Breeding adults... How long are they really Productive?

[brewmaster15]

Hi all,
Hoping for some input from some of the major breeders here as well as the hobby breeders as to how long they breed a fish until they consider it too old.. Do males burn out faster than females.

What kind of signals do you look for as to when its time to retire a fish... low fertilization rates in a previously good fish? low egg counts?... general decline in the robustness of the fish.?

-al

[fcdiscus]

Al, I would say females burn out much faster than males. A female at three is about done, as her egg count and willingness lessens. Males can be kept going until they are 7 years old or so. Keep them young babes coming! Frank ;D

[jn4u]

The wild-cught discus no more than 2 years take longer to start breed. Other after 4-5 years. Try to sell old fish to friends that want large display fish. I breed for fun to have a new generation not to sell as much fish at possible. Then I would stick to the pair longer. After a pair breed it take 2 years to young breeding. Then I change the pair.

[Rod]

Good question Brew, does vary from fish to fish but i find discus will breed ok up to the age of about 6 years. Younger fish i find are more productive but nothing wrong with breeding from the oldies, afterall its quality not quantity we are after. I've never noticed a lessining in the quality or health of fry bred from older pairs.

Rod

[Smokey]

Good point, Rod.

Perhaps an "Mature" female may better paretinal skills.{?}.

[Rod]

Yeah for sure Smokey, mature females don't normally do such things as respawn while carrying young and i find they tend to be excellent parents.
More focused perhaps?? ;D
Rod

[fshngal]

Al,

Thank you for an excellent post. This has answered quite a few questions that I had.

Mary

[Shari]

Jackpot!!

I was just wondering what was going on with a couple of my Turqs.
He is about three now, she maybe a few months to a year younger.
(just guessing though)
They mated up in first year I had them, have produced tons of eggs and squirmers (I don't / can't get into breeding yet) and suddenly in past month, alone or now with other Discus, swim together but there is suddenly fighting between them...he doesn't want anything to do with her, or the next day it's the reverse. Neither seem to want any of the other Discus in the tank, some who are trying to set up a couple situation with one of them or the other. Yet they seem to still have 'a thing' for each other. Just weird.

I had been wondering if they, or one of them just is tired at this point.
Maybe it's the age huh.