5 most important Discus diseases: Gill flukes, Spironucleus, HLLS, fish tuberculosis, worms
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- The fish doctor, Gerald Bassleer, shows the 5 most important Discus fish diseases. He gathered this information after 45 years experience in the ornamental aquarium fish industry.
Following diseases are shown, diagnosed and advised for treatment:
Gill flukes
Spironucleus (ex-Hexamita)
Hole-in-the-Head Syndrome or Head and Lateral Line Syndrome
Fish tuberculosis or Mycobacterium
Internal worms Capillaria
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Link to video on HLLS or Hole in the head disease or syndrome (also available in NL, FR and DE)= • Fish Disease Case 3 Ho...
Link to video on Mycobacterium or Fish Tuberculosis a common bacterial infection in our aquarium fish (&zoonosis)(also available in NL, FR and DE): • Nr.9: Mycobacterium or...
Link to my Playlist of Discus fish, diagnosis and treatment: • Discus diseases, diagn...
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Dr. Bassleer Biofish food: see www.bassleer.c...
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I think I have early stages of fluke worms. I have a lot of fish in my community tank and they are all active and eating fine except one discus that just hides behind plants. I noticed a few fish rubbing on plant on wood but very very rarely. Also I just noticed my angelfish gasping for air straight for a few minutes despite there being tons of surface agitation. Also my diamond tetras are very active and good but today they were all swimming towards the strong current which was odd, but I read somewhere that they do this if they have gill flukes. So I bought praziquantel and it's arriving in a week or two. So far nobody is showing any serious signs except that one discus but even that one still comes out sometimes. I noticed this gill looks "extended". Not necessarily the gill itself but like a clear transparent extension of sorts.
It does sound like you might be dealing with early signs of gill flukes (Dactylogyrus), especially with the symptoms you’ve described: occasional rubbing, gasping for air, and the extended gill cover on your discus. The behavior of your diamond tetras swimming into the current could also indicate irritation in their gills, which could be a different problem (food? since tetras rarely have fluke infestations. However, since the symptoms are still mild and your fish are mostly active and eating, you’re catching this early, which is excellent.
While waiting for the Praziquantel to arrive, here’s what you can do:
1. **Maintain Optimal Water Quality**: Ensure ammonia and nitrite are at zero, and nitrate is below 20 ppm. Poor water quality can exacerbate gill irritation.
2. **Increase Oxygenation**: Even with surface agitation, consider adding an air stone to boost oxygen levels, especially since gill flukes impair respiration.
3. **Monitor Closely**: Watch for worsening symptoms like rapid breathing, more frequent rubbing, or lethargy in other fish.
4. **Quarantine if Necessary**: If the discus shows significant distress, consider isolating it to reduce stress and monitor its condition more closely.
Once the Praziquantel arrives, follow the dosage instructions carefully. Typically, a treatment regimen involves multiple doses spaced a week apart to target both the adult flukes and their hatching eggs. For the tetra I would recommend to change food (especially stop feeding live or frozen food) and give less food (overfeeding is also a risk for heatlh) and use our DR. BASSLEER BIOFISH FOOD FORTE to restore the immune system. If you’d like detailed guidance on treatment protocols, I recommend my book, [“The New Illustrated Guide to Fish Diseases”](www.geraldbassleer.com/book-fish-disease--new-illustrated-guide), which covers gill flukes extensively and offers practical advice for prevention and treatment. Let me know if you need further assistance!
This is great info. Ty doctor!
That's exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much, doctor. I would have bought the book to show support if I wasn't drowning in debt. Liked and subbed!
Thanks for your positive feedback! Maybe you can obtain the book at special discount at tradeshow Interzoo?
Great information, thank you. Subscribed to your channel
Thanks!😊
another great video💯 one of my discus swims fine and then suddenly it will go the top of the tank swim around fast on its side and then return as nothing has happened
stop feedimg tubifex..
Lots of information relating to one problem and how easily something like fin rot can be treated wrongly due to parasites. I have seen this myself. I appreciate your detailed reports.
I appreciate your kind feedback!
Fantastic video. Thanks for including microscopy motion examples. Would love to see a differential diagnosis between cryptobia iubilans, spironucleus, fish tb, and other problematic endo parasites.
Thanks for positive comments! See my other videos on Discus diseases so you can see the differeent kind of problems
This video might help you= th-cam.com/video/bXFbMLXSTmk/w-d-xo.html
Game changer info to us new discus breeders...Where can I get your book Mr. Greetings from Panama.❤
Thanks for your positive feedback! My books are available and can be shipped to you via www.geraldbassleer.com
You can also learn more from other special Playlist about Discua= th-cam.com/play/PLQLaHdi_IrzyKhNFSR3VHs1a1RjfHRKpJ.html
Thanks. Dicuss keeper and diy breeder here.😊
thanks!
