breeding age

[adshark]

What is the general breeding age for discus? Do people generally put them in a group of 6-8 and let them naturally pair off and then pull them? Thanks

[John_Nicholson]

9 to 18 months.

-john

[Rudustin]

What is the general breeding age for discus? Do people generally put them in a group of 6-8 and let them naturally pair off and then pull them? Thanks Yes, six to eight are a good number and then let them pair up naturally. In some cases you may find that it is not a pair. Females can and do spawn together often. Males have also been seen doing the same thing.

[adshark]

Are the females larger and more colorful than males. I know this is usualy the opposite with other fish/ animals.

[John_Nicholson]

Are the females larger and more colorful than males. I know this is usualy the opposite with other fish/ animals.

No. Most of the time the females will be smaller.

-john

[DonMD]

9 to 18 months.

-john

John, I assume you've listed 18 months as the drop-off point based on your own experiences. Is that pretty reliable, or will there be a gradual decline? I've got a pair from Hans that have produced well for me, but the last batch didn't get fertilized, and the egg count was smaller. It could have been that I interrupted them, but even so, I'm wondering about the 18 month cut-off. Thanks, -Don

[ref0716]

Don - I think John means that breeding will begin sometime between 9 and 18 months. I agree with that estimate. I have had pairs breed for 5 years, but they do slow down in both frequency and quantity of egg laying.

Richard

[John_Nicholson]

Yes I mean they will begin in that time frame. I have raised lots of fry out of pairs that were 5+ years old. The oldest female I ever spawned was roughly 8 years old.

-john

[DonMD]

Yes I mean they will begin in that time frame. I have raised lots of fry out of pairs that were 5+ years old. The oldest female I ever spawned was roughly 8 years old.

-john

OK, thanks for the clarification, that's very good to know.