View Full Version : Help me with my discus please
As you can see in my signature I have two small discus in with other peaceful south americans, my problem is that all my discus are eating are frozen bloodworms. I have tried beefheart, small pellets ,flakes, and they just arent interested so do you guys have any suggestions as to what else to try?
rweedon
11-08-2005, 12:45 AM
first of all there are very few other fish that you should keep with discus and even if you are going to have them cohabitate you should wait atleast a month or two to let the discus get settled into their new home... they will be fine on bloodworms and brine shrimp...
thebigfish
11-08-2005, 1:24 AM
I have had really good luck with frozen Piscine Energetics Mysis Shrimp. These small shrimp (around the size of brine shrimp) are bred and raised on a diet that raises their crude protein content to 69% (versus 5 - 10% in brine shrimp). It is used by captive-bred seahorse farms to raise and maintain their seahorses. Try www.mysis.com and www.oceanrider.com to see the results. My discus seem to find the flavor appealing. It's pretty fatty so the water used to thaw the shrimp shouldnt be poured in the tank. It will bring out amazing colors !!
well I have brine and mysis I just didnt now they were good foods for discus
the prettier of the two died today :cry: I do not know why he had little spots of blood on him below the skin
Peanut_Power
11-09-2005, 12:38 AM
I would say 'Getta Crenicichla' but this is one case where it wouldn't be a good idea. When in doubt, go live! Live blackworms, live whiteworms, and live bloodworms are AWESOME for discus! Whiteworms are the best, and are recommended in moderate amounts as they can be fatty. Mysis is a great idear as well. I would try some cupid cichlids if you want. Their body shape and pastel colors would make a nice contrast wit the discus. If you wanna give it a try though, try a pair of Crenicichla compressiceps...they are pretty laid back for pikes, and are dwarfs...some peeps even keep them with Cardinal tetras...;)
driftwood
11-09-2005, 5:44 PM
you just can't house Discus with other cichlids and have a sucessful tank. Discus have to many water issues in my opinion. i sold my discus a few months ago and i don't miss them a bit. If your serious about keeping discus you should do an all out discus tank with at least 6 discus to establish a pecking order. what size tank do you have? i'd go for at least a 75 gallon tank if i were to keep discus again which i won't. good luck! BTW discus will eat beefheart more willingly if you mix it with other foods like myscis, brine shrimp and stuff like that.
rweedon
11-09-2005, 5:57 PM
you do not have to have a large large tank for discus this is a myth I have seen multiple the god of discus that is right Jack Wattley said that they can be kept in a 29! what how can this be? sure it would be more work keeping the water stable but you should be doing water changes every third day any way and he has switched to a flake food which one I do not know but maybe you should write to ask jack and TFH magazine he is and probably always will be the foremost authority...
krickett
11-10-2005, 4:58 PM
Are discus really that much of a pain in the neck? I was thinking about getting a few, but now I'm getting scared off.
driftwood
11-10-2005, 5:20 PM
you do not have to have a large large tank for discus this is a myth I have seen multiple the god of discus that is right Jack Wattley said that they can be kept in a 29! what how can this be? sure it would be more work keeping the water stable but you should be doing water changes every third day any way and he has switched to a flake food which one I do not know but maybe you should write to ask jack and TFH magazine he is and probably always will be the foremost authority...
I don't agree with that. A 29 gallon tank with discus! no way. it might work for awhile but over the long run u'd be asking for trouble. How would u be able to keep a school of discus in a tank that size?
Krickett don't be scared of keeping discus man. they aren't all that hard to keep. Just get yourself on a water change schedule and stick with it. my discus took most frozen foods as well as some flake too. Good Luck!
discusfreak2005
11-10-2005, 8:37 PM
you could keep a PAIR of discus or one solitary showpiece discus in a 29 gallon. i would recommend not keeping more than two and only if they are a a pair at that. i would recommend starting off with discus in a bigger tank tho. its easier to keep up with water quality and the discus appreciate it much more and you can add more if you decide. a 75 or 90 would be ideal for a small group of 6-8 adults. be sure to have very good filtration and clean the junk off the substrate often.
some fine tankmates would be rams, most non-nippy tetras, ottos, smaller plecos, cories and some other small peaceful fish. as previously stated add the discus and algae eaters fisrt and let them acclimate to the tank before adding other fish.
i agree with driftwood, you should def keep up with water changes, the minumum should be one large or two or three smaller ones(15-25%) a week with a understocked discus tank.
discus are a really cool fish if you have the time and patience to take care of them.
p.s. when feeding the beefheart, you can add a lot of stuff to it, garlic powder, boiled eggs, live foods, color flakes, baby food, baby formula, and a host of other things that will help increase viatmins and color and especially growth. try adding more bloodworms to the first couple batches to try getting your discus to accept the rest of the mix.
driftwood
11-10-2005, 8:46 PM
Good Post.
shekes
11-10-2005, 8:48 PM
Sorry for your loss. Little discus are very difficult. Some won't eat anything and will starve. Once they get bigger than 2", you're safe. I keep 8 in a 70g with UGF only, change 90% of the water once a month.
doyle
12-24-2005, 12:55 AM
Live food seems to be the only food my discus will eat. How do i get them to take other foods?
TheUnhappiest
12-24-2005, 6:47 PM
My Discus take any kind of food, mostly dried food
DeLgAdO
12-24-2005, 6:52 PM
:drool:
I keep a single 5 inch pigeon blood discus in a 35 planted hex. Tankmates are 7 neon, 3 black neon, and 1 cardinal tetra; 6 ottos, and various shrimp. Tank temp is 82(low for discus some might say) and do one 25% and one 50% or more water change a week.
My discus was given to me for free from the LFS because it was "sick". Really they were just keeping it in 75 degree water and it was stressed all the time. It took about a week for it to eat much of anything, but I started with blood worms, then mixed in some flake with the worms.
Now it eats anything put in the tank, just like a true cichlid!
Discus aren't really that hard to keep, just keep the water warm and clean.
Also, keep either one discus or a group of 6 or more (unless you have a breeding pair.) Discus are like any other cichlid and will establish a "pecking order". In a group of 6 fish any one discus is less likely to get harassed to death.
grenade3
02-10-2006, 3:33 AM
LIVE BLOODWORMS!
grenade3
02-10-2006, 3:34 AM
:drool:
i know this company says they do not use steroids but i have seen this food in action and i believe it made several of our fish sterile at work in my lfs. some may disagree but I would not use this food. It may not but better not take the risk in my opinion.
laue777
02-20-2006, 1:12 PM
i think all discus have there own choice of what they like and don't i have one that won't touch blood worms but eats flake and pellets food and one that just eats blood worms and brine shrimp you could also try getting some goast shrimp