View Full Version : New discus juvies
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 1:21 AM
Well I decided to stick with discus after my catastrophe, I got 3 new discus and 1 of my original managed to survive. The surviving discus is about 3.5" and was always a little skittish, he would hide a lot but I think it was cause the one he was paired with used to pick on him a little. Now he is very social and comes to great me. The first new discus I got was quite smaller about 2" well the #1 discus doesn't like #2 too much, he chases him any chance he gets. well I just got 2 new little guys today less than 2" they are hiding in the forest part of my tank, but when the #2 sees them he chases them the way #1 chases him. Anyway will this work itself out as a pecking order is established?
Also the two little guys seem go vertical quite a bit.
Should work out just fine after a bit. Anytime you have 4 or more discus they seem to eventually settle down with each other. Not sure what you mean by the 2 little guys go verticle?
VTwinFanatic
04-07-2007, 12:19 PM
my discus have been together for over a year now and they still chase each other around on a daily basis...as long as they arent showing any dark stress bars or just dark coloration in general then you'll be fine. It takes them a few weeks to get used to their surroundings if they are still skiddish or not eating in a few weeks then you have problems....you didnt say if they were eating or not.
jm1212
04-07-2007, 1:35 PM
it sounds like they are settling out the pecking order in your tank. they should probably be in a bigger school to help distribute aggression a bit more so everyone is happy.
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 1:59 PM
The 2 little guys are actually a little dark this morning and have not eaten yet. I know they are stressed they came in the mail and the dumb *** sent them express usps which took 2 days. I was sure they would be dead. But they survived and after a couple of hours actually started coming out of hiding. So I think they are still stressed. I am a little worried about their color. What should I do about them not eating.
VTwinFanatic
04-07-2007, 2:01 PM
first how long have you had them? What are you feeding? What is your water temp? What other fish are in the tank?
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 2:07 PM
temp is usually 84° but it gets cold in here at night so in the morning it is more like 81-82. I just got them yesterday.
tank mates are the other 2 discus, red eyed tetras, blue rams and a. boellii and a. cacatuoides, shrimp and snails.
VTwinFanatic
04-07-2007, 2:15 PM
id bump the temp up a bit more slowly up to about 85-86...this will increase their metabolism making them want/need food. It took mine atleast a week before they were colored up. Id stay on top of my w/c's since they are so small...id do 2-3x 50%+ weekly....try to avoid any parasites or other nasty little boogers you can...and you didnt say what you were feeding
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 2:32 PM
I actually change about 25% every three days, but I can do more, The actual reason why I slowed down on my water changes is all the stuff I have to dose the water with(the full spectrum of elements needed for plants) is expensive and when I do water changes it takes that stuff out and then it has to be replaced.
But I feed a variety of foods, frozen blood worms, beef heart, and brine shrimp as well as flake food.
VTwinFanatic
04-07-2007, 2:37 PM
i understand the dosing expense. i personally feel that a 50%+ w/c every three days would be sufficent. when i first get discus many times i'll talk to the store or breeder and see what they were eating prior to me getting them...then that way you know that they were accepting food, and if htey werent then you shoudnt have bought them in the first place...but its a bit late for that now...im not slamming you for that btw...and you learn what they were eating so you can start w/ that before introducing other foods to them
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 3:06 PM
oh I know what they were eating, The breeder said that they were eating beef heart, krill, flake food and tetra color bits, I might go out and try to get something with krill in it, I'm not sure what tetra color bits are but I'll look for those too.
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 4:12 PM
I bumped up the temp. I hope they settle in, they are still dark.
Star_Rider
04-07-2007, 9:36 PM
keep us posted..how many heaters do you have in the tank?
I am in agreement with vtwin here too..doing 50% water changes 3 x per week.
tetra colorbits are great..my discus love them.
FishyMatty
04-07-2007, 11:02 PM
the little guys are still dark, I got those tetra color buts today and they seem to crunchy for the little guys and the 2 bigger ones just spit them out. The two little guys weren't as dark when they got here even after 2 days in a bag. What should I do.
VTwinFanatic
04-08-2007, 2:10 AM
the best thing you can do at this point is try to get them to eat and give them sometime....w/c's help. My discus will reluctantly take the color bits...but since they are so hard typically what i do is get a pinch and hold them in my fingers in the water until they get soft and they seem to spit them out less that way.
PDX-PLT
04-08-2007, 2:32 AM
'sounds like you've taken on a real challenge - trying to rasie juvie discus in a dosed, planted tank.
