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why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 3:32 am
by Pureace
Noticed my Discus swimming in circles today. Tank's a 75 gallon, temp at 84F, pH 6.8, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. They're about 4 inches, fed beef heart mix twice daily. Anyone seen this before?
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 4:14 am
by SeaAqua
Could be stress from recent changes. Did you add new tankmates or adjust lighting? My 90 gallon had similar issues after introducing Cardinals.
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 6:06 am
by dynamo
Pureace wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 3:32 am
Noticed my Discus swimming in circles today. Tank's a 75 gallon, temp at 84F, pH 6.8, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. They're about 4 inches, fed beef heart mix twice daily. Anyone seen this before?
Check your flow rate. High current from filters can mess with them. I run a Fluval FX4 on low for my 100 gallon.
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 6:19 am
by luxe
Yep, flow's a biggie. Also, how old's your water? Mine did circles when I slacked on changes. Now doing 50% weekly with RO mix, they're chill.
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 6:42 am
by giggle
Might be breeding behavior. My pair circled like crazy before laying eggs on a cone. Got any flat surfaces or cones in there?
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 8:27 am
by Jazzman
Agree with giggle. Males often circle females during courtship. Watch for lip locking or cleaning surfaces. My 120 gallon's got 3 pairs that do this monthly.
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 9:21 am
by rositas
luxe wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 6:19 am
Yep, flow's a biggie. Also, how old's your water? Mine did circles when I slacked on changes. Now doing 50% weekly with RO mix, they're chill.
Second this! Poor water quality sketches them out. Test for dissolved organics too.
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 10:13 am
by Pureace
Thanks all. Flow's moderate, but I'll check for breeding signs. Did a 30% change yesterday with Seachem Prime. No new fish, just some stem plants added last week.
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 11:12 am
by Silvan
Plants could've shifted territories. My guys went nuts when I rescaped. Maybe give 'em time to adjust?
Re: why discus swim in circles?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 12:11 pm
by Biker
Mine circle when hungry. Try upping feedings to 3x daily with some frozen brine shrimp.