Breeding Behaviour

Discussion in 'Discus' started by Mastermamo, Sep 15, 2013.

  1. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
  2. Slagter
    Offline

    Slagter Aquascaper

    • APSA Member
    • Sponsor
    73%
    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2008
    Messages:
    5,988
    Likes Received:
    915
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Location:
    Joburg
    Could be, but it could also be territorial too. Until they start cleaning a surface to spawn on, it's territorial! Lol!
     
  3. larch
    Offline

    larch Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    66%
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2010
    Messages:
    1,931
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Internet
    Looks like agression.
     
  4. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Guys do my fish look sick to you? Do they seem unhealthy in some way? Please let me know as someone said they might be in trouble but I can't see it
     
  5. Trev Pleco
    Offline

    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2010
    Messages:
    5,767
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Constantia, Cape Town
    look healthy to me, perhaps just rivalry for food, but I know js about discus ;D
     
  6. PsyXe
    Offline

    PsyXe Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2013
    Messages:
    345
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    PTA
    General social posturing I'd say. Nothing looks wrong with your guys to me...
     
  7. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Thanks. They seem healthy and happy to me but PJAL ie Peter said my fish are in really big trouble. I don't know why though
     
  8. Trev Pleco
    Offline

    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2010
    Messages:
    5,767
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Constantia, Cape Town
    Just looked at vid again, in part 2 that small striped one on the right at the back looks pretty thin, especially when it turns at one point..others look ok..

    It will be last in the pecking order so perhaps needs to be removed from the pack and given some TLC..
     
  9. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Well spotted but already on it. Removed him and he's with 3 more juveniles on an extra protein and fat diet.

    Thanks Trevor. Now that what I call a good eye
     
  10. Kryo
    Offline

    Kryo Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    37%
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2012
    Messages:
    1,094
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Johannesburg, Randburg
    +1 but watch this. You have a LOT of discus in your tank now and they will all start showing aggression whilst sorting out the pecking order. You also don't have any hiding spots for them to escape to should the going get tough. Please try to slow down on adding more Discus until the existing pecking order is established. If you keep on throwing in another newbie the aggression will only get worse.

    +1 But glad you already sorted him out. What fat you feeding? Shouldn't be feeding much fat in their diet cos it causes issues with their gut.
     
  11. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Kryo
    No more fish are going into the tank now. What I'm about to do is take out similar sized fish and add them to their own tank once it's seeded and keep the larger fish in this tank.

    Peter
    I am feeding ostrich heart mix, Omega Granules, bloodworm and Artema now and then. I alternate the frozen with the granules so that they don't get spoilt.
     
  12. PJAL
    Offline

    PJAL Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    53%
    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2012
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    A Nando's near Cape Town
    Mohamed
    There are principles in successful Discus Keeping.
    If you respect them - you will have a wonderful experience
    If you choose to disregard them you will be a sad chap - guaranteed
    Most people on this forum want to see you succeed and will be very happy to see you with a tankful of beautiful Discus in 12 to 18 months time.
    Discus:
    1. Like warm (28 - 30 deg C) soft water with a pH of between 4.5 and 6.5 but stable at whatever pH in this range they get to and you can balance at.
    2. MUST have a fish to volume ratio of 1:50 liters or better
    3. Must have crystal clear/clean oxygen rich water - and prefer ZERO plants
    4. Must have a balanced and varied diet to enhance their immune systems and to grow (Prof Bellstedt has access to everything a Discus needs for optimal nutrition - get yourself on his food mail list)
    5. Must have a filtration plant with a robust bio column to ensure Zero NH3/NH4 Ammonia, Zero NO2 Nitrite amd Low or Zero Nitrate NO3 - you need to look after the bio column as jealously as you do the fish - Microbe Lift Special Blend ++
    6. Prefer low light environments and elevated positions so they can look down on us mere mortals
    7. Give a Discus a hiding place and they will use it...... all day - take the hiding place away and they will wag their tails like puppies and greet you every time you walk into their room

    These are NOT suggestions

    When you have earned your "Discus Stripes" then you can up your game to the new era of Parasite Free Species for a bigger more challenging experience.

    My only advice to you is SLOW DOWN - measure twice - cut once :icon_study:
    Peter Leid
     
  13. Duran1
    Offline

    Duran1 Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    53%
    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2013
    Messages:
    173
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Somer Set West
    PJAL +1 to that...
    :thumbsup:
     
  14. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Peter

    I honestly do not understand why u feel I don't understand these fishes requirements. From where I was a few months back to where I am now is a vast difference. I have succeeded in settling in 11 fish who are all healthy (in my opinion and in many others opinion including Dirk) and who ALL eat from my hand and come up to greet me whenever I walk into the room. I have 2 hospital tanks in which I have done my best to rescue 12 sick fish and have not lost one. I have just got in 3 adult fish in a QT that I am deworming etc and that have settled in.
    I have just set up a tank with 8 new 4-5cm fish and of which all have had no problems.

    I am far from an expert and have never professed to being one but I feel I have done a pretty good job thus far in keeping my fish healthy and happy. Sure I've made mistakes and lost a few fish at the outset and I've also given advice eg the cold WC's which I was reprimanded for by Dirk, advice which was constructive and which has changed my outlook on WC's.

    I appreciate your concern and will look at your suggestions carefully but please understand that some take longer to acquire knowledge while others manage to understand at a faster rate. Since I removed my undergravel filter I've not lost a single fish and now have a total of 29 fish in various tanks at various stages of their development and my learning curve.

    I am striving not to lose a single fish, however we all know this is really not possible but I will do my best to keep them as healthy as I can. If my fish are all surviving this long I must be doing at least something right wouldn't u say.

    Thank you for your advice Peter.
    I appreciate you taking the time to give it.

    M
     
  15. PJAL
    Offline

    PJAL Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    53%
    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2012
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    A Nando's near Cape Town
    Patience is a virtue:
    Seldom found in Women &
    Never in a man

    Be patient with yourself - there is no rush
     
  16. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Thank you Peter

    I will indeed look into what you have said

    M
     
  17. larch
    Offline

    larch Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    66%
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2010
    Messages:
    1,931
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Internet
    Looking at that video again it seems a bit crowed and the discus aren't even full grown yet when they are full grown you might have a lot of trouble on your hands especially in such a tank with no cover or hiding spots...
     
  18. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Since that vid I have removed 4 juveniles to a new tank. Couldn't do it then as their tank was being prepped. Now there are only 7 fish in and that IMO should be ok
     
  19. Trev Pleco
    Offline

    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2010
    Messages:
    5,767
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Constantia, Cape Town
    Mo, my suggestion...try and resist the temptation of buying more discuss for a couple of months.. 30+ fish in two months of discus keeping is pretty insane IMO ..

    As Peter suggests, there is no rush..play safe and enjoy the hobby even more !

    I won't stop you getting more plants though ! :)
     
  20. Mastermamo
    Offline

    Mastermamo Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    Kenwyn Cape Town
    Hello Trevor

    I have not just randomly bought fish to keep in tanks. There's method to this madness even though it might seem I am going overboard. Here's the breakdown:

    Main Tank (semi adults) 8
    Hospital Tank 7
    QT (adults) 3
    Juvi Tank (5)
    Others (8) holding for others

    So as u see I'm not going bananas just buying fish. This is a really good learning experience as I am part of each developmental stage in different tanks.

    Thanks for your advice

    Much appreciated

    M
     

Share This Page