Breeding discus

Hi all,

quick question about breeding discus. I recently lost a large discus ( see post titled 'strange discus death'), but now in the same tank I have two other discus that seem to have paired off and have set up a territory on one side of the tank(1.2m) where they chase the other discus and even the cardinels in the tank away.

My question is this: do I move this pair of discus to their own tank in the hope they going to spawn or do I move the other fish out? My reason for splitting the discus is the one in the pair is really hammering the other discus in the tank.

All help appreciated.

Andrew

 

you need a second tank.
the male & female also tends to fight after the babies hatch and then its better to leave only the female with the young.
900mm tank works fine
Good luck.

 

tks mattie

i have plenty of tanks available, but which fish do i move? the two that have paired off or the remaining fish in the current system?

andrew

 

It would probably be easier to set up a breeding tank and move the breeding pair than try and catch all the other fish.

Rememebr to let the new tank cycle properly, and if possible, use as much water from the current tank, as well as filter media. @Marco to confirm this.

 

@phisman

Zoom's right. Move the pair. That 4ft tank is in anyway way to big for breeding Discus. Get a tank set up with a cycled filter and old tank water. I always move the female first, tends to lower chances of fighting among the pair. Few days later move the male.

Marco

 

Ok, slight dilemma. I moved the other discus out and left the breeding pair in the existing setup. Also put an up turned clay pot into the tank where the pair had established as their territory and the immediately started pecking at the side of the pot.

Should I leave things as they are for now and see if I actually do get a spawning? Does moving a potential breeding pair not stress them out enough to halt any potential spawning?

The remaining fish in the system are 9 cardinals, one sterbae and one ancistrus. Will these fish attempt at eating any eggs if they are laid?

Can always swap the breeding pair out and put the other discus back if the general feeling is its not going to stress them out too much.

The tank I have set up for the discus I removed is roughly cube 900 by 650 by 650. Unfortunately the tanks are at my office/shop and not at home so can only alter again tomorrow.

Regards

Andrew

 

@pHish_man

Moving the fish around can/will stress them out, yes. Leave it for now I'd say. Its their 1st spawn so chances of success is low in anyway. This way you can see how they behave with eggs etc, and if they end up fighting there is more space for them to stay away from each other.

Yes the other fish will cause problems. Maybe not with eggs, but with fry most definetly.

 

Tks Marco,

Ok going to leave them as is and see if they spawn and then how they behave as parents.

How often or at what interval are discus able to spawn if the first attempt at raising their first batch was not successful?

Andrew

 

I find they go through patches where they spawn every 7 to 10 days for 5 or 6 times, and then they dont spawn for 2 to 3 mths. After this the cycle repeats itself. It also depends on what you feed them. I recently had a pair that spawned 3 times in 8 days!

 

Ok this might sound like a dof question, but surely if they spawn and their eggs hatch and they start raising their offspring surely they stop spawning or do they carry on laying more eggs?

 

You right, I refer to them eating the eggs or the eggs being infertile. Spawning with growing fry differs greatly from pair to pair. My one pair lasts 3 weeks then they want to spawn again. Other pair has no inclination to spawn unless fry is removed. I have read accounts of pair's with upto 3 different spawns in the same tank with them though!

 

Ok, can't wait to get into the office tomoro and see!! Hope they haven't eaten them as I won't know if they have spawned.

Tks for your input, I'm sure I'm going to tap on your shoulder again and again.

 

The eggs wont survive with the bristlenose in the tank.

 

No problem. If they show no interest in the pot then they have probably spawned and eaten them. Egg eating normally happens after the first 24hrs so you could be lucky.

 

Ok so do I remove the bristle nose?

What about the sterbae and the cardinals?

 

I'll give them their own tank.
With mine I always had to remove the male after the free swimming stage due to him fighting with the female and in turn hurting /killing the fry.

 

Ok, going to take a chance and see what happens leaving them in my display tank.

If they spawn, ill shout for more advice.

Just curious if moving them between spawns is more detrimental to their spawning cycle than moving them now?

 

Thing is they havent spawned yet. Sometimes two females spawn together, and/or they are just mock spawning. You dont know if your water parameters are right, and also not if they actually WILL spawn. Dont be over eager. Just leave them, whatever happens happen. You'll have more chances, dont worry.

 

Hey Marco have you ever had both female and male care for there young ? Ive herd many times of male and female being aggressive towards each other when they breed please advise

 

@salim

Yes. I have one almost "perfect" pair. Male/female spawn, take care of eggs and wrigglers, and also take care of the fry for 3 weeks until I move them. They never fight, never hassle with the offspring.

I also though have a number of pairs that act completely opposite...