View Full Version : What's the problem?
Sportsnutim
10-01-2008, 1:28 AM
I have had my Discus mates in this 38 gallon tank for at least 4 months now they have laid eggs at least 6 or 7 times and I haven't had any luck having the eggs hatch. The parameters are great: 0 on everything and 6.4 on the PH. I had better luck when they were in my 29 gal tank. Maybe more foilage? My live plants haven't been doing very well in this tank, unlike my 55 gal which the plants are doing very well. Any ideas? :confused:
DominionDesign
10-01-2008, 8:33 AM
Is this a new pair of discus or a proven pair? If new, you may have 2 females.
pinkertd
10-01-2008, 10:15 AM
Are they eating them before they hatch? Or are they all not fertile?
Sportsnutim
10-01-2008, 1:27 PM
Is this a new pair of discus or a proven pair? If new, you may have 2 females.
They are a proven pair: laid eggs several times in my old 29 gallon tank and the eggs hatched several times and fry swimming all-a-bout. How I was feeding them was all wrong and unfortunately they all died.
Sportsnutim
10-01-2008, 1:32 PM
Are they eating them before they hatch? Or are they all not fertile?
In this tank the eggs I believe aren't even being fertilized: they are now eating them right away. Wondering if the male is unable to do his thing. Maybe have to put a different male in hopefully doesn't cause problems. Do they mate for life? Any other issues? Maybe put another male in the tank? Any ideas would be great. They did well together in the 29 as I have already said. Maybe stressed?
Sportsnutim
10-01-2008, 1:35 PM
Answering another part of your question. From what I have seen in the past the eggs get a fuzzy like stuff on them and slowly they are eaten. Now it seems they eat them right away.
pinkertd
10-01-2008, 1:49 PM
This is not uncommon behavior for a pair of discus. They may do this for a long time. I think it's an immaturity thing. Most discus start to spawn before they are a year old, but the males mature more slowly and aren't really ready for this yet. Some discus breeders use an actual breeding cone and cover the cone with some type of small mesh wire so that once the eggs are laid, the pair cannot reach them to eat them, but they can still fan the eggs easily. You'll probably find a lot of stuff about that over on simply. I had one pair that were good with the eggs right from the start. But with the others, it's actually become a game to see who can eat the eggs faster after they are laid, dad.....mom.....or one of the other discus. I've actually had quite a number of "group" spawnings going on in that tank, 3 females all wanting to spawn at the same time with the same male! The other thing, you can't force two of them to pair up. You just have to let nature take its time and its own course.
Sportsnutim
10-01-2008, 2:11 PM
Thanks for the quick reply, I had a feeling that they mate forever. My wife wanted me to put another male in the tank, I said not a good idea. I do have a cone in the tank and I have tried to put a screen around eggs one time in the 55 and they pushed it out of the way. I will have to do better job. They seem to be very healthy so I was wondering what's going on here.
Star_Rider
10-01-2008, 3:02 PM
could be getting use to the new surroundings.
I have a pair in my 75 along with 5 other discus.. the pair has recently split off and I suspect may spawn again. they have had a couple successful spawns but mine only spawn 2-3 per year.
unlike my angels who spawn every 2 weeks.
I would love to move this pair to a new tank but have to wait for my fish room:wall:
bs6749
10-01-2008, 3:47 PM
Once they start to spawn do you cut your filtration and water circulation? They may not be fertilized if the current is too strong. You should turn the filters/airpumps off when you notice them spawning. You may have more circulation in the newer tank compared to the 29g. Also, try adding hydrogen peroxide at a rate of 1 capful per 5 gallons to elimintate any bacteria/fungus from growing on the eggs.
Star_Rider
10-01-2008, 5:26 PM
Once they start to spawn do you cut your filtration and water circulation? They may not be fertilized if the current is too strong. You should turn the filters/airpumps off when you notice them spawning. You may have more circulation in the newer tank compared to the 29g. Also, try adding hydrogen peroxide at a rate of 1 capful per 5 gallons to elimintate any bacteria/fungus from growing on the eggs.
I have 12x turn over in my 75(probably a little more) in many of my angel tanks the turn over is the same and I get high yields of hatchlings.
with discus you should not need to worry much about fungus and adding anti fungals to a tank with the fish present is generally not a good idea.
the discus will fan the eggs and help prevent fungus.
I still suspect the issue is new surroundings since this pair has had other hatches.
is the new tank in an area with traffic?
yourchoice
10-01-2008, 6:37 PM
If the TDS is to high the eggs might never get fertilzed.Need a meter or the LFS will test it for you.
Sportsnutim
10-02-2008, 2:43 AM
As a matter of fact yes I have a Cascade 1000 filter which puts out more water circulation. I have a sponge filter in this tank; the same one I used in the 29 gallon tank. I guess I need to turn it down quite a bit. Thanks for the info.
Sportsnutim
10-02-2008, 2:47 AM
No, the area is low traffic, I have also shielded the back side plus the end of the tank where the cone is with white paper.
Sportsnutim
10-02-2008, 2:49 AM
Ok, ignorance again on my part the TDS and LFS test?
pinkertd
10-02-2008, 7:21 AM
TDS = total dissolved solids
LFS = local fish store
Just a sponge filter would be more ideal for the breeding tank.
Star_Rider
10-02-2008, 9:55 AM
you can get by using a gh/kh test too
many LFS don't test tds.
some of the discus breeders here use mix ro/di with tap to reduce the tds..but they also do daily changes of up to 50%
I agree with Debbi.
just use a large sponge filter or deflect the flow on the cascade.