Stunted discus

[Knutsen1122]

How can I tell if my discus are stunted?

[Second Hand Pat]

How can I tell if my discus are stunted?

Hi Colin, please check out this thread. It should give you a pretty good idea http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?46982-What-not-to-buy.
Pat

[Knutsen1122]

Thanks pat! I've actually seen this thread before, and to me it's obvious these are very unhealthy fish but is there a specific time or point where they stop growing?

[yim11]

Depends on how bad they are, usually around 3-4".

HTHs

[OC Discus]

The most critical time for growth is the first 6 to 12 months. They can grow "up to" an inch a month during the first six months. Growth slows down after a year, but some growth can continue into the second year. If they don't grow properly the first year they are not likely to catch up to their potential. Improving diet and water quality at any point in the first year will improve their shape and size, they just will not reach their full potential due to the periods of slow growth.

[Knutsen1122]

What's weird is I have 7 from the same hatch on May 9th and they range in size from 1 1/2 to 3".

[rickztahone]

What's weird is I have 7 from the same hatch on May 9th and they range in size from 1 1/2 to 3".

That isn't weird. Some discus get more food than others. They are part of a hierarchy

[Skip]

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?107933-How-can-you-tell-my-fish-is-Stuntedere is how u know..

[Knutsen1122]

Thanks everyone!!!

[John_Nicholson]

What's weird is I have 7 from the same hatch on May 9th and they range in size from 1 1/2 to 3".


That just means that the big ones are getting most of the food. You almost always have at least a few that lag behind but to get the best growth possible you have to over feed and spread the food out over the tank instead of in one place.

-john

[OC Discus]

Colin,

Listen to John on this. He can help you increase the growth of the smaller ones. You have to put in enough food that they all get stuffed, but then you have to clean up after them daily (water change).

[Knutsen1122]

John, OC, I definatly feed them enough. They all seem to be very aggressive eaters even the small ones. I do a 15-20% wc every night just to clean the substrate. If there is any left that floats to the bottom they always seem to go get it!