| Over the years there have been more instruction | | | | take from fifty to sixty hours in order for the |
| manuals written about breeding and raising discus | | | | eggs to hatch and an additional thirty six to forty |
| fish than any other exotic fish. This is due to the | | | | eight hours until they are swimming freely. |
| fact that they are highly popular with most pet | | | | Breeding Tank: The breeding tank works best if it |
| owners. You will need to know the preferred living | | | | is simple and has spawning locations and |
| conditions, feeding and breeding habits of discus | | | | air-powered filters. Broad-leafed plants or slate, |
| fish if you want these sensitive creatures to live | | | | terra cotta cones are suitable but do not use any |
| long lives. | | | | substrate. The water must be soft in order to |
| To keep discus fish happy, you should start by | | | | allow the eggs to develop, as they should. The |
| noting that they are native to the calm, warm | | | | water temperature should be 84-88F and be of |
| waters of the Amazon. Discus fish constantly | | | | the best quality. A tank with the dimensions of |
| modify their behavior depending on the | | | | 24x18x18 is also suitable. |
| surrounding environmental factors. | | | | Feeding and Conditioning: The mother and father |
| Discus fish usually act rather shyly, but they are | | | | need to have a varied and a good diet to be able |
| very territorial and will fight against other fish that | | | | to condition them to spawn and also to provide |
| invade their space. Generally, with this kind of | | | | them with nutrition while they feed their fry. |
| situation the stronger discus fish will survive while | | | | Spawning may be triggered by rising |
| the weaker ones will be attacked. Discus fish | | | | temperatures, lots of feeding, or major changes |
| should be kept in-groups of at least six. By | | | | in the water. |
| maintaining them in-groups it will generally tend to | | | | Fry Rearing: The fry should be given more |
| increase confidence among group members and | | | | feedings with some specific small foods. (Also |
| decrease the chance of them misbehaving. There | | | | known as the BBS) Baby brine shrimp should be |
| are difficulties and joys involved when keeping a | | | | kept with their parents. Roughly 3-6 weeks after |
| discus fish. Here are some helpful tips that may | | | | birth, the fry will be growing rapidly while the |
| help you... | | | | parents will be worn out, making this a good time |
| Pairing: The best way to form a steady pair of | | | | to remove the fry. Lots of water changes are |
| discus fish is to buy several unrelated fish that | | | | needed to achieve a decent growth rate. In the |
| have the same color; they will choose their own | | | | past I have grown circa. Approximately 40 fry |
| mates, and won't do well if you choose mates for | | | | could be kept in a 55-gallon tank, but the water |
| them. Spawning usually occurs when there 3/4 of | | | | had to be changed very frequently. So it is best |
| their adult size, this might happen from when the | | | | to grow 20-50 excellent fry than 80 runts, seeing |
| fish are half grown. These fish will be mates for | | | | that the discus market is saturated with fish. The |
| the rest of their lives. | | | | growth rate in this area is normal, but nothing too |
| Spawning: Discus fish will choose a near vertical | | | | exciting. |
| smooth site, which they clean. After which, the | | | | If you are considering breeding discus fish I hope |
| female will lay any ware from 80-400 eggs and | | | | you have found some of these tips to be useful. |
| then the male fertilizes them. Generally, it may | | | | |