Good explanation.Thanks.
thanks for your positive feedback
@@GeraldBassleer Thanks Sir.
Does enchytraeous introduce diseases too?
Does Hikari mysis shrimp carry bacteria?
What about Hikari Krill?
Thanks.
As studies showed it is frozen or live food that can be risk. See my videos on this matter
@@GeraldBassleer I taught it was only from fozen or live blood worms.
yes. This is what is mostly known but others depend on sources and preparation
@@GeraldBassleer Is thee any way we can kill the bacteria in frozen foods before we offer to the fish? Some say to put in the microwave on high for 15 seconds. Would that be safe? Any other way? Thanks.
@@Alex_Correa Thanks for the question! I know that only good heating & cooking kills the bacteria in the food! This is why granulates are made with heating to provide a food guarantee free of bacteria! A bacterial test (agar plate culture) after 15 seconds microwave should be a good test but I presume it depends on the thickness and quality of the product and Watt-intensity of microwave.
I thought bloodworms were really good for my fish. What should i be feeding my African leaf fish?
Thanks for your question! Bloodworms can be good...depending on the source, the area of collection and the handling procedures during freezing, shipping or packing, etc. If you are not sure, try to feed not too much: this means avoiding risks because who can tell you if they are 'free from bacteria like Mycobacterium'?
@@GeraldBassleer thankyou!!!
hi need some help, my fish eat and its poop is black but yet day by day it get thinner and eventually die. any tips?
This is a difficult question, because this could be different reasons! When your fish is still behaving normally but is becoming thin and has black excrements than it is in most cases the poor quality of the food! Try to feed for 10 days with DR. BASSLEER BIOFISH FOOD CAVAR (to them used to eat dry granulates) and let me know how it goes? Of course it could also be an infection...but what is hard to tell with lack of details & examination.
@@GeraldBassleer oh by the way is not a betta fish, it my livebearer fish. And i think my discus is also effected. For food wise i dont think its the problem because if food is the problem my 2 inch discus wont be growing to 3 inch am i right? Oh the effected discus is an adult. Out of 5 only 2 is getting thinner. Any other tips? Also this 2 discus effected are such picky eater. Out of all the discus they dont eat pellets but i am still training them to eat the pellets. I also realise that 3 out of my discus have very tiny holes. I ask a discus group but they said is not a hole head disease. If possible maybe i can email you the pic since you know better. Also also do you still recommend the bassler carvar or their is other type of food you reccommend?
@@qifry5367 When is is a few fish and others are fine...this means they might all become sick...in the coming weeks/months! It always starts with 1 or 2, this means something is troubling the fish! Send photo of tine holes...because Hole in the Head is a syndrome not a diseases because it is not caused by 1 pathogen but a mix of causes: see my video on Hole in the Head th-cam.com/video/Vo2gq72Tb-k/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BrZuwJ8KMpBohtoW
@@qifry5367 I recieved daily many requests for 'help' therefore I have a special service to select the good intentions www.bassleer.com/vissen/online-help-and-consult-fish-diseases/
Excellent information. You have a good presentation of diseases and I’m going to go out and find your book.
On a personal note: I have a discus that is separating himself from the group for the most part and has lost all color in it’s face: the body has retained completely normal color. It’s appetite is normal and it is curious about the exterior of the tank. The only issue I suppose is the almost ghostly remnants of color on his face. Excrement is also a normal color. I cannot find anything on this …. Coloring issue (?) online.
I am treating the whole tanks for hex and HITH right now and his coloring remains the same
thanks for your feedback! It could be an issue of aggression from others? Or old-age-syndrome? Difficult to tell and give acurate diagnosis!
GE Sir.I am Ramanan from India..My fish is lying down the tank for almost 15 days..Treated him with Bactocide 2 for 5 days didn't see any changes..Then treated for 2 days with metro 400 , Ciplax 500 and rock salt 2 table spoons for 2 days as prescribed by a breeder..No changes and now I am treating him with melafix and rock salt for 3 days..Still the same..
I am handfeeding him with Dry Australian black worms 3 times a day..Pls helo me out . He is a Blue Scorpion 5+ inches in size.. Water parameters are perfect..40ltrs with a heater at 30'C..
Sorry...but difficult to give you advise when no correct diagnosis has been done...your treatments are "guess-work"! A medication is only helpful when a diagnosed disease or pathogen is treated properly. bassleer.com/vissen/online-help-and-consult-fish-diseases/
The best method is to use potassium permanganate bath
I know it is a kind of 'cleanser' of fish that some aquarist use BUT I do not agree that it is the best method (I never used it in my carreer). My question would be 'Potassium Permanganate is the best method for what? To do what?