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Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:58 am
by taieta
I've been breeding Discus for a while now, but lately, the eggs just aren't developing. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate under 10 ppm. Temp's at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes every other day. They're in a 75-gallon tank with a sponge filter and a canister. Parents are healthy, eating beef heart and frozen brine shrimp. Any ideas what's going wrong?
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 10:48 am
by Luckykeeper
Sounds like you've got the basics covered. Have you checked the TDS? Sometimes high TDS can mess with egg development. Also, how old are the parents? Younger pairs might take a few tries to get it right. My first pair didn't have viable eggs until their third spawn.
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 11:10 am
by boldo
taieta wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:58 am
I've been breeding Discus for a while now, but lately, the eggs just aren't developing. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate under 10 ppm. Temp's at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes every other day. They're in a 75-gallon tank with a sponge filter and a canister. Parents are healthy, eating beef heart and frozen brine shrimp. Any ideas what's going wrong?
You might wanna cut back on the water changes. Too frequent changes can stress them out, especially if the new water isn't perfectly matched. Try weekly changes and see if that helps.
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 11:59 am
by ameRio
Yo, could be the parents are just picky. Mine didn't get it right until I switched to RO water. Also, maybe the tank's too bright? They like it dim when spawning. I threw in some floating plants and boom, eggs for days.
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 1:36 pm
by Playful
Agree with the TDS and lighting points. Another thing to check is the male's fertility. Sometimes they're just not up to the task. You can try introducing a different male if you've got one. Also, how's the water flow? Too much current can wash away the sperm before fertilization happens.
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 2:45 pm
by Hartan
Dude, same thing happened to me. Turned out my heater was sketchy, temp was swinging like crazy at night. Got a new one with a digital controller and bam, eggs started hatching. Maybe check your heater's consistency?
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:50 pm
by taieta
Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll test the TDS and try reducing water changes. The male's been successful before, but I'll keep an eye on him. Appreciate the help!
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:15 pm
by Magus
Hartan wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 2:45 pm
Dude, same thing happened to me. Turned out my heater was sketchy, temp was swinging like crazy at night. Got a new one with a digital controller and bam, eggs started hatching. Maybe check your heater's consistency?
Temp swings are a killer. I'd also suggest checking for any stray voltage in the tank. Had a friend lose a whole spawn because of a faulty pump leaking current.
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 6:21 pm
by bajil
Might be worth trying a different food mix. I added some spirulina to my beef heart recipe and noticed better egg quality. Also, how's the tank's bio load? Overcrowding can stress them out even if params look good.
Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 7:38 pm
by Darego
I've heard some folks say adding a bit of tannins helps. Could try some almond leaves or peat in the filter. Makes the water softer and more natural for them.