Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've been feeding my Discus flakes and frozen bloodworms, but I'm curious if sinking pellets would work too. My tank's a 75-gallon with six Discus, all around 4 inches, and they're pretty active. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.8, and I do 30% water changes twice a week. Anyone tried pellets with them?

Yep, they can eat sinking pellets, but it's gotta be the right kind. I use Hikari Bio-Gold for mine, and they go nuts for it. My tank's a 55-gallon with sand substrate and driftwood. Just make sure the pellets aren't too big, or they might ignore 'em.

Sinking pellets are fine if they're high-quality and small enough. I've had success with Omega One Super Color. My Discus are in a 90-gallon with a Fluval FX6, and I feed pellets twice a day alongside frozen brine shrimp. Key is to watch if they're actually eating them or just letting them sink.

abbeytone wrote: ↑Wed Jul 23, 2025 2:58 am Yep, they can eat sinking pellets, but it's gotta be the right kind. I use Hikari Bio-Gold for mine, and they go nuts for it. My tank's a 55-gallon with sand substrate and driftwood. Just make sure the pellets aren't too big, or they might ignore 'em.

Totally agree with abbeytone. Hikari's the way to go. My crew's in a 120-gallon planted tank, and I mix pellets with beef heart. They're thriving, no issues.

I tried pellets once, but my Discus just stared at 'em like they were aliens. Maybe I got the wrong brand. Tank's a 60-gallon bare-bottom, and I stick to flakes now. Anyone else have picky eaters?

Pellets can work, but it's all about training. Start by mixing a few with their usual food. My 75-gallon has a mix of Discus and tetras, and after a week, they all went for the pellets. I use New Life Spectrum, and the tetras love 'em too.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna grab some Hikari Bio-Gold and see how it goes. Appreciate the help!

SunnyG wrote: ↑Wed Jul 23, 2025 4:53 am I tried pellets once, but my Discus just stared at 'em like they were aliens. Maybe I got the wrong brand. Tank's a 60-gallon bare-bottom, and I stick to flakes now. Anyone else have picky eaters?

Sometimes it takes a bit. Try soaking the pellets in garlic juice—it's a great appetite stimulant. My Discus went from ignoring pellets to chasing them down.

Garlic juice is a game-changer. I use it with everything now. My tank's got a bunch of Amazon swords and a sponge filter, and the Discus are always hungry. Just don't overdo it, or the water'll smell like an Italian restaurant.