breeding discus without losing fry

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mander
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:41 pm

breeding discus without losing fry

Post by mander »

I've been trying to breed my Discus for months, but the fry keep disappearing after a few days. Tank is 55 gallons, temp at 84F, pH 6.5, with sponge filters and driftwood. Parents are healthy, but something's off. Any tips to keep the fry alive?
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Luckykeeper
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:35 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by Luckykeeper »

First off, congrats on getting them to spawn! That's half the battle. Are you doing daily water changes? Fry are super sensitive to water quality. I'd bump it to 20% daily, use aged water if possible. Also, what's your feeding routine for the fry? They need infusoria or baby brine shrimp almost constantly.
sunsets
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:08 pm

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by sunsets »

Yo, same issue here. Lost two batches before I figured it out. Parents were eating the fry. Had to separate them into a bare-bottom tank with a divider. Now I let the parents spawn, then move the eggs to a fry tank. Works like a charm, but it's a hassle.
Halse
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed May 04, 2022 2:58 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by Halse »

sunsets wrote: Thu May 01, 2025 1:48 am Yo, same issue here. Lost two batches before I figured it out. Parents were eating the fry. Had to separate them into a bare-bottom tank with a divider. Now I let the parents spawn, then move the eggs to a fry tank. Works like a charm, but it's a hassle.
That's a solid move. I've seen parents get stressed and snack on the fry. Bare-bottom tanks are easier to clean too, which helps with water quality.
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bayside
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:30 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by bayside »

Man, Discus fry are finicky little things. I had luck with adding almond leaves for tannins and keeping the tank dimly lit. Also, make sure there's no strong current from the filter. Fry can't swim well at first and get sucked into the filter.
leemike
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:17 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by leemike »

What's your tank's ammonia level? Even trace amounts can wipe out fry. Test daily, and consider adding a bit of Seachem Prime to detoxify any ammonia spikes. Also, are you using a sponge filter? They're safer for fry than power filters.
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Guard
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:01 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by Guard »

Never had luck with fry. Gave up after three tries. Maybe I'll try again with your tips.
mander
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:41 pm

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by mander »

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Gonna try the bare-bottom tank and daily water changes. Appreciate the help!
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Luckykeeper
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:35 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by Luckykeeper »

mander wrote: Thu May 01, 2025 5:30 am Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Gonna try the bare-bottom tank and daily water changes. Appreciate the help!
Keep us posted! And don't forget about feeding the fry frequently. They'll starve fast if you don't keep up with it.
Halse
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed May 04, 2022 2:58 am

Re: breeding discus without losing fry

Post by Halse »

Another thing to watch is the parents' behavior. If they're aggressive or stressed, they might eat the fry. Sometimes it's better to remove them after spawning and raise the fry yourself.
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