Two pair.

[Ocellaris]

I have two breeding pair of discus that formed in my tank. They are the only four discus in this tank and nothing else. They spawn frequently and at times at the same time. The question is can I get a successful spawn at least to where the fry become free swimming onto the parents. I do have a divider in the tank and they spawn even with the divider in place, so do I have a chance or am I just wasting time hoping it will work. thanks.

[LizStreithorst]

What kind of divider are you using?

[Ocellaris]

It is a clear acrylic looking divider I'm not sure the material it was off Amazon advertised as tank divider it looks like a company just had a piece of plexiglass with a bunch of holes drilled in it. But they can see through

[CliffsDiscus]

It is a clear acrylic looking divider I'm not sure the material it was off Amazon advertised as tank divider it looks like a company just had a piece of plexiglass with a bunch of holes drilled in it. But they can see through

Are the holes small enough so the fry can't swim thru them?

Cliff

[Ocellaris]

No the fry could pass through them. For some reason this pair will not let them get past the wiggler stage. I'm considering putting a barrier up in front of the eggs as well. The good news is if it doesn't work out I'll get the try again in a week. But they have been spawning for a long time now over 30 times

[LizStreithorst]

If the fry can swim through the other pair will probably eat the strange (to them) fry unless they have free swimmers at almost the same time.

[Ocellaris]

I can remedy that situation pretty easily they have eating their eggs consistently even though they've spawned over 30 times. Do you think it is because of the stress of having the other pair in the tank. I do have a backup tank outside and seasoned. The tank has green water but parameters are what people would consider excellent. Do you think I could move one of the pairs outside it is actually a screened-in enclosure the temperature is maintained in the low eighties

[dspeers]

Not sure whether the clear divider and stress of another breeding pair visible on the other half of the aquarium is what is causing the problem, but after 30 failures it is definitely time to change things up.

One option would be to use two separate tanks although I have no idea what to make of a "green water" tank with otherwise excellent parameters.

If you are wedded to the single tank, make your own divider. Opaque plexiglass sheets are available, easily trimmed with a table jig saw (using a plexiglass blade) and can be drilled with a small enough diameter bit to keep fry where they belong. Use new sharp bits and spray with water to keep it cool, minimal pressure and use a wood backer as the bit likes to grab. I use my foot to keep the plexi from moving and to keep it firmly on the wood behind it.

[Ocellaris]

Excellent I will give your opaque plexiglass method an attempt assuming this one fails they have not eaten the eggs yet this is day two and a half. So if this one fails I will have a week before they spawn again oh, that should give me plenty of time to prepare. I do have a UV sterilizer coming so the green water will be gone in just a couple of days in my back up tank. I don't really have a desire to set up an additional tank for the other pair at this time. And if I did I am anal about cycling or seasoning the tank and I wait months before I would even be willing to move the fish over. I will let you know how it goes thanks for the advice

[CliffsDiscus]

There must be a reason why the pairs are eating the wriggles. Are the wriggles active
after hatching and become sluggish just before free swimming, or are they dropping
off the substrates? Maybe its genetic? Any
pictures would help.



Cliff

[Ocellaris]

Sorry I just saw that you replied. Lately they haven't even gotten that far but there is an active spawn right now and I have a plastic barrier up over the eggs so they can't eat them. Lately there hasn't been a large percentage being fertilized. From my observations it looks like the male gets distracted and swims away mid spawn due to the other pair "inadvertently distracting". This time he looked to be more in the "zone" if you will. So we will see how many are fertilized this is going to be day two today. I will try and grab some pictures. Thank you for the reply I will post pictures tonight

[Ocellaris]

131707

[Ocellaris]

131708

[Ocellaris]

Okay so the good news is it looks like the vast majority are fertilized. So waiting game now

[blueeyes]

I have a pair of Red Scarlet SS that do the exact same thing , guard the eggs then just as they are about to free swim or before eat them, I pulled a small batch and reared them artificially and are all healthy bar a runt, these are Asian fish

[Ocellaris]

Yeah This batch they will have to raise themselves I leave for 4 days on the 12th. Just trying to figure out of the other breeding pair is causing them to eat eggs/fry

[Ocellaris]

Only hald the eggs are fertilized...wth? Has to be distraction from the other pair?

[Ocellaris]

Only hald the eggs are fertilized...wth? Has to be distraction from the other pair?

[Ocellaris]

Why is it that only about half the eggs get fertilized? Do you guys think it's because the other pair is distracting during the spawning process? Or do you think it's because the male just can't aim?

[CliffsDiscus]

Why is it that only about half the eggs get fertilized? Do you guys think it's because the other pair is distracting during the spawning process? Or do you think it's because the male just can't aim?

Your male is very fertile, better then average, not all males are fertile. I don't think it has to do with the other pair, but it a good time to either pull the non breeding pair out of the tank or place an divider before free swimming.

Cliff

[Ocellaris]

Ok ill get divider in today. They should start hatching tomorrow.

[CliffsDiscus]

What's the latest status, the fry should have been free swimming since Thrusday?

Cliff

[pablos]

I tried with a divider as well, but they didn’t lay eggs for some reason (hormones of other pair?). Same day I moved one pair to separated tank they layed eggs.

[CliffsDiscus]

I place the divider after a pair spawn, some
pairs just like to spawn in community tanks,
to me it's an advantage just pull the eggs leaving a spare tank for the fry.

Cliff