Multiple Discus Pairs

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

boxerfish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2007
125
0
0
Richmond, VA
I have 10 discus in a 125 for the past almost 2 years. Had two pairs already and yesterday found out I have another. One pair is sectioned off with a divider and have spawed several times successfully. The second pair is a fairly new couple that have been losing their eggs. The new pair is starting to lay eggs and defend their territory. Sadly, the remaining 4 discus are pushed off to the edges and can't always swim freely.

Anyone else have multiple pairs in the same tank? I may take them out but I don't really want to set up any new tanks at the moment
 
Add more line of sight deviders?? bubbles? large plants? large bogwood?? any pics of your setup?
 
This is an old pic. Tanks is somewhat the same, minus all other fish are gone other than discus, pleco, and plexiglass divider.

discustank.jpg
 
Hi.. In my 4x2x2 120 gallon planted I had two pairs of spawning discus along with 4 non paired discus. The pairs each took one of the two filter tubes as their spawning sites. So either side of the tank was off limits to the others during spawning.. This happened with one pair about every 10 days.. But no one ever got hurt and once the eggs were eaten or the free swimmers eaten everything got back to normal til the next spawn.. I never used a divider or anything but had plants and driftwood. So I guess my question is what is your issue?? If you want to raise fry your gonna have to set up at least one other tank. whether to take out the non pairs, raise the fry or separate the spawning pair.. If you just leave them all in there with no dividers, I really don't think anyone will get hurt. You just won't have any fry to raise for very long.. and for a period of time you will see some slight aggression..
My females didn't eat when they were guarding eggs or fry and everyone else in the tank was allowed to eat so that never was a problem with mine.. But I only had 2 pairs in there not 3. I don't know if that makes it more of a problem.. You might have to decide whether you want to raise fry or not. If not, you could just remove the eggs so the parents have nothing to guard and things will settle down.. IMO that's probably the only way to keep everyone in the same tank and not need additional tanks.. I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences and maybe some additional suggestions. HTH Sue:D
 
The angels in a 110 with various SA cichlids like Chocolate, severums, and geos. The rainbows are in 55 with loaches. My issue is whether or not fry will survive unprotected from divider. Like i said, only the fry on the divided side survived, but it still took awhile with the divider for the parents to get it right. Was wondering if anyone has successfully raised discus fry in a commnity tank without intervention.
 
Never. I've never had a spawn last more than a few days into the free swimming stage in a community tank. The fry will lose the parents and get eaten. I've found the parents can't keep up with all the little ones at all times, and with other fish in the tank, they get picked off easily. If I want to raise fry, I remove the pair to their own tank. That's the only way I've ever been able to raise fry.
 
You guys may be right. I may try an experiment tho. Once eggs from the community side have hatched, but before free swimming, I'll try to suck them out with a baster and put them in the other divided section with the established pair and see if they will raise them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom