Q - During the hours spent in working at the microscope you analyze many Discus. What diseases do you diagnose more frequently and what are the causes ?

A - Bigger and more numerous the fishes are, more it tends to feed them, better to overfeed them, often in a not balanced way. Many infections take origin from the bacterial load caused by a tanks' overcrowding. Often fishes present a fat degeneration of the liver that causes troubles until to the loss of the hepatic functio

Whoever wants to raise Discus must have spacious tanks and avoid the overcrowding. There are a lot of symptoms letting us understand some problem is arising; the most frequent are colours getting darker and the fish standing in an corner of the tank in a tilted position. The first thing to check is the chemical-physical quality of the water (Ph, Temperature). If these parameters are good, there could be any azotic catabolits (check ammonia and nitrits) not digested by the biological filter. In this case, it's necessary a partial change of the water and to restore the hygienic optimal conditions.

Q - Could you explain the role of the quarantine tank?

A - It is very important to have a tank for the quarantine, where putting the new fishes for a sufficient period to check possible diseases that could be in incubation at the moment of the purchase.

It is not thinkable, therefore very risky, to put the bought fishes directly in the tank or in the tanks with a centralized filtration system. It is very advantageous to have the quarantine tank always working, fitted out with a heater, a thermometer and a system of filtration. If you are purchasing any fish, it won't be any problem coming back home. It's necessary to consider that the development of some parasites, until to the stage when the diseases symptoms show themselves externally, may last till three weeks.
 

Q - Is it necessary to use preventive treatments in this period of quarantine?

A - The use of medicines in aquarium without an exact microscopic diagnosis is not a practicable way. We need to know exactly if it is necessary to intervene and against what types of parasites or bacteria to act. Looking only at the external symptoms, without availing ourself of the microscope, can lead to a wrong diagnosis and therefore to give a wrong medicine that can only damage the animal. It is possible only to use a generic disinfectant, bought in a specialized shop, against the external parasites.
 

Q - What are the best treatments against intestinal Flagellates and gill worms?

A - For the omnipresent intestinal flagellates the best medicine is the Metronidazole. However it's important to keep in mind that it helps the fish to react, but doesn't cure the intestinal flagellate completely.

Treatment for three days adding to the water 1,5 gr. of metronidazole for 100 liters of aquarium water, increasing the temperature by 3-4°C ( about 5° F ). At the end of treatment, do a partial change of water (30%), add fresh activated charcoal in the filter and readjusted the temperature to the normal range. It 's necessary to repeat the treatment because the product is not able to kill all flagellates.. It must be the metabolism of the fish to react and help it to get rid of these annoying guests. It is necessary to vary the feeding as much as possible during this period. If we give them beefheart, the flagellates will multiply more and more quickly. It's better to prefer pulp of fish, shrimps, granulated foods, larvas of Chironomus and frozen glass-worms.

The -again- omnipresent gills worms are very difficult to eliminate completely. The problem is related to the fact that the using active principle is very strong. The borderline between to kill the parasites and damage the fish irremediably is smallest. Discus older than 5 months of age bear better the presence of these parasites. The problem exists for younger Discus.

The using medicine from use is the 37% Formaline . It's truly necessary to keep attention managing this product, it could cause irreparable damages wheter to the man or fishes. Effect a prolonged treatment in perfectly cleaned water , with strong oxygenation, for 10 hours using a dosage of 5-7 ml for 100 liters of aquarium water. After this period, the fishes must be catched very gently and taken off this bath, after moved in a perfectly cleaned and parasites free tank. The treatment must be repeated. The following changes of tank must be done for three times with a three days' interval. In the meantime the used tanks must be disinfected and left empty, without water, for at least 3-4 days before being re-used. The eggs of the worms die after three days if in dry environment.
 

Q - Have you discovered any new preparation for fighting the intestinal flagellates by now resistant to the metronidazole?

A - Today the best medicines for limiting the intestinal flagellates are metronidazole and Eexa-ex. The active principle of both is almost similar.