New pair is not turning dark

[twocat]

With each new batch more and more fry are going free swimming but the parents are not getting dark. Is there any thing I can do to encourage this?

[sanjay21]

With each new batch more and more fry are going free swimming but the parents are not getting dark. Is there any thing I can do to encourage this?

What strain is your discus ? and how long has it been free swimming ? If you can share a picture of your tank, that helps.

[RogueDiscus]

I assume you're concerned that the fry are not attaching. I've tried lowering the water level to just the top of the parents, and put white paper all around the tank. Leaving the tank light off but having another light in the room so the parents create silhouettes or shadows may help too. I've also tried removing the black sponge filter for a day, but I wouldn't do that for too long.

[DJW]

Another thing you can do is cover the sponge filter with white nylon stocking.

[twocat]

I am concern about attaching. I have lowed the water level, put white paper all the way around and remove the sponge filter. Attachment is a concern and I am concern that the parents will not produce enough slime to feed the fry.

[warblad79]

I am concern about attaching. I have lowed the water level, put white paper all the way around and remove the sponge filter. Attachment is a concern and I am concern that the parents will not produce enough slime to feed the fry.

If they don't attached after 3 days, start giving them BBS

[RogueDiscus]

Why would you think they won't produce enough slime? Large spawns do tax the parents over the few weeks the fry are attached, but that's what they do. The parents usually recover in a couple weeks after being removed from the fry.

[twocat]

I thought that the black color was the result of producing the slime coating.

[CliffsDiscus]

I thought that the black color was the result of producing the slime coating.

Many of the new domestic Discus don't turn dark but they still produce the slime coat, unlike the
wilds and earlier generations of domestic. Look
for darkening of the dorsal and the base of the tail.
Some breeders lower the pH just to thicken the slime
coat others use what they call slime producers.

[twocat]

slime producers----what do they use? This might be something good to use with albinos.

Mark

[DJW]

A good thread on the subject.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ing-Think-Tank

[CliffsDiscus]

slime producers----what do they use? This might be something good to use with albinos.

Mark

Slime producer is some kind of hormone treatment.

[CliffsDiscus]

A good thread on the subject.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ing-Think-Tank

Posted back in 2009, current Albinos have been all
crossed out, making it much easier for breeding.

[gators111]

Yeah, I had a pair of red checkerboards I was breeding. Attachment is the biggest issue. I used rolls of gauze wrapped around the heater, the sponge filter, and painted all but the front white. And used a lamp placed across the room the provide light. They attached and fed off the parents no problem. The parents didn't darken at all, but the babies fed off them and got bigger anyways. My ph was 6.5 and TDS was 80.

[twocat]

Well they have not turned very dark but I have 6 that have attached and seem to be doing fine. BBS have started today.

Mark