Seperate couple

[Jeroen]

Hi,

I have this question:

a While ago I bought two beautiful discus 'fire red' because they were attached to each other very much and the price was very right, even when it was no couple....but I hoped it was a couple.
One of them is def. a female, she had eggs allready 5 times, but the other one didn't even turn his face towards her when she was busy.
Yesterday I decided to set them in the Brideroom (4ftx2ftxft tank with adults) there were 4 other adult discus
After I released the female she swim around for like 3 minutes, then she spotted a Malrboro in that tank...I know from this one that he is more then willing to hook up with a female....he was chasing en dancing around one other female all the time, but she didn't want to match with him
Anyway....I did look lik love at first sight, she swim up to him and starting to dance around him
It almost looked like his eyes startin to twinkle and started to clean the cone....and so she did.
The doing this know for 24 hours but nothing happend yet.

Now I wonder, should I put them in the breeding tank (only the 2 of them) or better let them go for a while ? and let them get used to each other or so ?

Jeroen

[Trebs]

Let them get used to each other first. If they lay eggs maybe twice in the community tank they will start to establish a better bond and will be less likely to cause issues when raising fry.

[piranha-discus]

hi jeroen
as far i know and i only had discus for 6 months and i successful breed them 3 times, as i see them do the behavor as what u saw, just about 1 hour before dark do a 65 to 70 % fresh treated water change with soft water only, then when it gets dark make sure u have a very low wattage light like a 8 watt or lower on that way if they sporn , the male can see what he is doing etc and they both parents can see thier own eggs.
,,,,,ben and make sure they both in a breed tank of thier own or else the other fish will eat either the eggs or wiggelers . when they are egged DONT do any water change .

[Ben]

Jeroen,

I would let them be in the main tank and let them spawn 3-4 times. (less than a month in most cases)

This will increase their bond.

Keep us posted and we love pictures!

Cheers
Ben

[Jeroen]

Tanx for all info and support ;-)
Pictures I will make for sure.
Ok....will leave the couple in the com. tank

Jeroen

[Jeroen]

Ok....a little catch up here.
The couple that had and ate the eggs before (checkerboard) were doing it again
Just came up and noticed the female eating the eggs.
I've read a few times before that a male or female easely can raise the young ones by itselves...
So I am not sure if I made a good choice, but I took the female out to give the male a chance.
I did this because I didn't have any materials yet to cage the eggs.

I wonder if anyone of you did it before like this.

Jeroen

[Merrilyn]

Hi Jeroen. One parent is more than capable of raising the fry on his own. It's a bit more difficult if you have a large spawn, but just introduce live baby brine shrimp from about day 3 of free swimming to help the dad feed the fry. I have raised previous batches of fish with only one parent, and I know Crocky from this forum has done the same thing.

It certainly can be done. :P

[Jeroen]

Good to hear merrilyn,

Unfortunally the male continued where I took out the female....he ate the rest, I guess the values of the water were to not optimal.
I guess it's time to buy myself some cage, so I can try it that way.....ohhh how great it would be to have small discus, BUT, that is part of the hobby/challenge...I guess it would be less fun if it be so easy to breed them ;-)

I have been reading the topic about those leaves where you and ben are testing with.
In holland we sell a product (extract) made of oakleaves...as I read the topic it lookes like this is pretty much the same, is it possible to get it in australia ? I wonder what your opninion would be about this product.
It lowers the PH, it contain those humus and so...
Maybe time to send over some bottle...they say it is good stuff.

Jeroen

[Merrilyn]

Jeroen, it's very much skills that have to be learned when it comes to discus breeding. I believe their instinct tells them that they should be doing 'something' but they're not quite sure what it is.

I let them try spawning a few times in the community tank. They learn to defend their eggs from other fish, instead of eating them. It also strengthens the pair bond and then they are less inclined to fight over the eggs and fry later.

Those oak leaves sound very much the same as the indian almond leaves that we use in the water. It does lower the pH but it also seems to have some kind of antibacterial properties too, and helps to prevent the eggs from getting fungus.

It would certainly be worth trying in your tanks.

[Crocky]

Jeroen,
let the most aggressive fish look after to fry,I mean the one that takes more interest in coming to the front of the tank to have a go at you.Not the parent which treis to hide the fry thats what work for me.

brad