Move discus or not

bigwave

bigwave

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Jan 23, 2008
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So I have several discus, and 1 just isn't growing.

He is a bit smaller than the rest. He always eats when food is in the tank, but he just isn't growing. He has a few minor bite marks, that just look like ruffled scales, but I am guessing they are little bites.

I have a 20 gallon setup with a few cherry shrimp, and 2 scarlet badis (dario dario). Should I move him out of the 75into that tank for a while and make sure he gets his food, and isn't picked on. Or leave him there, and home things will work out?
 
I am not sure. Sometimes you just get runts when you have discus. Having larger quantities help insure that it doesn't get picked on too much. How big is he right now? If he is still very small a 20 gallon might help him while he heals from his bite marks. Some pics would help to decide whether or not those were bite marks. Do you have a pleco in there? He could have been sucked on, causing scale damage.
 
How big are all the discus involved...?
 
How many discus do you have? He will not be happy by himself for long. If you think he needs time to heal that's one thing, but placing him by himself for longterm is another. He may even stop eating which is exactly what you don't want to happen.

Steph
 
He is probably 3 inches, there is 1 big guy, probably 7 inches, a 5 incher, and the rest are 4.

It is possible he is just a runt.

The only pleco is a clown pleco, who pretty much keeps to himself. I only see him at feeding times really.

I doubt I can get a picture of the bites, just looks kinda like a round spot of scales that are a shade lighter than the rest, like the are fluffed up a little. Nothing serious. I just hate to see him stunted, if it is MY fault.

I'll see if I can get a photo tonight sometime.
 
how many discus?
this helps to determine aggression issues and possible escape avenues.

you have a mix of adults and sub adults possibly juvenile.
the care requirements are different for young discus and adults.
young discus require several feedings daily with water changes frequently.

(simple lots of food = lots of waste = fouled water.)

if the small discus is missing scales you are seeing aggression. discus are Cichlids. they will fight and establish a pecking order.

you can remove the small discus and try rising it on it's own.

allow it to catch up. but you will need to move it back into the larger tank.
 
Star_Rider said:
how many discus?
young discus require several feedings daily with water changes frequently.
3 feedings a day right now, for everyone, twice a week water canges

if the small discus is missing scales you are seeing aggression. discus are Cichlids. they will fight and establish a pecking order.
I don't think scales are missing, just ruffled. And maybe I was over-reacting, since even the ruffled scales I have not seen again.

you can remove the small discus and try rising it on it's own. Allow it to catch up. but you will need to move it back into the larger tank.
I am still considering this, but I don't really want to, I am sure it will be happier in the bigger tank.
Click to expand...

Thanks Star_rider, and everyone for the responses.
I'll post a feeding time video next, and everyone can tell me what they think.
 
Here is the feeding time video. The little guy comes in at about 20 seconds.

He was the same size as the orange ones (Pigeon Bloods), when I got them all about 6 months ago. They were all close to 2 inches.

Click the video twice and watch it on YouTube to get the full effect.

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