My first discus experience

[Kymark]

After keeping fish for most of the last 50 years, I decided last spring to try discus. A local breeder was selling what she described as “turquoise” and “pigeon”, about 2” - I got 4 pigeons and 3 turquoise for my 75 gallon planted tank.

After doing lots of reading on this site and realizing what large, daily water changes in the planted tank really meant, I got a new 75 gallon tank for the basement, right next to a utility sink - much easier for growing out!

Here are the discus in April 2023.

[Kymark]

Sadly, the largest and my favorite of the seven, a turquoise, decided to exit the tank through the little gap in the back of the cover. I think it was agitated by a new filter.

Of the six that remain, one is a runt. Hasn’t grown much at all, but I don’t see it bullied or having trouble accessing food. I’m on the smaller side myself, so I sympathize!

I’m feeling mostly red wrigglers from my compost bins and Al’s freeze-dried black worms, with some brine shrimp and beef heart. The spoiled buggers won’t even look at flakes or pellets.

[LizStreithorst]

I'm glad you decided to do without plants in a deep substrate. And that you read around on the form before jumping right in and doing everything wrong.

They all look healthy and happy except perhaps that little guy. Is it eating? If not, I suggest you stick him in a QT tank for now and see how it does without having to compete against it's larger siblings.

[Iminit]

With Liz on the little guy. Guessing you’ve had them about 4 months. So moving that little guy may give him the spark he needs to grow. I’ve found every time I went with 2” fish there was always a runt or 2. Moving them into qt sometimes got them back.
Congrats on your success!!

[fljones3]

I think we all have had discus exit the tank for some unknown reason. Always sad.

[Kymark]

I'll try moving the runt to another tank. This MTS is a real issue.

[LizStreithorst]

It can be a fact of life with Discus.

[brewmaster15]

Mark you have done really well. I'm really glad to see that. . Having a runt in a batch is pretty much normal.Not sure this one will ever grow but the hospital tank would be a good option to try.
The others look like they are doing really well so far.

Keep up the good work and the updates.I know when I say this I speak for bunch of us that post regularly trying to help members... we really like to see how things turn out for a hobbyist. So thanks for the update!
Al

[Vanman]

I am growing out eight currently. I wanted six good sized adults to get a pair or two so started with eight to allow for the inevitable runt or two.

[Kymark]

Time for an update!

I moved the runt, first into isolation and, when it still didn’t grow much, into a planted community tank. I was concerned about bullying if I put it back with the other discus. It mostly hides behind the plants, but seems to be doing well.

The five others are doing great, ranging in size from 4-6” or so. The picture shows them enjoying red wrigglers, still their primary food. The pigeons have more peppering than ideal, but I still find them beautiful. (I took more pics but they keep posting upside down. And fish photography isn’t as easy as it looks!)

Big thanks to all who provide good info here to those of us just starting - and a special shout out to Al!

[danotaylor]

Well done Mark. For fish bred by a local and raised by you from 2" I'd say you did a fabulous job mate, especially for your first go! When I got serious about growing out my first discus I had kept cichlids for 35yrs. I too adhered to the wisdom found here, some of which went against my experiential judgment, but as I yielded to insight and wisdom coming from people here who have made an art of discus rearing & raising, I too had success. Good on ya mate!

[brewmaster15]

Missed this thread! Mark you did an awesome job on these! Nice work!

Al

[jeep]

I missed it too! Very nice!!!

[Discus Fever]

Would like to see updated pictures on these discus, you did a fantastic job with these discus from 2 inches of age.