Discus Fry Bunching Up

[preswash777@yahoo.com]

Check out the attached picture please. Has anyone seen anything like this? The fry in the pic are about 30 days old. All in the tank are from the same spawn. Some are 2 inches some are half an inch. A few have birth defects. Some of the smaller ones will bunch up at the front of the tank on the gravel. The spot is in a direct current from a hang on back filter waterfall. If the current moves over the bunch of discus fry moves over with it. It doesn't seem to be hurting them. They have been doing it for days on end. If my hand or food is presented they all leave the bunching spot but soon return to it.20210611_114141.jpg

[danotaylor]

I think I saw somewhere here that Cliff called them "sliders"...I recall it is a swim bladder issue thats congenital, but I think it was in very young fry, like newly free swimming, that the thread was regarding. Hopefully Cliff or another experienced bredder will chime in here...

[LizStreithorst]

Yes, they're bottom sliders. There's nothing you can do but cull them. Sorry.

[preswash777@yahoo.com]

Should we keep "culls only" tanks and if so what are some pros and cons?

[LizStreithorst]

There's nothing wrong with keeping a stunted fish or one with a conformation fault, but not bottom sliders. They are just too compromised. A fish that doesn't live up to your expectations can be useful as a sacrificial lamb or hero fish when doing QT of new fish.

[Willie]

The cause is genetic, so future spawns by the same parents will produce similar results. If you have an option, re-pair the parents with other fish.

[CliffsDiscus]

I agree with everyone, it's like they are sleeping or resting on their sides and as soon as it's feeding time they come up to eat. I cull out any deformity fish because of space for grow outs. Sliders are runts, they get picked on by the bigger fish, then there are adult sliders that may or
that developed a bladder problem from diseases, overdose of medication or from a recent waterchange. Discus with bladder problems do spawn
like normal Discus.

Cliff

[jeep]

I agree this could be genetic, but it's also nearly impossible to raise healthy baby discus in a gravel bottom tank. Water quality and bio load can cause major problems even with 100% daily water changes...

[Tkuilderd]

Imo alot of the problem has to do with them not being in the proper environment for their age.

Tammy