Discus Breeding questions...

J

Jmerk

Fish geek
Apr 17, 2007
169
0
0
Cache Valley, Ut
Hi, some of you guys have probably saw my other thread that is about Mbuna, well, it was either going to be that or breeding discus... I figured that I really want to do this so here goes...
I need to know just about everything for discus, like the best way to keep the softness and the acidic water just right. Anyway, I want to get really in-depth in this. I only want to do one pair, but I am getting 6 2" discus and let them grow up together and let them pair off. But anyway, just post methods, and, well, everything!

Thanks
Jmerk
 
Jack Wattley's book on breeding discus and raising fry probably opened more doors to breeding discus than any other publication on the subject. I'd suggest you start there and then talk to some people who are actually breeding discus.

Before you set off to breed discus, you really need to be adept at keeping them successfully. Starting with six 2" discus is a good plan. If you can afford eight, I'd suggest that. Discus increase in value, so you'll come out ahead for sure and end up with a strong pair.

Provide them with as much live and frozen foods as you can and only supplement with flakes.

What size tank are you planning to grow them out in?
 
I'm planning on doing this:
Buy 6 2" discus, put them in a 55 GALLON tank, let them pair off, put the pair in another 55 GALLON tank, let them spawn, let the fry live with the parents, remove parents after 5 weeks (I think it's 5 weeks, let me know if I'm wrong or what would be better), grow the fry up, sell the fry at 2-3''.

I have another question:
So I get my 6 discus, when they are old enough to pair off, will I end up getting only 1 pair or is it possible to get more than 1 pair? If this happenes, should I get an extra 55 gallon for them to spawn in?
 
http://www.wattleydiscus.com/books.php

From what I've read, it is better to separate the fry from the parents once they are free swimming for 5-7 days.

I'd suggest getting a 20 and 40 in addition to your 55 grow out tank. It will be easier to manage feeding the fry in a tank relative to their size.

You can sell the fry to LFS at 50 cent size.
 
Thanks guys.
I am going to just stick with the 2 55 gallons...
I forgot a couple 'o things in the schendule so here's an updated one:
Buy 6 2'' Discus, put them in a 55 gallon (I'm feeding them frozen blood worms and Hikari Discus food), let them grow together, let them pair off, put the pair in the other 55 gallon, let them spawn on a flower-pot, after 3 days start feeding fry BBS, after 5-7 days net the parents out and put them in the original 55 gallon (the one where I let them grow up), raise the fry to 50 cent size, sell fry.

I think I might have to get that book, thanks for letting me know about it...
Please let me know the best way to get the water good for them...
I thought you might have liked to see the discus I want so here 'tis...

Thanks
Jmerk

Fire Dragon Discus.jpg
 
Go to simplydiscus.com and read their forums. That has more information than you will ever need.
 
you are going to get a few different answers .
many breeders make their own food for their discus.
they eep the pairs in bare bottomm tanks with breeding cones in them.

many will leave the eggs with the parents and many will leave the fry with their parents(the fry feed off the parents slime)

some breeders us ro/di water and add buffers back to get the water 'right' many use storage tanks to store their water and many use drip irrigation(no water changes as the water is changing all the time)

you can try hobby breeding on a much smaller scale tho. be prepared to do lots of water changes.

in terms of getting breeding pairs..it isn't much different that other cichlids.
I have 1 pair out of 7 discus.
they have spawned 3 times and had fry all three times.

eventually (since they are in a community tank) the fry wind up gone.
I suspect the parents eat them because of too much activity.
 
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