You're more than welcome. Don't hesitate to PM me anytime if I can be of any help whatsoever. Nothing I like better than to help newcomers to discus avoid pitfalls and not lose these beautiful fish.
Questions about Discus tankmates
- Thread starter sCeRaXn
- Start date
This fish just arrived and theyre tiny but extremely cute. I have them in a 1.5 gallon refugium that's being cycled with the grow out tanks water per Joe's instructions. Im planning on keeping them in there for a few weeks before releasing them into the tank.
Im a little worried about two of them though. Theyre staying on the bottom and sometimes theyre even laying on their side. They seem to be breathing fine and they move normally if they get spooked, but they just seem really weak right now. Is this something I should worry about or is it just from the stress of shipping? I emailed Joe about it but haven't heard anything back. I have some driftwood and a heater in there that they can use for cover and I have the lights off to reduce stress. Should I add some aquarium salt to help ease the stress as well? If so then what dosing would you recommend?
On a side note, Joe also sent me a free GBR and this thing is absolutely beautiful for its size. Its from a reputable breeder so I know it hasn't been enhanced with hormones, but ive never seen one this colorful to be so small. I bred GBR's for several years but none of mine ever looked this good.
Im a little worried about two of them though. Theyre staying on the bottom and sometimes theyre even laying on their side. They seem to be breathing fine and they move normally if they get spooked, but they just seem really weak right now. Is this something I should worry about or is it just from the stress of shipping? I emailed Joe about it but haven't heard anything back. I have some driftwood and a heater in there that they can use for cover and I have the lights off to reduce stress. Should I add some aquarium salt to help ease the stress as well? If so then what dosing would you recommend?
On a side note, Joe also sent me a free GBR and this thing is absolutely beautiful for its size. Its from a reputable breeder so I know it hasn't been enhanced with hormones, but ive never seen one this colorful to be so small. I bred GBR's for several years but none of mine ever looked this good.
I wouldn't recommend adding salt. Lights off for a day isn't a bad idea; lets 'em relax a little. when you do go to light up their area, let some ambient light or indirect light happen before you turn the one directly above them on. Sometimes discus, especially new, nervous ones, will spook when an overhead light is turned on when the tank is completely dark. They can hurt themselves badly when that happens.
As for the two laying on their side... I've seen newly shipped discus do that. Give 'em time, they'll likely be fine.
Remember, they're in a new, scary place. You're a big, scary monster. They may hide when you come to the tank. Again, give 'em time to get used to their new home.
When you feed, and new babies need to be fed often, you may have to drop the food in, then walk out of the room. You can peek around the corner to make sure they're eating and see which one(s) (hopefully not in your group) are not.
Once they get comfy with you and the new home, you can train them to eat out of your hand.
Once the pecking order games start, watch out for the omega hiding all the time and not getting any food. They'll usually stunt if they get picked on and hide too much.
I would definitely rehome the BRs and otos for the reasons Paul already gave you.
Welcome to the world of disus...one of the coolest fish ever.
Mark
As for the two laying on their side... I've seen newly shipped discus do that. Give 'em time, they'll likely be fine.
Remember, they're in a new, scary place. You're a big, scary monster. They may hide when you come to the tank. Again, give 'em time to get used to their new home.
When you feed, and new babies need to be fed often, you may have to drop the food in, then walk out of the room. You can peek around the corner to make sure they're eating and see which one(s) (hopefully not in your group) are not.
Once they get comfy with you and the new home, you can train them to eat out of your hand.
Once the pecking order games start, watch out for the omega hiding all the time and not getting any food. They'll usually stunt if they get picked on and hide too much.
I would definitely rehome the BRs and otos for the reasons Paul already gave you.
Welcome to the world of disus...one of the coolest fish ever.
