Discus Fish Breeding – All You Need To Know!

Discus fish breeding can be quite a tricky process and should really not be attempted by beginners! Considered to be one of the most beautiful tropical fish, they require a lot of prerequisite conditions and care so be prepared to be busy for the “King of the Aquarium!”

Discus fish breeding can begin in two ways, one more expensive than the other. The expensive but quicker and more reliable method involves buying an existing Discus pair who are, for a lack of a better word, compatible with each other. Or you can buy a group of Discus – at least six is recommended – and hope a pair will come about as they mature. Additionally, it is recommended to buy different varieties of Discus fish as this will help to expand the genetic gene pool.

Keep in mind that once a pair is formed, they essentially become the dominant party and they will claim private territory. At this stage, either remove the other fish or move the couple to a special breeding tank – around 20 to 30 gallons should be perfect. Ensure that this tank has hiding spots as well as Discus pairs will fight occasionally (as any couple does!).

So you have the couple. Now comes the care. Discus fish breeding requires strict regulation of many factors – chief amongst which are water quality and diet.

Change at least 25% of the water in tank twice a week- minimum. Ensure that ammonia and nitrite levels are practically nonexistent – keeping nitrogenous waste as close to zero as possible is extremely important. Discus are acidic water fish so keeping the pH levels at a range for 5 to 5.8 is vital. Especially when changing the water – Discus fish can go into shock if the levels change too quickly. Additionally, regulating the temperature of the water goes hand in hand with this. For Discus fish breeding, the recommended water temperature is around 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Discus fish breeding will also involve a lot of worms. Discus fish love white and black worms and feeding live food to them helps in the breeding process. Additionally, adult brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and daphnia would be adequate.

Once the spawning starts, you can expect up to 15 eggs every week or so! These will usually begin hatching within 48 hours. Don’t worry about preparing food for them just yet as they feed off the adult Discus for the first few days.

And that’s the general overview to Discus fish breeding! Good luck and enjoy your brand new Discus!