frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

[brady]

I have 5 fish that I got from Liz in Sept 2022. They were 6-7 weeks old at the time so that would
put them at aprrox. 1year,11 mts old now.
They are in a 75 and 1 potential pair, 2ss are on 1 end of the tank constantly cleaning the uplift pipe of the hydro 5 and making
what looks like a spawning attempt but nothing happens. The same with the other pair, a bt and a ss on the other end. Are they still too young?
I was thinking of an idea to emulate the dry and rainy season of the Amazon.
My plan is to lower the water to about 30 % and raise the temp to 86f or more for a month and then fill the tank with 79F water.
Any comments or is this crazy?
Jay

[fljones3]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

I have two that are doing dry runs right now. This occurred right after I noted that my discus were acting lethargic. I noticed that the heater was not plugged in (forgot to plug the heater back in after a water change). It was off for just over 24 hours. Temp went from 84F to 72F. Right after the temps raised back to 84f, pairing activity. Coincidence? Don't know but if I remember correctly wild discus spawn when the rainy season hits, so I would guess the water temp would drop. Others more knowledgable please post.

[LizStreithorst]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

sometimes it seems they spend forever in that playing pretend mode. I know the frustration. You can try some tricks but I don't think anything will work until they decide themselves that it's time to get down to business.

[brewmaster15]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

Jay,

making
what looks like a spawning attempt but nothing happens.

Are they making passes on the pipe and not laying eggs? or are they vigoriously picking at the pipe but not doing anything else. Has anyone actually laid eggs in the tank?

[brady]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

Jay,


Are they making passes on the pipe and not laying eggs? or are they vigoriously picking at the pipe but not doing anything else. Has anyone actually laid eggs in the tank?

Yes they are making passes on the pipe and once about 6 or 8 mts. ago the female laid eggs , nothing happened, they eventually were eaten.
They pick and clean the pipe all day.

[brewmaster15]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

Yes they are making passes on the pipe and once about 6 or 8 mts. ago the female laid eggs , nothing happened, they eventually were eaten.
They pick and clean the pipe all day.

Discus love stability . They thrive in it and really grow well with stable tank parameters. But in nature wild discus experience wet and dry seasons. These are periods of change and instability and are triggers for fish to breed.
We can learn from this and apply it to domestics. This is why strategies like changing temps, changing from tap to Ro.. Going from from stable water changes to no water changes (think vacation time) then big water changes all can often trigger spawning. I have also always been amazed by how often new fish of breeding age spawn close to when you get them. Why? period .of instability .. they were at a breeders in stable conditions, then stressed out with shipping and then plopped in new water. It fits the same concept as the others .

In your case Jay , You could try what you were planning but if it were me I would take that would be pair and switch it up.. Put them in their own tank where they are not used to be.. drop the temp down to 81 for a few days and see what happens. .. Don't mess with them.. 1 feeding per day .. small water changes to suck up waste and un eaten food... Then do a big water change a week or so latter.

You need not do these things .. you can play around with other parameters .The idea is to introduce .change... which can trigger breeding

[Second Hand Pat]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

Discus love stability . They thrive in it and really grow well with stable tank parameters. But in nature wild discus experience wet and dry seasons. These are periods of change and instability and are triggers for fish to breed.
We can learn from this and apply it to domestics. This is why strategies like changing temps, changing from tap to Ro.. Going from from stable water changes to no water changes (think vacation time) then big water changes all can often trigger spawning. I have also always been amazed by how often new fish of breeding age spawn close to when you get them. Why? period .of instability .. they were at a breeders in stable conditions, then stressed out with shipping and then plopped in new water. It fits the same concept as the others .

In your case Jay , You could try what you were planning but if it were me I would take that would be pair and switch it up.. Put them in their own tank where they are not used to be.. drop the temp down to 81 for a few days and see what happens. .. Don't mess with them.. 1 feeding per day .. small water changes to suck up waste and un eaten food... Then do a big water change a week or so latter.

You need not do these things .. you can play around with other parameters .The idea is to introduce .change... which can trigger breeding

Good read Al
Pat

[brady]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

Discus love stability . They thrive in it and really grow well with stable tank parameters. But in nature wild discus experience wet and dry seasons. These are periods of change and instability and are triggers for fish to breed.
We can learn from this and apply it to domestics. This is why strategies like changing temps, changing from tap to Ro.. Going from from stable water changes to no water changes (think vacation time) then big water changes all can often trigger spawning. I have also always been amazed by how often new fish of breeding age spawn close to when you get them. Why? period .of instability .. they were at a breeders in stable conditions, then stressed out with shipping and then plopped in new water. It fits the same concept as the others .

In your case Jay , You could try what you were planning but if it were me I would take that would be pair and switch it up.. Put them in their own tank where they are not used to be.. drop the temp down to 81 for a few days and see what happens. .. Don't mess with them.. 1 feeding per day .. small water changes to suck up waste and un eaten food... Then do a big water change a week or so latter.

You need not do these things .. you can play around with other parameters .The idea is to introduce .change... which can trigger breeding

will try those ideas and see what happens. thanks
jay

[LizStreithorst]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

Good luck, Jay. When I first read this I read it wrong. I thought they were 11 months old not 1 year and 11 months. I've heard of domestics especially blue ss that take up to 2 years to spawn but a few of my group of around 20 9 month olds have spawned.

[brady]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

I'm going to try putting them in there own tank at 79 from the tank they were in at 83+/_.
I also want to take this opportunity to say your discus are the best group I have ever had.
They range from 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 inches, They all have beautiful shape and the ss'blue color is
outstanding . Keep up the good work.
Jay

[LizStreithorst]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

I'd give anything to be able to keep breeding. My number 1 pair is spawning as I type.

[Willie]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

My suggestion is to put them into 100% R/O. They get so happy that spawning follows shortly.

[CliffsDiscus]

Re: frustrated trying to get a "pair to spawn

These Discus could be in a long courtship, just got to wait. Commercial breeders use medication to make a pair spawn.