Who Gives A Fish Forums

Noticed my discus swimming in tight circles today. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate around 10 ppm. Tank is 75 gallons, temp at 84°F, running a Fluval FX6. They're about 6 months old, fed beef heart mix twice daily. Anyone seen this before?

Yo, that's sketchy. Mine did that once when the heater was acting up. Check if your temp's steady. Also, how's the flow? Too much current can mess with them.

Circling can indicate stress or territorial behavior. What's your tank setup like? Any new additions or changes? Discus are sensitive to disruptions. Also, check for visible signs of disease like clamped fins or rapid gill movement.

Dapper wrote: ↑Wed Jul 23, 2025 11:57 pm Yo, that's sketchy. Mine did that once when the heater was acting up. Check if your temp's steady. Also, how's the flow? Too much current can mess with them.

Good point on the heater. I'd also look at the lighting. Sudden changes in light intensity can spook them.

Mine did this when I added a new powerhead. They chilled out after a few days. Maybe they're just adjusting to something new in the tank?

This is why discus are overrated. Too finicky. Get some tetras instead.

Haterw wrote: ↑Thu Jul 24, 2025 3:29 am This is why discus are overrated. Too finicky. Get some tetras instead.

Not helpful, mate. Discus are rewarding if you put in the work. Jade, how often are you doing water changes? Poor water quality can cause weird behavior even if params seem fine.

Mine did circles when they were bored. Added some driftwood and plants, and they stopped. Maybe enrich their environment a bit?

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll check the heater and flow, and maybe add some more plants. Doing 50% water changes twice a week, so that should be okay.

jade wrote: ↑Thu Jul 24, 2025 6:30 am Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll check the heater and flow, and maybe add some more plants. Doing 50% water changes twice a week, so that should be okay.

That's a solid plan. Keep us posted. Also, consider dimming the lights for a bit to see if that helps them relax.