TimboS
Mon Feb 25, 2008, 05:28 AM
Hi All,
I recently posted in about a female discus of mine that had not eaten for what seemed to be weeks upon weeks upon weeks. You get the idea.
I came across a pet store in the north east of Adelaide and described what was going on since the young chap I was speaking to seemed to know a great deal about discus.
He suggested to put something like a goldfish in the tank with the discus (and temporarily remove any aggressors). The idea was that the discus would look at the brightly coloured fish eating and put two and two together, then start doing the same and start eating again.
Well, I thought it's worth a shot and the mrs suggested a male siamese fighting fish (who absolutely LOVES our 120 litre tank - so much room for him and his harem of three females...).
Well, the discus started watching the male fighter cruise the surface for food and pick all over the bottom from time to time. Sure enough, the discus started doing the same.
So, we started feeding food that both discus and siamese could eat, such as live blackwoom in one of those plastic cone dispensers. The male fighter would go to the cone, have his fill and the discus would then move up to it and pick.
Now, she is eating healthy, her colour is stunning, she is friendly again coming up to glass, her stress bars are not showing anywhere near as much and she cruises both high and low in the tank.
I know it's only one fish, but if I lost her due to starvation, I would have been devastated. I feel as happy as a pig in mud and I hope this little trick may help discus elsewhere.
Timbo
PS - the discus received a PP bath a few days before placement back in the main tank I speak of, so she may very well have had flukes and once rid of them this might have pre-empted her to feed even more strongly.
I recently posted in about a female discus of mine that had not eaten for what seemed to be weeks upon weeks upon weeks. You get the idea.
I came across a pet store in the north east of Adelaide and described what was going on since the young chap I was speaking to seemed to know a great deal about discus.
He suggested to put something like a goldfish in the tank with the discus (and temporarily remove any aggressors). The idea was that the discus would look at the brightly coloured fish eating and put two and two together, then start doing the same and start eating again.
Well, I thought it's worth a shot and the mrs suggested a male siamese fighting fish (who absolutely LOVES our 120 litre tank - so much room for him and his harem of three females...).
Well, the discus started watching the male fighter cruise the surface for food and pick all over the bottom from time to time. Sure enough, the discus started doing the same.
So, we started feeding food that both discus and siamese could eat, such as live blackwoom in one of those plastic cone dispensers. The male fighter would go to the cone, have his fill and the discus would then move up to it and pick.
Now, she is eating healthy, her colour is stunning, she is friendly again coming up to glass, her stress bars are not showing anywhere near as much and she cruises both high and low in the tank.
I know it's only one fish, but if I lost her due to starvation, I would have been devastated. I feel as happy as a pig in mud and I hope this little trick may help discus elsewhere.
Timbo
PS - the discus received a PP bath a few days before placement back in the main tank I speak of, so she may very well have had flukes and once rid of them this might have pre-empted her to feed even more strongly.