Discus fry care for beginners

[abbeytone]

Just got my first batch of Discus fry, and I'm kinda lost on how to keep 'em thriving. My tank's a 20-gallon with a sponge filter, temp at 84°F, and I've been doing 30% water changes every other day. They're eating baby brine shrimp, but some seem sluggish. What am I missing?

[Lardy]

Yo, first off, congrats on the fry! Your setup sounds decent, but 20 gallons might be tight as they grow. I'd bump water changes to daily, 50%, since fry are messy eaters. Also, try mixing in some crushed flakes or powdered spirulina with the brine shrimp. What's your pH and hardness? Discus fry can be picky about that.

[bajil]

I've had success with fry in a 29-gallon, bare bottom for easy cleaning. Temp at 86°F seems to speed up their metabolism. Are you using RO water or tap? If tap, what conditioner? Some brands leave traces that stress fry.

[SeaAqua]

Yo, first off, congrats on the fry! Your setup sounds decent, but 20 gallons might be tight as they grow. I'd bump water changes to daily, 50%, since fry are messy eaters. Also, try mixing in some crushed flakes or powdered spirulina with the brine shrimp. What's your pH and hardness? Discus fry can be picky about that.

Agree with Lardy on water changes. Also, check for dead shrimp in the tank—they foul water fast. I use a turkey baster to spot-clean after feedings.

[knight]

How old are the fry? If they're under 2 weeks, they might still be absorbing yolk sac energy. Overfeeding can crash water quality. Stick to small portions 4x a day. What's your ammonia reading? Even trace amounts can stall growth.

[Dkade]

Just got my first batch of Discus fry, and I'm kinda lost on how to keep 'em thriving. My tank's a 20-gallon with a sponge filter, temp at 84°F, and I've been doing 30% water changes every other day. They're eating baby brine shrimp, but some seem sluggish. What am I missing?

Don't stress too much! Fry are resilient if water's clean. I'd add Indian almond leaves—they release tannins that mimic their natural habitat and boost immunity. Also, dim lighting helps reduce stress.

[abbeytone]

Thanks for all the tips! Gonna switch to daily water changes and grab some almond leaves. My pH is 6.8, hardness around 4 dGH. Using Seachem Prime for tap water. I'll test ammonia again tonight.

[Lardy]

Prime's solid, but with fry, I'd double-dose it to neutralize any heavy metals. Also, if they're still sluggish after a week, try a garlic soak on the food. Works like a charm for appetite.

[bajil]

How old are the fry? If they're under 2 weeks, they might still be absorbing yolk sac energy. Overfeeding can crash water quality. Stick to small portions 4x a day. What's your ammonia reading? Even trace amounts can stall growth.

Good point. If they're newly free-swimming, cut feedings to 3x a day. Overcrowding can also cause stress—how many fry are we talking?

[SeaAqua]

If you're using a sponge filter, make sure it's not too strong. Fry can get sucked in or exhausted fighting current. I add a pre-filter sponge to buffer flow. What's your lighting schedule? 8–10 hours max to avoid algae blooms.