild discus in their natural habitat and it struck me how often their fins are damaged.