The nitrates sound high to me for juvie discus. I think most people try to keep them lower.
FishyMatty
04-08-2007, 4:19 AM
'sounds like you've taken on a real challenge - trying to rasie juvie discus in a dosed, planted tank.
The nitrates sound high to me for juvie discus. I think most people try to keep them lower.
What part of raising discus in a planted tank is a challenge? Besides the high nitrates. I did a water change and they perked right up and color came back.
I just need to get them to eat now. I know young discus are more fragile but is there anything I need to know that pertains to the elements needed to grow plants?
VTwinFanatic
04-08-2007, 2:35 PM
i think what PDX is trying to say is that most people take an easier approach but using a bare bottom tank...I dont think that the elements are cause for any question with the young disucs' growth. I'm glad that their color has come back...maybe you could try feeding your other fish in a different part of the tank first and while they are gorging themselves you could try to get the two new discus to eat seperate from the others
Star_Rider
04-08-2007, 5:29 PM
discus are foragers..they will scrounge the bottom for food.
try soaking the bits in a bit of tank water prior to feeding.
once they figure out they are food they will love them..also try mixing the pellets with blood worms and brine shrimp.
small discus can be raised in a planted tank..but it is easier in a bare bottom tank.
if you raise them in a planted tank just make sure to vac the tank and do frequent water changes.
btw..what plants..some don't like the high temps.
FishyMatty
04-08-2007, 9:52 PM
Up to this point my plants have been growing like crazy with a temp of 83°. Its now like 86°, I have jungle vals, microsword, dwarf hair grass, rice paddy, moneywart, and a stem plant that I don't know what it is but I don't think anything could stop this plant from growing.
I've seen them eat a little so far but they go dark to light in front of my eyes.
Star_Rider
04-08-2007, 10:00 PM
running pressurized CO2?
ferts?
FishyMatty
04-08-2007, 11:21 PM
yea, both...
excel(algae control)
trace/micro
iron
nitrate(small amounts)
NPK
co2-3bps
pigeonblood
04-09-2007, 2:47 AM
yea, both...
excel(algae control)
trace/micro
iron
nitrate(small amounts)
NPK
co2-3bps
sounds like they might bounce back try to entice them with spirulina enriched brine shrimp it helps aid their imune system out greatly. young discus take time have patience and enjoy them.They are the true kings of freshwater.
Star_Rider
04-09-2007, 1:17 PM
yea, both...
excel(algae control)
trace/micro
iron
nitrate(small amounts)
NPK
co2-3bps
have you calculated the CO2 level in the tank?
I had mine runnig a bit rich on CO2..discus went dark..turned the rate down and they are fine now.
FishyMatty
04-09-2007, 8:58 PM
What is spirulina enriched brine shrimp?
co2 levels are ok about 20-30ppm but there is enough aeration. Took some trial and error to get that one right.
FishyMatty
04-09-2007, 8:59 PM
What is spirulina enriched brine shrimp?
co2 levels are ok about 20-30ppm but there is enough aeration. Took some trial and error to get that one right.
This morning I soaked the color bits before I dumped them in but they still chewed em up and spit em out.
Star_Rider
04-09-2007, 10:27 PM
What is spirulina enriched brine shrimp?
co2 levels are ok about 20-30ppm but there is enough aeration. Took some trial and error to get that one right.
This morning I soaked the color bits before I dumped them in but they still chewed em up and spit em out.
brine shrimp with spirulina a few companies that mfg brine shrimp sell the frozen ones laced with spirulina..suppose to help the immune system.
I'm curious what you kH is..20 ppm CO2 is good but when you hit 30 you may see issues. does the CO2 go off at night? remember plants will compete for O2 at night. I brought mine down to right around 20 with a kH of 3 pH of approx 6.7
pigeonblood
04-10-2007, 1:46 AM
What is spirulina enriched brine shrimp?
co2 levels are ok about 20-30ppm but there is enough aeration. Took some trial and error to get that one right.
This morning I soaked the color bits before I dumped them in but they still chewed em up and spit em out.
spirulina brine shrimp is sold by sally's bay brand the most common and by other companies.star-rider is correct it helps the immune system i've had excelent results feeding my discus this food.It is sold as frozen cubes mostly and is relatively cheap 2-3 dollars a 30 pack. Try raising your temp. up a bit more for three days and see if that helps, it always does my new discus. I hope to hear back on your discus they are great fish to have.