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can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:18 am
by oldRash
I've been thinking about adding live brine shrimp to my Discus diet. They're currently on a mix of flakes and frozen bloodworms, but I wanna spice it up. My tank's a 75-gallon with sand substrate, driftwood, and some Amazon swords. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.8, and I do 30% changes twice a week. Anyone got experience with this?
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 9:40 am
by Dory
Live brine shrimp can be a great treat for them! I've been feeding mine live brine shrimp once a week for about six months now. They go nuts for it. Just make sure you're getting them from a clean source. My tank's a 55-gallon with a canister filter, and I've noticed no issues with water quality. Do you have a quarantine tank for the shrimp?
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:22 am
by Lion
Dory wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 9:40 am
Live brine shrimp can be a great treat for them! I've been feeding mine live brine shrimp once a week for about six months now. They go nuts for it. Just make sure you're getting them from a clean source. My tank's a 55-gallon with a canister filter, and I've noticed no issues with water quality. Do you have a quarantine tank for the shrimp?
Yeah, but you gotta watch out for parasites. I lost a couple fish last year because I didn't rinse the shrimp properly. My setup's similar, 60-gallon with a sponge filter, and I always soak the shrimp in tank water for an hour first.
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:20 pm
by TankWarrior
I've been using live brine shrimp for years with no problems. My Discus are in a 120-gallon with a sump, and I feed them shrimp twice a week. Key is to hatch your own or buy from a trusted seller. I use a 10-gallon tank with a sponge filter to hatch them. Water's at 82°F, and I add a bit of salt to mimic their natural habitat.
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:14 pm
by kadyash
Sounds like a lot of work, man. I just toss in frozen brine shrimp and call it a day. My fish are chill with it, and I don't gotta worry about sketchy live food. Tank's a 40-gallon breeder with a HOB filter, and I do 20% changes weekly. Maybe I'm lazy, but it works for me.
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:49 pm
by sunsets
Live food can really boost their color and activity. I've got a 90-gallon with Discus and Cardinals, and I rotate between live brine shrimp, blackworms, and daphnia. Water's at 86°F, pH 6.5, and I use RO water with a remineralizer. Just remember to rinse the shrimp well to avoid introducing anything nasty.
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 5:20 pm
by taieta
sunsets wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:49 pm
Live food can really boost their color and activity. I've got a 90-gallon with Discus and Cardinals, and I rotate between live brine shrimp, blackworms, and daphnia. Water's at 86°F, pH 6.5, and I use RO water with a remineralizer. Just remember to rinse the shrimp well to avoid introducing anything nasty.
Absolutely agree. Variety's key. I've got a 75-gallon with a UV sterilizer, and I've never had issues with live food. I also feed them homemade beef heart mix twice a week. Water's at 85°F, and I do 50% changes weekly.
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 6:15 pm
by ailam
I'd start slow if you're new to live food. My Discus took a while to adjust. Tank's a 65-gallon with a planted substrate, and I feed them live brine shrimp every other week. I also use a quarantine tank for the shrimp, just to be safe. Water's at 83°F, pH 6.7, and I've got a powerhead for extra flow.
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 6:30 pm
by oldRash
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I'll try hatching my own shrimp and see how it goes. Gonna set up a small tank for it this weekend. Appreciate the tips!
Re: can discus eat live brine shrimp?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:37 pm
by Dubson
Good luck, man! Let us know how it turns out. My Discus love live food, but it's definitely a bit of a hassle. Tank's a 50-gallon with a canister filter, and I've got some driftwood and Java ferns. Water's at 84°F, and I do 25% changes twice a week. You got this!