Mark
Thanks for the tips and suggestions Mark. I talked to the breeder about it and he also said not to add salt. I read multiple posts on SimplyDiscus that recommended adding salt to help ease the stress, but luckily I talked to Joe first and he told me that could actually increase the stress level. When in doubt, always ask the breeder. lol 
Ive fed them twice since they got here at noon. Ill probably do two more small feedings before bed tonight and then try to do 6 tomorrow. The only thing I have that they'll accept right now is cut up blood worms. Two of the discus have eaten them happily and so has the GBR, but one of them is still laying on his side and doesn't want anything to do with it. Hopefully my BBS will hatch tonight so that I can get them on a live diet. I wasn't expecting the fish until next week so I didn't have time to get them started.
My DIY refugium is working well though. I have it so that the stand pipe from my sponge filter comes up through the bottom so that theyre getting constant filtered water. This also allows me to control the flow, which is a good thing because I had it way too high at first. :duh:
Ive fed them twice since they got here at noon. Ill probably do two more small feedings before bed tonight and then try to do 6 tomorrow. The only thing I have that they'll accept right now is cut up blood worms. Two of the discus have eaten them happily and so has the GBR, but one of them is still laying on his side and doesn't want anything to do with it. Hopefully my BBS will hatch tonight so that I can get them on a live diet. I wasn't expecting the fish until next week so I didn't have time to get them started.
My DIY refugium is working well though. I have it so that the stand pipe from my sponge filter comes up through the bottom so that theyre getting constant filtered water. This also allows me to control the flow, which is a good thing because I had it way too high at first. :duh:
how small are these??
also they are in a refugium??
how is the flow? How is this tank set up? is it actually attached to a larger tank as a fuge?
with young dicus water changes are very key to how well they do.
use aged water if you can... most important is stable water.
ow many do you have?
also they are in a refugium??
how is the flow? How is this tank set up? is it actually attached to a larger tank as a fuge?
with young dicus water changes are very key to how well they do.
use aged water if you can... most important is stable water.
ow many do you have?
I have three of them. Two are around nickel sized and one is dime sized. The largest one is doing great and is eating chopped up blood worms and BBS. The medium sized one is getting a little better and is trying to eat BBS but its so weak that its having a hard time. He still lays on his side a good bit but hes been much more active today than yesterday. The runt is still spending the majority of its time on its side and hasn't attempted to eat any BBS that ive seen. Ive done three small wc's with aged water in 24hrs and I just did my 6th feeding.
They are in a 1.5 gallon refugium that's actually in my 20l grow out tank. Its being fed tank water through the standpipe from a sponge filter, and is then sent back to the tank from a small overflow in the opposite corner. The airline running the sponge filter is coming off of a gang valve so I can control the flow of water. Right now I have it set to as little flow as possible and I plan on gradually increasing it over the next week or so. Heres a few pics to get a better idea of how its set up.
They are in a 1.5 gallon refugium that's actually in my 20l grow out tank. Its being fed tank water through the standpipe from a sponge filter, and is then sent back to the tank from a small overflow in the opposite corner. The airline running the sponge filter is coming off of a gang valve so I can control the flow of water. Right now I have it set to as little flow as possible and I plan on gradually increasing it over the next week or so. Heres a few pics to get a better idea of how its set up.
Now that the smaller two are starting to regain their strength the larger one is bullying them. Should I try to separate them or would it be best just to leave them? I could easily make a little divider to keep them separated but I don't know if that would be the right thing to do now. I know its often important to allow certain fish time to figure out the pecking order but I don't want the smaller ones to get stressed out even more at this point.
these are little guys..judging from the size...I got some alenquers that were suppose to be 2" but in reality were just over 1"
I had 4 lost one from the same thing you're dealing with. the one would only eat live food..I lost him in the log run..
the others qickly adapted to BW, BH, bits ..I found found one that would not eat actually started taking flake.. that one quickly recovered as the others ate everything but flake.
.it'd be your call...but might not be a bad idea to separate them until the all get to a similar level.
I had 4 lost one from the same thing you're dealing with. the one would only eat live food..I lost him in the log run..
the others qickly adapted to BW, BH, bits ..I found found one that would not eat actually started taking flake.. that one quickly recovered as the others ate everything but flake.
.it'd be your call...but might not be a bad idea to separate them until the all get to a similar level.
