Who Gives A Fish Forums

My Discus has torn fins and I'm freaking out. Tank's a 75 gallon, got 6 of them, all around 4 inches. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate at 10 ppm. Temp's steady at 84°F, running a Fluval FX6. Been doing 30% water changes twice a week. They're on a mix of frozen bloodworms and beef heart. No new tankmates, but I did add some driftwood last week. Could that be the issue?

Torn fins can happen from aggression or rough decor. How's the behavior? Any chasing or nipping? Driftwood edges might be sharp. Sand them down if needed. Also, check for fin rot—white edges or redness. If it's just physical damage, clean water and stress coat should help.

Yo, my Discus had the same prob last month. Turned out the filter intake was too strong, sucked their fins right in. Put a sponge pre-filter on it, fixed it in days. Maybe check your flow rate?

kicks wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 6:42 pm Yo, my Discus had the same prob last month. Turned out the filter intake was too strong, sucked their fins right in. Put a sponge pre-filter on it, fixed it in days. Maybe check your flow rate?

Good call, gonna try that. The FX6 does have a strong pull.

Aggression's a biggie too. My crew started tearing fins when I slacked on water changes. Nitrates crept up to 20 ppm, and they got pissy. Upped the changes to 50% thrice a week, added more hiding spots with plants, and they chilled out.

Could be bacterial. Had a similar scare, turned out to be columnaris. Look for fuzzy patches or rapid breathing. If it's that, kanaplex in a hospital tank stat. Otherwise, yeah, check decor and flow like others said.

I'd lean toward the driftwood. Sometimes it's got hidden rough spots. Run pantyhose over it—if it snags, it's too sharp. Also, how's the lighting? Too bright can stress them, make 'em skittish and prone to injury.

Monitor the injured one closely. If it's getting bullied, consider a divider. Also, beef heart's great but needs variety—try adding some pellets with garlic to boost immunity. And double-check your water change routine; consistency's key.

Man, my Discus tore fins on a cheap plastic plant once. Switched to silk, problem gone. Also, if your tank's overcrowded, they'll get territorial. Six in a 75's fine, but watch for squabbles.

Roadman wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:40 pm Man, my Discus tore fins on a cheap plastic plant once. Switched to silk, problem gone. Also, if your tank's overcrowded, they'll get territorial. Six in a 75's fine, but watch for squabbles.

Silk plants are a game-changer. Also, try dimming the lights—mine got way less aggressive after I added a dimmer.